I am always being asked how I do what I do. How do I see the colors and subject matter. How do I make it work. First, let's begin with the message(s) I attempt to portray. My goal is to allow the viewer to find a connection with my point of view. In my last series of portrait art, I wanted them to be capable of not knowing the person I painted at all, yet somehow they can feel what is being said. More importantly, they can relate to it. My soon to be seen new series, dealing with social issues, is similar but with more complex layers involved. The trick is, I try to create a painting that is self aware. By this I mean that the subject on my canvas is a walking example of the message they portray and knows it. Sounds weird, I know. In my new series, the subjects are conveying points that I want to get across to the public, ideas and personal takes on issues that our society as a whole glorifies daily. A lot of how I get the viewer to feel my work is through complex layers of color theory. I love using layering techniques, but not just to create cool shadows and fades. Everything serves a greater purpose in my approach to colors. When I am asked how long it takes me to finish a work, I like to mention that a large amount of time is spent in preparation, which means lots of staring. I need to see thru the images I am using in order to feel them in my own way. This is where tone progression comes heavily into play. I am continually layers colors that the viewer will never blatantly see, layers that will create a feel to the painting that subliminally plants feelings in the viewer. Then comes the layout. This is where I dictate how the viewer looks at the piece. To me, I could care less where the viewer first starts to look at my painting. I not all about wanting their eyes to start at point A and end at point B. I want them to be able to start at point R and still be able to get the same perspective as if they started at point Y. This is my new weird version of an obsession with perspective so to speak. Basically, lots of effort is being put into decisions regarding object(s) and subject(s) placement. I am not huge on drawing out a dozen different ideas on paper. I figure it out a hundred different ways in my head first. I just stare, make adjustments in my imagination, and decide what is best for me. I am fortunate that my role as an artist can be at this level. My technical abilities allow my interpretive side to flourish at an in depth level. Hopefully this explains it a little bit.
Sincerely,
Brian Smart
