Artist Interview with Thomas Smith

Artist Interview with Thomas Smith

Purchase fine art for sale by Thomas Smith.


Welcome to AllArtWorks Featured Artist Series!


1. What other profession is similar to being an artist and why?

Maybe an explorer? Whenever I start a painting I just have a vague idea where I'm going. After a lot of uncertainty and confusion, hopefully something appears on the horizon. When I hit "land" I plant my flag and say "this is mine!"


2. What’s the nicest thing you can remember someone said about your work, or an individual piece?

I once painted a picture for a client of her house. She said "you've captured my love for my home." I thought that was nice.


3. What’s one thing you’d like everyone to know about you as an artist?

I sometimes have pancakes for dinner. And every picture I paint is filled with my hopes, anxieties, frustrations, ambitions, insecurities, doubts, revelations, joy and ultimately some kind of epiphany. So be gentle with your criticisms.
4. What was the last piece of art that you saw that blew you away?

I seem to be blown away every time I go on the AAW website. Besides that, I once saw one of Van Gogh's iris paintings at the Getty in L.A. Stunning! Like getting sucked up by a tornado and dropped in Oz!


5. What’s something you haven’t done but you want to do in art/painting?

Less imagery. More feeling. But today I'll settle for mist.


6. Which artist do you like better - Ingres or Delacroix, and why?*

I love both these artists! But if I have to compare the two, I prefer Ingres. Delacroix is monumental, epic - a lot going on in his canvases. Ingres is more intimate. I love how he paints faces. They're so elegant. I love how he paints fabric and skin.

*The reason we ask about Delacroix and Ingres is because they were contemporaries with wildly different styles!