'Sunflower I' by Teresa Smith, Post-Impressionist Oil, 2019

Description

Signed lower right, 'T.K.S' for Teresa Smith and painted 2019.

A large and vibrant study of sunflower blossoms contrasted against … more Signed lower right, 'T.K.S' for Teresa Smith and painted 2019.

A large and vibrant study of sunflower blossoms contrasted against a background of midnight blue.

(The following is the artists's self-description of her work and process.)

Teresa Smith received her B.A. in Visual Arts at Naropa University. Informed by spiritual practice and a naturalist philosophy, her art combines the richness of oil paint as a visceral material with contemplative practice, producing paintings on ecology with nature as icon.

Influenced by Turner, O’Keeffe, Cezanne, and The Canadian Group of Seven, Smith paints the soul in nature. An appreciation for aesthetics and the deep woods provide seeds for the work revealing color combinations, line, and form. Bold colors and lyrical brushstrokes, scratches and drips of oil paint mutate creating a language of vital sensuality.

Teresa’s oil paintings are about the mystery beneath the surface, the layer woven between worlds. The romance and richness of beauty, earth, salt air, wild roses, cedar and tide.

My Process
I paint landscapes.
I live on a rural island surrounded by wild creatures, huge trees, ocean, mountains and open spaces. I ride a black Arabian mare through the old growth forest trailed by an Irish wolfhound named Griffin. As we move through the woods and vistas I notice colors as they contrast with one another. I notice color, shapes, line and form that I would never have conjured on my own. I especially pay attention to the abstract spaces and patterns. We pause under ancient cedar and listen to water falling. Feeling into the spirit of the place. The forest, especially the ancient ones are rich with a presence.

In the studio I stretch canvas and linen. I do this because I want the finest of quality and workmanship but also to honor and form relationship with surface.

I use oil paint because of its buttery quality and vibrancy of color. I love the smell and the feel under my brush. I love that it is the medium of my lineage of painters. I love its softness and that it is archival and in my opinion the highest quality medium I can use. I love that I can create soft edges and blend beautiful passages. I use lavender essence or soybean oil to clean my brushes and make mediums of lavender, alkyd and walnut oil for making glazes.

I worked in watercolors for many years and as with that medium see the benefit of glazing. That is using layers of paint and alkyd mixtures to create luminosity and light that makes a work “glow.” I work on several paintings at one time allowing them to dry between layers. It takes weeks, months or longer to finish a painting but in the end the work and time pay off.

I am a contemplative painter.
My time in the woods is separate from the studio but the influence is present. I paint from the heart. What comes up as first thought is what I put down. The thought that happens before it is analyzed and translated.

I don’t usually have any idea of a direction when I start a painting. I begin with a thin drippy wash in a warm color like Indian yellow, ochre or transparent orange. I let the layer dry, then the next day create some chaos. Without any pre contrived ideas throw, squish, drip, scrub or scrape some paint on the canvas. The more chaotic the better. At this point I begin making order of the chaos one brushstroke at a time. This is where knowledge of color, composition, design and painterly quality come in. I begin to embellish and refine the shapes that were formed during the first couple of washes. Color is probably my most important consideration. I now focus on what color is a perfect combination to one that is down already. I contrast texture – thin wash next to impasto, for example. I work the shapes as if they are puzzle pieces, I use thin glazes to add luminosity and create colors that are unique and luscious. If things begin to seem too contrived I will grab a palette knife and arbitrarily add thick layers of paint. I will take a sharp instrument like a palette knife and cut through the layers revealing the colors underneath.

There is really no beginning and no end. The work goes on for days, weeks or months. The closer to done a painting gets the slower I go. I stop when the painting feels resolved and seems to have a life of its own.


EDUCATION

2012 Bachelor of Arts, Naropa University, Boulder CO
2009-2010 Bachelor of Arts Program, University of Colorado Boulder CO
2009 Painting and Design, Front Range College, Boulder CO
1998-1999 Painting, Skagit College/Friday Harbor WA
1976-1978 Bachelor of Arts Program Champlain College, Lennoxville PQ

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2017 San Juan Island Theater FH WA
2017 Cynthia’s Restaurant Friday Harbor WA
2016 La Conner Arts Alive La Conner WA
2016 San Juan Island Studio Tour
2016 San Juan Island Theater, Friday Harbor WA
2015 Nyland Community Center La Fayette CO
2011 Boulder Open Studios, Boulder CO
2010 Boulder Open Studios, Boulder CO
Ras Kassa's Restaurant, Boulder CO
2009 Space Gallery, University of Colorado, Boulder CO
Chamber of Commerce, Louisville CO
City Hall, Louisville CO
County Courthouse, Louisville CO
2008 The Artful Cup, Louisville CO
2007 Equine Show The Great Frame Up, Longmont CO
2005 Equine Show Landmark Realty, Niwot, CO
1998 Island Scenes San Juan Theater, Friday Harbor, WA

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2017 Art in Bloom Juried Show Anacortes WA
2016-17 Island Museum of Art Friday Harbor WA
2015-16 Island Museum of Art Friday Harbor WA
2012 Undecim Naropa University, Boulder CO
2011 Member Show Spark Gallery, Denver CO
Heat Next Gallery Juried Show, Denver CO
Colorado Juried art show, Boulder CO
2010 Member Show Spark Gallery, Denver CO
Colorado Juried art show, Boulder CO
2009 Student Show Space Gallery, University of Colorado, Boulder CO
Open Show Spark Gallery, Denver CO
2008 Member Show Boulder Art Association, Boulder CO
National Juried Show Louisville Art Associate, Louisville CO
2007 Watercolors Salud, Longmont CO
2001 Watercolor Florals Daniel Smith Gallery, Seattle WA

AWARDS

2010 Visual Arts Award, CU Colorado.
2009 Cover, Natural Awakenings Magazine, Boulder CO
2008 Best in Watermedia, Boulder Art Association Member Show, Boulder CO
Cover, Natural Awakenings Magazine, Boulder CO
2004 CD Cover Joe Bongiorno, Seattle WA
2003 Signature member status, Northwest Art Association
2002 Poster Selection, Chamber of Commerce, Friday Harbor WA
Award, San Juan County Fair, Friday Harbor WA
2001 Award, San Juan County Fair, Friday Harbor WA less