02 Jan Meyer Najem Showcase: “Color in Silence” by Bobbi K. Samples
One’s outward presentation might not always express the core of their being. Each human being possesses a completely unique energy that for many reasons might be stifled or hidden. However, those moments of true expression are like a wild brush of vibrancy against the canvas of life. Artist Bobbi K. Samples conveys such charged moments through her showcase exhibit, Color in Silence.
While Bobbi is mostly self taught, she began exploring art by taking lessons with another artist, Maggie Shively. She credits those first lessons as having “remained invaluable” as she continues her fine arts journey. She has always been a creative person in mind and heart, having experience in dance, teaching, and design alongside her painting.
Vivid colors have always captivated Bobbi’s imagination. She works large-scale to bring out the subject matter’s details. Working large also allows her to utilize large brushes in broad strokes. This creates an abstract effect “without losing the desired image.” Layers of saturated oil paints eventually build into striking blooms. If she’s unable to get the exact depth she’s searching for, she’ll use knives to add in texture. Once satisfied, pieces are typically finished with two coats of glaze, which makes “them glisten, as if in the sun.”
Bobbi notes that the featured work in her new series “explores the delicate balance between subtlety and expression, where each bloom speaks to the quiet power of individualism. In the interplay of neutral tones and bursts of color, the pieces reflect the hidden emotions that surface when we embrace our true selves. Each painting is a meditation on the ways we connect with our inner essence, offering a moment for the viewer to find their own soul’s reflection in the art.”
This showcase includes at least six new paintings in acrylic. The abstract florals will be in large format and mostly neutral-toned with a striking “burst” of color. The Color in Silence exhibit is showing at the Meyer Najem Second Floor Gallery from January 3-March 28, 2025. Meet Bobbi at her free public reception on Friday, February 14, from 5-7 p.m.
