Barbie Smith – Artist Spotlight

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Barbie Smith and I am an oil painter. I am inspired by any subject with strong design elements including patterns of light and shadow or contrast of color and value. I design my composition by arranging these patterns into simplified shapes and value relationships with a focus on harmonious color.

Why do you do what you do?

Painting gives me the chance to respond to the beauty I find in my everyday surroundings. I am always searching for that hidden beauty in ordinary places. I believe that we are made in the image of our Creator and given the gifts to bring beauty to our world. I am grateful that I have been given a creative gift which I want to develop to the best of my ability.

What themes do you pursue?

I am drawn to peaceful scenes of nature, countryside, vineyards, seascapes and animals. I also enjoy the contrast of architectural structure within the landscape. This may be a barn or a bridge or any other man made element that I find interesting. I enjoy painting from life both en plein air or setting up a still life in my studio.

Describe a real life situation that inspired you.

Taking a walk down a shady road underneath a canopy of Eucalyptus trees I was inspired by the filtered sunlight creating patterns of shadow and light on the path. This resulted in several different studies and paintings and may be a subject for future paintings.

What jobs have you done other than being an artist?

My first job was teaching pre-school in a day care setting. While working there I was asked to paint a few murals on the walls of the school which I did using acrylic paints. I worked for about seven years in a hospital laboratory before graduating from college with my degree in nursing. I then spent the many years raising three children and it was during those years that I returned to my love of painting and began to immerse myself in oil painting.

What are your hobbies?

Since I began oil painting about 15 years ago I have not had much time for any hobbies! I do enjoy cooking and reading and I make time for exercise every day. I am very involved in my church as well. I find that it takes discipline to carve out time for painting and I am continually working on making the best use of my time so that painting remains a high priority.