Preston Smith

Through my artwork, I am mainly interested in exploring the existential experience of the human being. I find myself constantly infatuated by “scenes”, almost “freeze-frames” of the human experience, ranging from the ordinary to those bordering on insanity. I am not concerned with adhering to specific “genres” that exist in art, in fact I will sometimes mix many different techniques in the same painting. Rather, my work focuses on and is an expression of the human condition, incorporating feelings of confusion, suffering, depression, wonder, nostalgia, empathy, happiness, etc.. Though my work many times features strong elements of realism, these “scenes” come mainly from my imagination and therefore can be quite abstract. However, I do deal with the human figure in many paintings and when doing so I am concerned primarily with emotional content. Eyes are a focal point in many of my paintings, and I also deal with the appearance of human skin much as I would with fabric. This makes my work stand apart from many figurative paintings. I keep myself constantly inspired by surrounding myself with music, literature, movies, and by cultivating my own everyday experiences. This is what feeds my art and helps it to grow and change with every passing day.