Western Art
NATALIE SMITH – ARTIST STATEMENT – Western Series
As a contemporary western artist, I am interested in exploring the combination of abstract backgrounds with imagined scenes from the Old West, often juxtaposing native and pioneer views. My work reflects my fascination with the interplay between the use of western colors, symbology, animism, and subjects such as painted Teepee’s, Native Americans, Cowboys, Cowgirls, Wagon Trails, and how these elements can be used to create dynamic and engaging compositions.
I draw inspiration from a wide range of sources, including the western landscape where I reside, photographs of the Blackfeet Nation’s painted teepees, shamanism, and the fighting spirit and ruggedness of the individuals who persevered in those days. By layering colors and experimenting with different combinations, I hope to create works that are both visually striking and conceptually rich.
While working on this western theme, I am calling in the spirit of my Native American grandmother who I only met once as a very young child. In that sense, the act of creating these pieces is a deeply personal and meditative experience for me, and I strive to infuse them with a sense of energy, vitality, and forgiveness.
Ultimately, my goal as an artist is to create works are both aesthetically pleasing and emotionally evocative.
