Three Articles of Good News

David Orrin Smith, “Plein Air Waves in Kona, Hawaii 1 (detail)”, watercolor, 12 x 16”, 2021. See more work like this for a limited time here.

I bring three articles of good news.

First, four paintings of mine will be shown in two upcoming exhibitions, “Landscape: Serene and Savage” at the MVA Gallery in Bethlehem, PA, from August to September, the Northstar Watermedia Society National Juried Art Exhibition at the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, WI from September to October. I am grateful to the galleries and to the jurors for inviting my art.

Second, Lakeside School’s Alumni Magazine won an award, recognized in the annual "Circle of Excellence" award sponsored by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, receiving a 2023 gold medal in the category of general excellence for magazines published by independent and international schools. Thank you to Carol and Jim - your collaboration has generated a meaningful body of work which would otherwise not exist.

Spread featuring plein air work in Lakeside Magazine, including the award-winning painting “Plein Air, Sunlight at Log Boom Park, 5:30-6:30pm, 4.25.23, 5:30-6:30pm”, Watercolor, 40 x 60”, 2023

Third, a special response to Boston MFA’s exhibition “Hokusai: Inspiration and Influence”. If you can see it - you must. The exhibition concludes Sunday, July 16. I am inspired to share some of my work that draws on such influence.

Entering the exhibit, I had a general sense of how Japanese Edo woodblock prints had affected the artists most influential to me, but many of these works I’d only ever seen in book reproductions, small, flat, and distant.

Seeing the work in the flesh, my life changed. I stood agape at the intricacy and mastery of the art, stylized but naturally derivative, more real than real.

Some images are so deeply penetrating that I’ve been drawing them for years, pulling them from a shared dream. In them I recognize my art; in my art, I recognize them. Thus I associate with many artists who owe gratitude to Hokusai, to his contemporaries and other inspired artists.

Please enjoy “Hokusai Connections”, pieces from the exhibit as well as related work of mine implicitly or explicitly referencing these pieces.

Until next time,

David

David Orrin Smith, “The Fishermen”, ink, colored pencil, white chalk on ink-tinted paper, 9 x 12”, 2020. This image draws direct inspiration from: Utagawa Kuniyoshi, “The Former Emperor (Sutoku) from Sanuki Sends His Retainers to Rescue Tametomo (detail, first panel)”, woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper, about 1851-52

Details of Invited work:

Invited to upcoming show “Landscape: Serene and Savage” at the MVA Gallery in Bethlehem, PA: “Plein Air from 2400 South Hill, 1.22.22”, watercolor, 22 x 30”, 2022. “Plein Air, 2.22.22, Snow”, Watercolor, white gouache, 18 x 24”, 2022. “Plein Air, Snow, 3-3:30pm, 12.29.21 Weds”, watercolor, 18 x 24”, 2021.

Invited to the upcoming Northstar Watermedia Society National Juried Art Exhibition at the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, WI: “Plein Air, Waves and Clouds at Alki, ~3-4pm, Windy, 2.7.23”, watercolor, 30 x 42”, 2023.