Joe Smith, Signature Member
Artist Biography
Joe Smith (b. 1954) is a Massachusetts artist who best known for his scratchboard works. His art connects his lifelong enjoyment of drawing with his career as a forester and conservationist. This career has brought him to places off the beaten path, and his art has allowed him to preserve and honor the beauty he has found there.
Joe began using scratchboard in 2010 and his work immediately earned rave reviews and awards. He was accepted as an artist member of the Copley Society of Art, The International Society of Scratchboard Artists (ISSA), the Rockport Art Association and Museum and the North Shore Art Association. His piece, Branches, was awarded the Best in Show Award at the 2015 ISSA Annual Exhibition and he has been honored as a Copley Artist by the Copley Society of Art.
Joe’s favorite subjects are trees and forests and his work is mostly drawn from the varied landscapes of his beloved New England home. His finely detailed work captures the unique character and beauty of the landscapes that exist all around us, but often just out of sight.
Artist Statement
I love to draw. I draw because drawing makes me happy. It helps me to understand a world that is often chaotic and confusing. I draw to remember places and times that are special to me. I draw in response to the beauty that I see all around me, whether it is in the natural or the man-made landscape.
I enjoy using all sorts of drawing and painting mediums, but I have found a particular affinity for scratchboard. I love the striking effects I can produce, whether working in color or black and white, and the ability to add fine detail. It is a versatile medium and I am still learning and exploring with it.
Memberships
Copley Society of Art (Copley Artist status)
International Society of Scratchboard Artists
Gardner Area League of Artists (GALA)
Rockport Art Association
North Shore Art Association
Princeton Art Society
Selected Works
