About

Hi, I’m Sami Chaves, a Mainer, painter and devoted lover of escapism and fantastical fiction. I earned my B.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in painting from the University of Vermont, where I developed my practice as both a technical discipline and a way of thinking.

Painting, for me, is a way of translating inner worlds into something that can be observed and shared. I created this online space not only to showcase my work, but to invite you into a more intentional & imaginative relationship with the visuals you live alongside.

My paintings often center animals and plants, are rendered with feminine, organic forms and involve a sense of joyful strangeness. I’m interested in the visual language between familiarity & comfort with otherworldliness. My work reflects the belief that we are both observers and participants in something vast, weird, sacred, and deeply alive.Through painting, I explore my own humanity and femininity- the tender, mystical, humorous, and beautiful aspects of being a young woman in today’s world. I want to encourage my community to support the arts, and actively build culture. The art we surround ourselves with can ground us, expand us and connect us. Be a villager!

I welcome commissions: pet portraits, favorite aesthetics or stories translated onto canvas, murals for homes and businesses etc. Get creative- maybe consult with your natural surroundings, favorite shows/books or the all mighty Pinterest app.