Samantha Figuly

Lives and works in Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Artist statement

The first person to show any enthusiasm about something I painted was my high school Painting teacher, Ms. Fink. I slapped some blues and oranges, a yellow and a green, brown to cap off the Earth tones, and I remember her first tip, before my brush could touch the taught, stretched gesso covered canvas: scoop it up, let it be wet, and start really putting brush to canvas. I haven't stopped thinking about those words, and her bright, kind soul. I love Van Gogh, impressionistic French art generally, and excess amounts of paint. I'm an oil paint enthusiast and an acrylic paint regular, and my favorite brushes are the tiny ones for detailing. I have OCD. My art is deeply inspired by my OCD, my OCD recovery, and the self-compassion I must show myself in preparation for any relapse that might loom on the horizon of my brain. I use painting to share that with the world, in efforts to maybe make someone feel just a little less alone. I've had OCD for my entire life, and I was only recently diagnosed as a 25-year-old woman. Stick around. See what I paint. Stay well, and spread the kindness you needed when you were in pain.

Artwork