Larry Smitherman
My Inspiration
As a traditional artist for many years specializing in portraits with a contemporary flair, I try to present in those portraits a view of the subject with a suggestion of the spirit contained within. Occasionally I am moved to let the spirit show itself unrestrained, letting it dance and allowing the viewer to decide what the vessel that contained it might have been. Spirit Dancer is such a painting. While working in my studio one day, I became aware of a small section of my paint-spattered easel and the more I was drawn to its colors and textures, the more the form of Spirit Dancer became fixed in my mind. As I translated that idea to the painting, I began to feel the entity that may have surrounded the spirit. It is my hope that other viewers will find inspiration for their own interpretations.
My Design Strategy
Growing up in the High Plains country of far West Texas, I was constantly aware of the randomness, and yet the orderliness of my surroundings. I saw the natural forms of the huge sunsets, cap rock mesas and strange plants as the result of a grand design that I attempt to recapture in both my representational and abstract art. Color, form, balance and excitement—those are my design elements.
My Working Process
Even though I am known as a traditional painter I use contemporary techniques and materials. This is particularly true with abstract works such as Spirit Dancer, which was completed on heavy blotter paper using acrylic paints. I started out with the brush loaded with lots of water and during the course of the painting poured with heavy thick pigments. During the process I worked with a heavy impasto technique while some of the image remains very transparent with a watercolor effect.
Contact Details
Email: larry@larrysmitherman.com
Website: www.larrysmitherman.com