I was recently required to write my first real artist statement. I thought I would share it with DA.

Artist Statement:

The core driving force behind my work is a sincere desire to mirror the uncertainty and confusion that repeatedly presents itself in our lives. By juxtaposing seemingly unrelated or contradictory imagery, I am heightening a sense of confusion and ambiguity. The process of understanding the relationships between elements within my work is not something unique to viewers. This process is something I participate in while creating a piece. Because I do not intend there to be only one possible interpretation of my work, I am always interested in hearing how others interpret my work.

For me, creating art is not therapeutic. A concentrated sense of internal restlessness and anxiety presents itself while I work, which can only be calmed by resolving issues within my work to my satisfaction. I begin by hastily tearing pages from magazines, using them based on color or tonal quality, and not subject matter. Layering magazine clippings, pictures and sometimes text on a panel, I create a thick, wrinkled texture, using a paint roller and white glue. Once the initial layer is dry I will sometimes draw over it with markers, charcoal, water-based paint or spray-paint stencils onto it. A layer of shellac is then applied to seal the collage and prime the surface for oil paint. As I paint, I continually wipe areas down with a cloth and rework them, or change areas completely. The smooth layer of shellac allows me to paint in a more “trial and error” fashion. I tend to limit the dominant colors I use in a work to two or three. Working in several stages and layers, I create a density unattainable with paint alone.

The subject matter in my work focuses on juxtaposing images that people tend to tie a lot of meaning to. These can include people, common objects or scenery. These juxtapositions are meant to be challenging and promote critical thinking, and are sometimes meant to be overwhelming. Incorporating these images with various abstractions creates a dense system of meaning and content through which viewers can navigate to create their own meaning.

My intent is not to answer questions, but rather to ask them.

Kevin Smith