Finally posting some new work! Trying out a new style of painting mixing spray paint and oil paint techniques. Figuring out the spray painting is tricky but a fun experience. I am doing a new series with an animal head skin theme. This one is a koala, it is encompassing a person looking to puncture and drain his heart for a foundation of love. It is kind of a reference to my 20's, a time when I was looking for something that I had no concept of.

Latest painting

Here's my newest work completed!! It's the first entry into my new series in which I am addressing social issues in our country.  This one is touching on obesity.  To me, it has become a new version of modern art.  A lot of modern art, in my opinion, is an artist taking the easy way out, showing that while they may have something to say, they are content with not putting forth effort and leaving their message vague, something only the artist could explain.  Looking at blobs of color or splashes of line strokes in basic and/or abstract shapes to me means absolutely nothing.  I could interpret it as anything at all.  The depth to it requires no intelligence, just people trying to act like they have sophisticated mindsets.  And people all over the world accept this because its "art".  Obesity in our country is in a lot of ways accepted in the same sort of way.  "Its not the victims fault, its their genetics, their upbringing, they are just as they are supposed to be".  When in reality, they are products of their own demise.  Not to be inhumane, I understand that depression, life's struggles, child bearing (for women), financial easy ways out, commercialism, mental abuse, social abuse, etc does impact this disease and amplifies it dramatically.  But it still comes down to the individual.  Like the overly abstract artist, the obese person decides everyday not to work on themselves but to accept the easiest method to achieve happiness, when in actuality, they are destroying themselves.  

How I Make It Work

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

Been working

My first new painting in this series in underway!! I am fusing two types of painting styles together and crossing my fingers that the look turns out great.  It should, cause it does in my head, but ya never know.   So here's to being productive and striving to achieve goals!! The next several months will be busy and full of work, so be on the look out on the website for new work when its finished.

Sincerely,

Brian Smart

Working on new stuff

I am currently working on research for a 10 piece series on modern social issues.  It is going to encompass a variety of topics and while staying stylistically harmonious, the presentation will have more to it than my last series that dealt with emotional states.  Cannot wait to be done with the studying aspect so I can get to painting!! PS, if anyone reads this and would like to be considered a model for one of my works, please email/message/find a way to contact me :)

Sincerely,

Brian Smart

Most Recent Portrait Piece

Here is the last piece of portrait work I finished in 2012.  It is 29"x29", oil on linen.  Titled "Sobriety", the concept is that we find ourselves surrounded by whatever is holding us back all the time.  It encompasses our entire life, sometimes the wall is thick, sometimes it is thin.  It is easy to give in, to never want to look the problem in its face.  But once you do, you can stand right in the middle of the thick and thin and find your path to personal salvation.  I feel this piece can speak to various people dealing with issues.  I hope seeing it inspires people to look at themselves and no longer deny whatever it is holding them back.

Sincerely,

Brian Smart

Xmas gift

Here's what I created for my girlfriend for xmas-

She's obviously a huge David Bowie fan.  It's on a 36"x48" canvas.  I used oil, acrylic, and spray paint to make it.  I had never done any type of street-art-style work before so this was fun to figure out.  The concept of the piece is reflective on when we lose ourselves inside a projection/character that we want the world to see us as.  As an artist, I myself fell into this as I have been focused on portrait art for a few years now.  It was fun to draw back upon my overly creative days in order to make something like this.  To me, we should never forget our phases in life over the years.  It is what has built us into who we currently are, whatever that may be.  

Sincerely,

Brian Smart