Richard Bell Smith

I grew up close to the outdoors, and from an early age I was fascinated by the world of nature. As a youth in the decade of the fifties I would spend long summer days observing wildlife, collecting leaf samples, and sketching scenes from around our north woods Michigan home. Winters were passed interpreting these memories in oils on canvas. I felt completely immersed in the colors, sounds, aroma, and even the taste of the forest. This was the beginning of a lasting and intensely spiritual relationship with nature that permeates my art to this day.

For the past many years I have concentrated my efforts on making welded bronze and copper sculptures. I feel that working directly with molten metal is an ideal way to capture the spontaneous yet orderly flow and rhythm of organic forms. My sculptures tend toward the subjective end of the impressionist/photographic spectrum. I strive to capture and communicate the essence of a tree as I experience it rather than to produce a literal copy of the original. The result is a tree sculpture that unmistakably evokes “aspen,” while a close scrutiny reveals that the leaves are not a literal copy of aspen leaves, at all. Art imitates life. But a work that is a mere copy of nature is illustration, not art. And if too much is filtered out of a rendering the resulting abstract work of art is relevant only to the artist and those few who share his vision. I prefer to produce art that appeals to a broad spectrum of viewers.

On a more philosophical level it is my desire that my sculptures may inspire those who routinely see only the decorative aspect of art to delve into a more introspective way of viewing, and this way to satisfy not only their craving for beauty, but to deepen their understanding, as well.