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Sienna Salamy
ART PORTFOLIO
Each of the pieces below are an exploration of color, form, and message—a reflection of my journey as an artist and as a person. Art, to me, is more than just creating. It’s a way of understanding the world and finding my voice within it.
A New Beginning, 2024
Ceramic
18” x 11”
(Springs Historical Society - Finalist)
For this ceramic vase I used clay and underglaze. I started by constructing the vase into two parts, the base and the foot. After putting them together, I created flowers, bugs, and plants. The most important part of the vase is the baby picture of me holding a flower. As a young child I lived in New York City. My favorite part of the day was being pushed in a stroller by my mother. We would wind through the park paths having the time of my life. I would make my mother stop every two minutes so I could pick a flower from the bushes just out of reach. The portrait shown on the vase was my ideal perfect day as a four year old me. A spring day, freshly bloomed flowers, new leaves on the trees, and that feeling of a “new beginning”. As I grow older, I appreciate that feeling more and more each Spring. It reminds me that change is good and not to be afraid of it, or else I’m going to be stuck in that stroller forever.
Weight of Being a Woman, 2023
Clay and Spray Paint
9” x 4”
(Social Justice Award - First Place)
This sculpture uses clay and spray paint. I created the body by starting with the torso and working downward. The most challenging part was making the legs as I had to figure out how they would support the rest of the body. This took many attempts before I found the perfect structure. The chain is clay, with silver spray paint for a rusty look. As I grow older, I am becoming more passionate about the struggles women continue to face. They include societal norms, gender inequality, violence, body stereotypes, and lack of position and power. The chain signifies the weight of these issues, and how we must continue to fight against them.
Baby Face, 2024
Pencil
12" X 10"
For this drawing I used a graphite stick and a pencil to create this. I had originally made a self portrait of myself in recent years, and I decided to create a baby self portrait as well. A challenge was to make the hair look as realistic as possible and to make sure the eyes had life to them.
Self Portrait, 2023
Graphite
26.5” x 20”
This self portrait was made using a thick graphite stick and pencil. I first created a grid on the paper, and then also on the reference photo. I outlined my face and then added shading. Creating features with the right proportions was challenging, as was adding enough texture to the hair. The flower is a hibiscus, my favorite type.
George Clooney Bust, 2023 Plaster 14” x 8”
For this sculpture, I began to create the head out of clay. After, I used a plaster paste to put on the front and back of the piece separately, and then removed them once dried. The hardened plaster created a mold of the head, which I then filled with more plaster. To separate the mold from the plaster head, I used a hammer and putty knife to break away the mold. People would tell me my father had a strong resemblance to George Clooney, which struck me as funny and inspired me to create the work.
Large Betty Boop Head, 2023
Cardboard, Paper Mache, Acrylic paint
38” x 36”
This was one of my most challenging works. I started out by drawing the structure on paper, and then shaped a large outline of the head using cardboard. This was followed by constructing the inside by vertically putting cardboard in the middle for support. I built around this outline with cardboard for the face and back of the head. I taped rough edges, added the hair and facial features, and paper matched the entire head. Finally, I used acrylic paint to complete the features. It was difficult to create a sturdy and supportive structure considering the large size. The inspiration for this piece came from the fact that I had similar features as a young child and was often referred to “little Baby Boop”.
Dead and Alive, 2024
Mixed Media
9” x 3.5”
For these sculpture pieces, I created a slip cast mold of a bottle and filled it with sculpey. I made two molds individually of the top and the bottle itself. I used natural materials for the sticks, clay for the flowers, along with multiple variations of green spray paint. I wanted to show the beauty within things both dead and alive. I used sticks that demonstrate the liveliness of dead materials, and how they have their own unique beauty. For the flowers, I tried to convey the youthful and colorful side of nature. I've always admired the everlasting beauty of nature through its different phases.
Watching My Youth Slip Away, 2024
Acrylic paint
10” x 8”
For this painting, I used acrylic paint. During the process, I took pictures of myself in the mirror inside my first jewelry box and decided to paint one of the photos. I was purposeful in painting the background unfocused in order to emphasize the ballerina. In contrast to the colorful “Childhood Jewelry Box”, for this approach I wanted to experiment with shades of black and white. I wanted to come back to the theme of childhood, but from the perspective of youth slipping away and having to leave childish things behind.
