Claudia Smith

Earth Treasures

Oil

Artist Statement:
Ammonite, sweet fossil
for eons you slept,
buried in earth’s matrix womb.

Thrust upward by her undulating waves,
you rode through the cluttered passage of rebirth, emerging metamorphosed,
wearing the attire of your journey:

inner softness now elaborate stone,
luminous spirals, like shells of oysters
a treasure trove of mysterious beauty,
with you, yourself, the pearl.

Sanctuary undone, you lay exposed,
vulnerable to stray sunlight’s uncensored beams. I am like those beams,
Glad to bathe myself in you.

Bio: I’m a graduate of MSU, and former art teacher who’s had experience in various creative endeavors. I’ve exhibited in many venues and won numerous awards—the latest: "Best of Show" in mixed media, Fountain Hills, AZ (2017). My oil diptych and poem: "Etched by Water- Embraced by Time" were purchased by the town for their permanent art collection. I’m chairman of St. Anthony on the Desert’s Arts Council, Scottsdale, AZ, where I spend six months of the year. The remaining are spent in Spokane, WA.

Art has been my passion from the time I could clutch a crayon. Over the years I’ve become more introspective. I’m no longer interested in simply reproducing an object or scene. Rather, I have an intense need to capture its essence, connectivity and energy—its ultimate oneness. The love and drive of these feelings often spill over into an accompanying poem.

The oil paintings I’m submitting are from my Fossil Series. They reflect the awe and reverence I feel toward God’s blessings beneath our feet.

 
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