Gordon Smedt
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, I studied art at San Jose State University before continuing
my education at Art Center, College of Design in Pasadena California. Entering the college’s
scholarship competition, I was twice awarded scholarships from Art Center where I graduated with
honors receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

The process of painting is a personal experience, yet in its completion my hope is to enrich and
evoke a rewarding experience for the viewer. I get the greatest satisfaction when one of my
paintings causes the viewer to smile.

Early on, especially during art school, my work had many influences. Life and memories have now
become my greatest influence. I tend to be straightforward in relation to my work. I take what is
ordinary be they relics of another age or contemporary objects, and bestow them with new
meaning and importance. Though I usually paint non human and inanimate objects, I like to think of
my paintings as portraits rather than still lives. I treat these objects with the same respect as I do
the human body in figure or head painting. My perspective is directly at these objects, not
necessarily down at them. I paint them boldly with energy, strong light, color, and shadow, giving
these objects a new life of their own, transforming the familiar into the extraordinary.

I prefer painting large canvases. I was unable to work large in previous years because of space
restrictions during art school. After my education, and because of the freedom to paint for myself, I
began painting on a large scale. I have come to realize that the scale of my work is not only an
integral part of my style but it lends significantly to the impact of each item I choose to paint.

Residing in the Los Gatos Mountains in Northern California, I continue to ambitiously paint as often
as I can. It's one of the most challenging and rewarding things I live with. I'm constantly striving to
elevate my work and hopefully surprise myself and others along the way.

My paintings have been showing in distinguished Art Galleries for the past 20 years, and my work
collected internationally.
Copyright © 2000-2008 Gordon Smedt. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

All images are provided for informational, educational and non-commercial purposes only. Images may not
be reproduced without the permission of the Artist.