Téte’s Palm Tree, 2023
Reeds,Translucent paper, and wood
12” x 15”
For this Palm Tree piece, I soaked the reeds in warm water so they could be bent in the shape I wanted. I used gorilla glue to construct the sticks into a shape that is stable. After creating the body of the palm tree, I cut individual pieces of paper and glued them from the inside. I then created the leaves individually and followed the same process. I arranged all the finished pieces and glued them together. Lastly, I used adhesive to attach the tree onto wood. My grandma lives in Florida where I first was introduced to palm trees, and even enjoyed collecting the coconuts that had fallen to the ground. My grandma (Tete) is a very important person in my life, and this is a tribute to her and those fond childhood memories.
Self Reflection, 2024
Mixed Media
20” x 20”
This sculpture was created from clay, wood, a mirror, paint can lids, bottle caps, and finally spray paint. The abstract facial features were created with clay, and then painted using underglazes. I traced and cut a circle out of wood which was then painted white. I found a thick, tinted mirror and decided to use that as an additional layer with which to attach the facial features. The hair is constructed of reused paint can lids and spray painted bottle caps. This is an abstract portrait of myself that I had fun creating.
From My Own Two Eyes, 2023
Acrylic Paint
17” x 10”
This painting is from a photo that I had taken. First, I made a 3 x 3 box grid, created a red undercoat, and then painted the picture over it. I spent time considering the different colors given the lighting and time of day, trying best to capture details like the shadows from the railings. The dock is special to me as I often go there to watch the beautiful sunsets.
Falling Figures, 2022
Wire
15" x 10"
Falling Figures, 2022
Wire
15" x 10"
Wire
15" x 10"
Childhood Jewelry Box, 2024 | Acrylic Paint 20" X 16"
For this ballerina piece, I used acrylic paint over a bright yellow undertone to create a warm effect. During my process, I took many pictures of the ballerina atop my childhood jewelry box in order to have multiple perspectives. I printed, cut and layered the photos on top of each other to see what was the best fit. I took a picture of my finalized layout and projected it onto the canvas to trace the outlines of the shapes and figures. The painting process was a difficult challenge for me. I wasn’t used to painting figures, although this helped me advance my color matching, proportion, and composition skills. This piece holds special meaning for me. Throughout the years, I put my most important and sentimental possessions in the jewelry box. This ballerina has watched me grow through the years from a toddler to an adult, and it will remain with me until I pass it on to my own kids.
Cluster of Candy and Color, 2022
Acrylic Paint
9” x 9”
To create this painting I first staged a photo with assorted candy in colorful wrappers, and then zoomed in for a close-up. Recreating the small details was definitely a challenge. This was an exercise in color and detail of inanimate objects.
Hold Me/ Distractions, 2022
Paper, color pencils, sharpie
21” x 14”
For this piece, I used different colored paper, cutting out each figure individually and layering them onto each other. The figures were created from different models from my art class and were drawn from observation. I was able to explore my layering skills and use brighter colors than I had previously done. The different perspectives increased my creativity and helped improve my observational skills.
Hibiscus Flower Cup/Plate/Bowl, 2022
Clay and Underglaze
9” x 10”
This scuIpture project is constructed from three individual parts. The plate is a leaf, the bowl a flower, and for the cup I replicated the little stems of the Hibiscus flower. The hardest part of the process was making the individual balls of the cup and having to score and slip each one separately. The hibiscus flower evokes strong memories of my youth.
Flower
Ceramic Vase
Ceramic leaf made of clay
This green ceramic leaf captures the delicate details of a real leaf, yet with the weight and presence of clay. The vibrant green glaze enhances the natural veins and ridges that I carved into the clay. The glaze created a darker, richer shade of green along the lines of the veins.
The edges of the leaf may be slightly curled or gently undulating, giving it a lifelike, organic quality. The firing process in the kiln solidified the form, making the leaf sturdy but still evocative of nature's fragility.
The edges of the leaf may be slightly curled or gently undulating, giving it a lifelike, organic quality. The firing process in the kiln solidified the form, making the leaf sturdy but still evocative of nature's fragility.
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