Artist's Statement
The movement of light across sky and water and how that movement affects color is the focus of my work. I challenge myself to capture the many aspects of light permeating everything in a single moment in time, fully aware that in a split second, the constantly changing light will render a different image.
Working in acrylic on handpicked birch panels, I allow some of the wood grain to remain exposed and strive to create natural, organic lines that ebb and flow with the natural patterns in the grain of the wood. This process of following the grain and learning what to paint and what to leave as negative space never ceases to amaze and entertain me as I work. I enjoy working medium to large scale with current works ranging from 24"x24" to 96"x48".
Growing up going to South Carolina’s beaches every summer, sunrises have long been a favorite to catch, because dawn is a calm, unpopulated time, and the spectacular image of the sun popping up over the ocean to begin a brand new day has always thrilled me. The constancy of the sun and the ever-changing quality of light and freedom that the ocean offers heavily influence my work. I hope to remember, recapture, and reclaim a time when the world's beauty never ceased to fill me with wonder and inspired me to believe my dreams will come true.
email: austingracesmith@gmail.com
phone: 843.364.5847
