Adam D. Smith
Growing up on family boats on the waters of Long Island, I have always been inspired by the beautiful coastline and the magic of the water, not only surrounding the island, but throughout the world. I love watching the dance and twinkle of the ever-changing colors and moods of the water. My intention has always been to represent this subject with the utmost accuracy. It is as much about the precision process of brushstrokes and color mixing as it is about the final product. I want the resulting image to reach out to the viewer, inviting them to look into it, not just at it.
I relish the challenge of translating our environment onto canvas. Whether it be a coastal scene, a nautical-inspired composition, or simply a portrait of water, I love finding the right colors to illustrate our surroundings. Each painting is a carefully calculated decision of composition, light and shadow, and spatial relationships, designed to tell a story and lead the viewer. While not every painting will have the same effect on each individual, I hope each one will make a specific emotional connection and help viewers notice the little things in life.
When I speak to viewers of my work, they often point out little details that they would never notice in real life, or in a photograph. A ripple, a sparkle, a reflection, a rich texture or maybe even some lettering. It piques their interest and causes them to look even closer at the image to see what else they can find. They ask “How did you see that” or “How did you paint that?” It is then that they really begin to notice technique, the layers and the passion that went into this work of art. I find it very satisfying to know that the strokes of pigment that came off by brush, through my hand and from my vision, have made a connection to them, without even speaking a word.
