Patrícia Santana da Silva

Can you introduce yourself and tell us how your artistic journey began?

My name is Patrícia Santana da Silva, and I was born in Brazil in 1978. Since childhood, I have always loved drawing and painting, but life circumstances and a lack of materials made it difficult for me to pursue art. I left school early, worked to support my family, and later dedicated myself to raising my children.
As I approached fifty, I decided it was finally time to follow the dream I had carried with me since childhood. Painting allows me to express my emotions and feel connected to who I truly am. Although I have no formal artistic education, I believe art comes from within. For me, painting is a gift and a purpose given by God, and it is a journey I intend to continue for the rest of my life.

What ideas, experiences or emotions inspire your artwork?

my artwork is deeply inspired by my memories, emotions, and life experiences. Most of my paintings come from feelings and memories that stay with me and naturally find their way onto the canvas. My faith, personal journey, and the emotions I experience throughout life also play an important role in my work. Through painting, I try to transform these feelings into images and share something meaningful and genuine with others.

How would you describe your creative process and the materials you use?

My creative process is very intuitive and spontaneous. I rarely begin with a drawing or a sketch. Instead, I allow the painting to develop naturally as I move the brushes across the canvas, experimenting with different brushstrokes and discovering what feels right for each piece.

Is there one artwork that is especially meaningful to you, and what is the story behind it?

I work with both acrylic and oil paints, although oil is my preferred medium. I feel that oil paint gives me more freedom to bring to life the images, feelings, and ideas that exist in my mind. My paintings often evolve naturally during the creative process, guided by emotion, imagination, and the connection I feel with the canvas.

What are you currently working on, and what do you hope to explore in the future?

One artwork that is especially meaningful to me is a painting of Jesus Christ on the cross. This piece represents suffering, sacrifice, faith, and the power of Christ. I wanted to express the contrast between pain and light—the idea that even in moments of darkness and suffering, His presence and power continue to shine. This painting is deeply connected to my faith and is one of the works that carries a very special meaning for me.

At the moment, I am continuing to explore my artistic voice through painting and allowing my emotions, memories, and imagination to guide my work. I am still discovering myself as an artist, and each new painting teaches me something different. In the future, I hope to continue developing my own style, explore new subjects and techniques, and create artworks that express deeper emotions and meaningful stories. My greatest hope is to continue growing as an artist and to share my work with people who can feel something when they look at it.

@atelisan it's my Instagram.