Although his studies and experiments were extensive, Gary Ernest Smith is most often labeled a regionalist drawing comparisons to such artists as Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Wood. The work of Gary Ernest Smith reflects the artist, expressive but humble, and is grounded in the rural and religious. The social commentary is a sturdy hymn of the beauty of hard work, a lament for a way of life that is at risk of fading away, and the beauty that exists in everyday scenes—not just the extraordinary.
Published online courtesy of Western Art Collector, February, 2014
Pubished online courtesy Southwest Art, August, 2014
Published courtesy Western Art Collector, February 2009
Reprinted courtesy Western Art Collector, February 2008
Part 1: Early on in his artistic journey, Gary was drafted into the Vietnam war. He ended up becoming a war artist for the army, working as a teacher at a military school, and finally just came to the realization that he had to create amazing pieces of art. Gary has incredible words of wisdom about how to be successful in the arts.
Part 2: we discussed his field paintings and how they resonate with not only myself but with others. We also discuss Maynard Dixon's history and the sculpture that Gary did of Maynard Dixon. This is a wonderful podcast to watch as Gary shows some of his paintings. He's been painting his entire whole life and he tells us some very interesting stories including how he got represented by Ray Johnson at Overland. Gary discusses the positive and negative of having mainly one gallery represent one's work.