Artist Lee Smith
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The Artist Says:
My paintings begin like the manuscript of a novel - with an initial plot outline, then they grow as my brush and tools explore the story. The "book" is about the joy of painting and the journey I take whenever I step into my studio. My art is a mix of abstract and expressionism; a reflection of both what I see and what my mind invents. My pieces are frequently populated with brush strokes and texture; they often glow from countless layers of glazing. It is exciting to see what happens during the creation process.
Biography
My home and studio are located in a small town hugging the foothills of the Coast Range west of Portland, Oregon | USA. The breathtaking colors of the Pacific Northwest often radiate in my work.
In past lives I have been a newspaper layout artist, a visual merchandising specialist, a freelance graphic artist, a technical illustrator, an art director and a corporate workaholic. I left all that behind to focus on my art full-time.
Although I studied art in college I prefer to describe myself as 'self-taught.' Years of irreplaceable hands-on experience have provided an extensive and invaluable continuing education in the arts.
My paintings begin like the manuscript of a novel - with an initial plot outline, then they grow as my brush and tools explore the story. It's about the joy of painting and the journey I take whenever I step into my studio. My art is a mix of abstract expressionism and contemporary mixed media. It's a reflection of both what I see and what my mind invents. I prefer to use bold color, strong contrasts and richly varied texture. Currently I favor acrylic heavy body paints with a dash of mixed-media thrown in. My pieces are frequently dense with brush strokes and texture; they often glow from countless layers of glazing. It is exciting to see what happens during the creation process.
I typically have multiple pieces in process at the same time; while working on one piece the others are propped-up nearby. I stare at them, I talk to them, I rail at them....more elegantly, I evaluate a painting’s composition, color and direction. I can then continue working on those pieces with a fresh eye. My hope is that my collectors will join me in finding a unique connection and share my fascination with their color and narrative.
I work hard [...]
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