Charleston native Shannon Smith has quickly ventured beyond the title of up-and-coming artist and has established a solid reputation within the fine art community. Regardless of what subject she chooses to paint, Smith has proven to possess an unusually keen eye and an unrivaled sensitivity to light. It is her attention to detail coupled with the use of strong, warm and cool colors that she uses to delicately capture the fading light of the late afternoon hours. In many of her canvases, Shannon Smith paints strong contrasts of color, with dramatic darks and subdued grey tones juxtaposed with warmer, more radiant hues. But, as always, her main focus is capturing light. Born and raised in the Lowcountry, many of her works are inspired by the beauty of coastal landscapes and downtown Charleston scenes. However, Smith has painted in Europe and studied with nationally known artists such as Kim English and Gregg Kreutz. “I’m inspired by the drama of light interacting with the subject or a mood created by a scene, telling us stories.” For Smith, art has always been a natural part of life. She was raised in a household of artists. Her mother is noted oil painter Betty Anglin Smith, and her siblings Jennifer Smith Rogers and Tripp Smith are also accomplished artists. It was this constant immersion in art that helped foster 34-year-old Smith’s talent from an early age. After completing her BFA at Clemson University in 1994, Smith has been painting professionally. She has been honored by the Oil Painters of America and she is a signature member of the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast.
www.smithkillion.com
