Crystel Samia shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Crystel, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Whenever I’m working on something creative—whether it’s animating, painting, or illustrating—I completely lose track of time. The same happens when I’m baking. It’s like I enter a different dimension where time doesn’t exist; I’m fully immersed and present in the process. That’s why I always prepare before starting—getting my water bottle, tea, snacks, and everything I might need—because once I begin, I know I’ll be in that flow state for hours, completely absorbed until I absolutely have to stop.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Crystel Samia — a multidisciplinary artist, animator, and educator from Lebanon. My work moves between illustration, painting, animation, and tattooing, always rooted in storytelling and emotion. I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember, and over time my practice became a bridge between the visible and the mystical — exploring inner worlds, transformation, and connection.
Through my brand, I share limited art prints, one-of-a-kind hand-painted items, original paintings, and my new hand-painted fashion collections. I also create frame-by-frame animations and tattoos, both of which I see as living art forms that connect deeply with people.
Alongside my personal work, I teach animation at the university and lead creative workshops — something I truly love, as it allows me to share knowledge, inspire others, and witness the spark that happens when students discover their own voice through art.
What makes my work unique is its personal and spiritual layer — every piece carries a story or message that invites reflection and wonder. Recently, I’ve been preparing for a new art exhibition, I am not sharing any details yet, but stay tuned!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I believe we meet certain people at certain times for a reason. We bond when our paths align — when we’re on a similar journey or share a sense of purpose. Sometimes we continue growing together, and other times we naturally drift apart. It can be painful, but I’ve learned that it’s often inevitable.
For me, what sustains or breaks a bond comes down to shared principles and mutual respect. If we align on core values, trust, and openness, the connection tends to grow stronger. But when those foundations are missing, the bond weakens. I also believe healthy boundaries are essential — they allow relationships to stay balanced, honest, and nurturing.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
When I was a child and felt scared, I used to imagine myself as the hero of my own story. The hero has to face challenges to grow stronger, so I would tell myself that I needed to be brave and keep going.
I remember once, I had to walk at night behind the house to turn on the generator. I was small and afraid, but I thought to myself — I’m only scared because I can’t see what’s in the darkness, so my mind is imagining scary things. If I just walk, I’ll start to see more clearly. And when I did, I realized there was nothing to be afraid of.
That way of thinking stayed with me — that fear often comes from what we don’t see (/know), and courage comes from taking the first step forward.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that I had no future in my country – that to achieve great things, I had to leave Lebanon. And I did leave for four years, and those years were full of growth, experience, and achievement. But now that I’m back, I realize that I can still pursue my dreams and live them here.
I was afraid to come back, and it wasn’t exactly my choice at first, but deep down I felt that it was time. The transition was hard, but I’m happy to be back home – where my roots are, where my family and friends are. I’ve realized that I can continue to grow strongly from the roots up, despite all the challenges thrown our way.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. I’ve never been someone who just “does as they’re told” — unless I’m truly convinced of it. My mother wanted me to become an architect, and I knew I could, but deep down, I always wanted to be an artist.
I chose to study graphic design, which felt like a middle ground, and it was there that I discovered animation — a new passion that completely captured me. Since then, I’ve been gradually moving away from design and closer to animation and visual art. Now, I’m closer than ever to what feels like my true path. In fact, I recently finished my last branding project and officially signed off on that road — fully embracing the path I was born to follow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://crystelsamiauniverse.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystelsamia/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystel-samia/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_J_lGQmDPggDpwhq9TkGsw
Image Credits
Olivia Samia
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