| Gordon Smedt |
Gordon Smedt's painting style develops from traditional impressionism. However he is heavily influenced by the impact of modern pop art. Life's memories continue to play a role in his art but day-to-day observations are his greatest influence and inspiration. He tends to be straightforward in relation to his work. He takes the ordinary, relics of another age or contemporary objects, and bestow them with new meaning and importance. Smedt usually paints inanimate objects. However, he thinks of his paintings as portraits rather than still lives. Smedt paints objects with "human like" qualities-strong in personality. He treats each subject with the same respect a portrait artist would the human body. He paints them boldly, with energy, strong light and color, bringing these objects to life, transforming the familiar into the extraordinary. Smedt prefers painting large canvases. The scale of his work is not only an integral part of his style but also lends to the impact of each item he paints. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Gordon Smedt studied art at San Jose State University before continuing his education at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena California where he was twice awarded merit scholarships and graduated with honors receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1986. Residing in the Los Gatos Mountains in Northern California, Smedt continues to ambitiously paint. "Art is one of the most challenging and rewarding things I live with. I'm constantly striving to elevate my work and surprise myself and others along the way". Gordon Smedt's paintings have been showing in distinguished Art Galleries for the past 22 years, and his work collected internationally. |
| Photo by Peter Carter |
