life, ventures, developments

well, still working on funding for the startup of the restaurant through a couple different sources. and now thinking in the back of my mind with the passion NEw Orleans has always had for art (and the fact there are no good art supply stores close to the studio district) that starting a small art supply store in New Orleans may be a very promising venture. right now there is alot of buildings that are for sale/lease very reasonable because the previous tennants left. thinking about checking with SBA on funding of it as well as several other venues. but thinking it might be a very good way for me to stay working in the arts with a lower stress leval than a restaurant. maybe convert part of the store to a gallery for selling the paintings of the artists I know there (for a less than normal gallery comission).

current development, life, etc.

decided to name the abstract "Vertigo" as the song came on the radio by U2 just when I was finishing it. and seems to fi t it as well as anything. working now on gathering images for the book I have been proposed to illustrate and trying to get things figured out for my restaurant I have been working on starting up. so far I am having doubts about my "investor" as every time I turn around and the funds are supposed to be in place, something new happens and they are pushed back. with no offers to help me in the time being for my extra time being wasted. talking to a couple other people I know and see what they can do if anything. really am starting to get sick of the lack of culture in orlando. the city is run by the big Mouse, and they do all they can to eliminate anything that might take energy away from that. (anybody know if it has to be a specific season for mouse hunting ?)

abstract completed...

well, signed it and am calling it finished. think if I mess with it any more it will look overworked and busy.

artist statement/bio.

realized I do not have a current artist statement so here goes...

Kevin J. Smith
Images in hyper-realism
Kjoel_arts@yahoo.com
(407) 221-5502

I have grown up surrounded by the arts, my dad having a passion for painting and gourmet cooking and my mother being an aspiring (since then published) author and enjoying piano and music. This creative environment provided a strong background for my pursuit of life as an artist. I have been studying the arts for my entire life, but have never been professionally taught. I credit this lack of formal training not as a detriment but instead as a means of inspiration, not having been told what is impossible I set my own boundaries and strive to break down the borders set by convention. I create visual arts with the intention of providing inspiration and showing the beauty of the world around us.
I describe my artwork as hyper-realism (inspired by the writing of Umberto Ecco “Travels in Hyperreality”) the diverse variance of textures, values, and colors is only possible through the combining of oil paints and watercolors. I start by prepping watercolor canvas and applying soft watercolor washes for the sky and diffused elements in the image, these are allowed to dry and then sealed with archival fixative. The subject is sketched in lightly and the necessary areas are covered with transparent gesso. Allowed to dry, followed by oil paints to add detail for the subject. By combining the soft transparent textures of watercolor and the bold colors and textures of oil paints I have created a technique of art that I feel is virtually unlimited in its scope.
· Group Show Cafe Calabria, San Diego CA
· Group show Little Italy Studios, San Diego CA
· Cover illustration, Janet Elaine Hallette.
· Several paintings in private collections nationally.
“I am enough of an artist to draw freely from my imagination, creativity is much more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited, imagination circles the globe.” ~ Albert Einstein.

abstract development...

well, here is the current development of the abstract. starting to look balanced. not sure if it is done, but think if I add much more to it will start to look busy. figure to go back to it this afternoon and see what it looks like then decide if I add to it.

went abstract....

well, here is the current development of the image posted before. decided to go abstract in it, just to play with shapes and colors. not sure yet if it is done or not (or even what direction it will be when finished), but I like what I have so far. image size is 9x12 inches.

impressions of nature, WIP

not totally sure yet what I am going to do with this, but here is the background I have so far for what I am thinking to do along the lines of maybe some wild flowers growing in the dirt and a few sprigs of foliage. not really using a reference image yet just creating from my mind, so we shall see what direction it goes.

Windigo (my doggie)

here is a pic of my puppy (well full grown, but still a puppy in attitude) she is about 2 1/2 years old. Australian Blue Heeler (or that is my best guess).

Dunnottar castle

here is the second in the series of paintings with watercolors and oils. of dunnottar castle in scottland, created for my father as he is a descendant of the castle owners from times gone by. painting is 20"x24" on watercolor canvas.

Pembrokshire Castle

here is the first completed painting I have done using watercolors and oils together. the sky and main water are created with a watercolor wash, then sealed and prepared for oil paints. which were used for the rest of the image. overall size 24"x36" is an image of pembrokshire castle in Whales, originally owned by my ancestors on my mothers side of the family.

first post...

Finally I have done it, I have started an on line publication as an outlet for my visual and literary arts (and I am sure more than an occasional rant or rambling). I had this idea dating way back when I was in highschool, but never got around to doing it. thankfully the name I wanted was still available (SIC) Studdies In Creativity. recently i have started experimenting with a new concapt in painting visual arts by combining watercolors and oils in the same painting, so I have a much more broad range of colors, textures, and values, than any singular media in visual arts. I am calling the technique Impressionist Hyper-realism. inspired by the writings of Umberto Ecco "Travels in Hyperreality". I have completed two painting so far and will have them posted here very shortly.