Latest Artwork
Inspired by visits to the Dark and White Peak in the English Peak District, this view depicts the Ladybower Dam, together with the reservoir and Ladybower bridge.
The choice of an abstract piece, compared to the more traditional landscape paintings of artists such as Constable, I feel evokes the ruggedness of the landscape, typified by escarpments and outcrops of gritstone.
Painted on canvas, each individual element was firstly masked, then painted with acrylics. By making use of acrylic matt medium, sparingly painted over the edge of each piece of masking tape, paint bleed was eliminated, resulting in a succession of crisp, clean lines.
Forthcoming Artworks
A visit to the Essex seaside resort of Walton-on-the-Naze, with its beach, pier and colourful beach huts provides a wealth of inspiration.
Just to the north is the Naze, an unspoilt headland of heath, saltmarshes and sandy beaches, its 70 foot high cliffs under constant erroision from the North Sea.
It is also the site of the 86 foot Octagonal Naze Tower which houses an art gallery.
Artists Statement
Steve Smith's early work began with the exploration of memories watching cartoons coupled with a developing interest in pop art, influenced by artists such as Alec Monopoly and Nigel Humphries. Working in acrylics and spray paints his work featured vibrant colourful backgrounds, with elements found in the work of Jackson Pollock, and collages linked to the characters. With the development of digital software his work extended into the creation of three-dimensional models, often recreating key characters from story books, television series and films.
Currently his work focusses on depicting the natural and urban landscape though creating abstract, geometrical acrylic paintings. By limiting pieces to just a series of interconnected straight lines, he looks to evoke a memory of a particular place, which through the use of solid blocks of colour present the landscape as a series of interconnected minimalist forms.
Each piece begins with a photograph of the landscape from which he works digitally to isolate the key forms and convey them using only straight lines. The digital drawings are then carefully measured and precisely transferred to the canvas before each element is subsequently masked and painted.
Ultimately his goal is to present a minimalist interpretation of each landscape, inviting the viewer to fill in the detail from their personal memories and recollections of the particular location.