I use images of American culture to construct allegories, sometimes transparent, sometimes not, that represent our daily struggles and triumphs.
University of North Texas, BFA in Studio Art / Drawing and Painting
Art, in one form or another, has always been a defining factor in Robert Smith’s life. From commercial art to cartoons and humorous illustration earlier in his life to painting and fine art now, he has always felt the need to express himself through visual imagery.
Robert has no set pattern for turning a vision into a painting. Sometimes it starts with a thought and a sketch. Other times the idea may come from an old family snapshot or simply observing shadows cast by changing light. Sometimes an idea goes straight from a vision to the canvas but the idea always evolves as the painting itself evolves.
Robert paints solely with oil and generally paints wet on wet. He strives to achieve realism with a "painterly" effect.
Juxtaposing elements abound in Robert Smith’s paintings. The depth and coolness of his blue skies envelop the manmade structures they surround. Straight and curved lines vie for dominance. Closely cropped scenes hint at an untold story. These contrasting effects, however, unite into strongly composed pieces that are both curious and compelling.
