Charming Sam Studio was born out of the varied interests of artist Amy Steinberg. She began painting in 2001 and started the Charming Sam line of jewelry after her daughter was born in 2004.

Amy's paintings are works based on voyages of the mind, travel both real and imagined to far away places. She begins her works by researching a region of interest, whether vast or specific, and delves into the area's architecture, colors, smells, and atmosphere. Part National Geographic junkie, part restless nomad, Amy strives to unlock the secrets of places by creating paintings that recall the moments when one first arrives in a new environment--the intoxicating feel of a new wind, the awakening of the brain as it absorbs different smells, unfamiliar architecture, geographic markers, the choreography of passersby, and local dialect all at once. She is interested in capturing a place, be it ancient Persia or contemporary Paris, at a precise and fleeting point in time. The paintings she creates represent places as she has come to understand them, whether through intensive reading, perusing photographs, recalling her own travels, or listening to the stories of friends native to a region that captivates her.

Pieces may include collage elements, areas heavily textured with modeling paste, partially obliterated writing, elegant, curving flowers, and bold washes of color. The final product blends recognizable icons with rich, mysterious layers, evoking the romance of maps, early 20th Century travel posters, and wistfulness for something beyond our immediate grasp.

The Charming Sam jewelry is all hand crafted by Amy and closely mirrors the work she does in her paintings. Each piece is delicately assembled using combinations of gold fill, gemstones and beautiful tid-bits she acquires from around the world.

Charming Sam has been fortunate to be featured in some of the fashion industry's finest publications including, O-The Oprah Magazine, InStyle, Lucky, DailyCandy and Marie Claire.

She resides in San Jose, CA and is represented on the east coast by Monsoon Gallery in Bethlehem, PA.

Amy Steinberg