October Issue 1999
Captured Light Captures Charleston at Wells Gallery
Captured Light, an exhibit
of works by Lowcountry artist Shannon Smith will be on display
at the Wells Gallery, in Charleston, SC, through Oct. 15.
A 27-year-old Charleston native, Smith has already established herself as an up and coming artist with an unusually keen eye for subject matter and an unrivaled sensitivity to light. It is her attention to detail coupled with the use of strong, warm colors that so delicately captures the fading afternoon moments detailed in her current series of works.
"My direction in oil painting is to capture natural light," explains Smith. "That's the common thread throughout this series of works." On display beginning Oct. 1, Smith's latest exhibit features nearly two dozen works whose thematic focuses range from simple still lifes and figurative images to broad, encompassing landscapes.
While the ability to create does not come easy for most people,
it is a natural part of life for Smith, who was raised in a household
of artists. Her mother, Betty Anglin Smith, and her sister, Jennifer
Lynn Smith, are also accomplished painters. Her brother, Trip
Smith, is also an acomplished photographer. It was this constant
immersion in art that helped foster Smith's talent from an early
age.
Pursuing her love of visual art, Smith went on to receive her
BFA from Clemson University in 1994 before enrolling in a yearlong
Masters program at the College of Charleston. Having begun painting
full time just a handful of years ago, Smith has already developed
a solid reputation, and her works have been spotlighted in numerous
galleries and shows all along the Eastern Seaboard, as well as
in the Southwest.
Though born and raised in the Lowcountry, Smith's work covers a much broader range of subject matter. Focusing predominantly on the medium of oil painting, she has shown that, in addition to Lowcountry images, she is adept at capturing still lifes, as well as landscape images from Western North Carolina. "Over the years, I have bounced back and forth between still lifes, figures in everyday life, and images pertaining to Western North Carolina," elaborates Smith. In addition, she plans to add works done during her recent summer trip to Italy, as well.
Though her colors are relatively
grabbing in terms of subject matter, Smith prefers to hone in
on common, everyday subjects. Whether depicting an arrangement
of old bottles in a windowsill, a cobblestone alleyway bathed
in late afternoon light, or an elderly man, chair in tow, heading
off the beach at the end of the day, Smith has the unique ability
to capture quiet, peaceful moments that are often overlooked in
the hustle and bustle of life on the verge of a new millennium.
Her images, however, remind us of the beauty in the simplest of
things, such as a winding, country road or a quiet terrace adorned
with flowers. Combining her love of everyday subjects with the
warm, radiant colors that are so prevalent during the late afternoon
hours is what captures her attention. "Light is what I look
for when I walk around each day," she concludes, - "it
lures me in."
Later in the month, the Wells Gallery will be offering an exhibit
of recent paintings by Joseph Cave. The exhibition will begin
on Oct. 22 and continue through Nov. 4.
For further information check our SC Commercial Gallery listings
or call the gallery at 843/853-3233 or check them out on the web
at (http//www.wellsgallery.com).
Mailing Address: Carolina Arts, P.O. Drawer 427, Bonneau, SC
29431
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