Eli Smith
Yet to Find a Name, 2015
Oil on panel
48 x 24"

Artist Statement
I work with oil paints, mostly without the use of any medium so as to create very opaque rendering. My goal in creating art is always concentrated on the end product, and as such I'll spend as much time setting up and prepping a piece as I will actually putting paint to surface. I tend to view the process of painting as just that, a process. I am most interested in how the work looks when it is finished, not so much in the actual "experience" of the painting process. This is because of my focus is on how the imagery itself will affect the viewer, whom I am interested in creating a connection with through the painting.

I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Tourette Syndrome during my school years. Because of this, I have struggled with the need to control both my mind and my body. A large part of gaining control was through the help of therapy. The big turning point came in a group session when I got to meet other kids who had the same conditions I had. This was a cathartic experience, in which I got to meet first hand other people who struggled as I do. My goal is to create this same sense of solidarity with those who view my work, by making an emotional connection through imagery. Therefore, my goal as a painter is to elicit emotion.

Being fascinated with the human figure's ability to express emotion, I am determined to create, through the rendering of form and posture, bold imagery that cannot be ignored. I believe that the connections we make with images can be powerful, becoming a way to accept how we feel and the need for healing.

My hope is that my art can be a source of therapy through recognition and empathy.

About
Eli Smith is an artist based in the Philadelphia region working in oil paint. Most of his work deals with the human figure, with an emphasis on form eliciting emotion.

He draws much of his inspiration from his experience growing up with mental disability, specifically his Tourette Syndrome and OCD, as well as his brothers' Autistic Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. He uses this personal history as a starting point for creating his imagery.

elismithart.com

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