BY MORGAN SMITH
Morgan Smith ARE6933
There is something enchanting about living in an old place. Walking the same piney trails as the indigenous peoples who originally settled the land and doing business in buildings constructed by those who came after them inspire a sentimental soul. I grew up in Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas. My own Spanish and Native American heritage reflects the history of the town. Looking back at my life, I feel that growing up and living in this enchanting locale played a significant role in the development of my artist’s heart.
Impression Pots, Acrylic paint on canvas
Chief Grandpa, Acrylic paint on paper
Morgan Smith ARE6933
My father and older sister were musicians, and my mother was an elementary school teacher and a florist. I was encouraged from a very early age to practice art and express myself as much as possible. Jaquith (2011) states, “Learners who control their artmaking are guided by intrinsic motivation to find and solve problems of their choosing.� I was intrinsically motivated by personal interest to create art, and I have always felt as though I Windows to the Soul, Ballpoint pen and water
Morgan Smith ARE6933
enjoyed a greater sense of accomplishment since it was my own drive that pushed me to pursue art. In fact, Eisner (1978) states, “The development of competence is one of the major sources of self-satisfaction for children.� This self-made pride helped me develop greater confidence in my work and caused me to continue to develop my art skills. Nacogodches has a thriving art community, and its small-town charm, history, and thick green pine forest make it seem almost otherworldly: a perfect environment for aspiring artists. I recall walking around the various art galleries downtown as a child and admiring works art from all different genres and media. Between the area’s ecology and mythology, local artists never seem to find themselves lacking subject matter.
Morgan Smith ARE6933
Female Model with Prominent Nose, Graphite pencil
Flower Sketch, Graphite pencil
Morgan Smith ARE6933
My mother, whose family had Native American roots, instilled in my sister and me a strong reverence for the natural world, and, in the Pineywoods of East Texas, the dense, dark forest feels like a living, conscious entity. I grew up on two acres of wooded land with a dirt road and innumerable flower gardens. It was the perfect childhood home for a curious kid like me. I told anyone who asked that if I did not grow up to be a professional artist, I wanted to be a “scientist.� (I was never specific about what kind of science would be my focus, because I loved it all.) As soon as I could walk outside by myself, I began to study every plant, animal, and rock I could get my hands on. Naturally, when I discovered ecological specimens that interested me, my first instinct was to draw them. My room was plastered in biologically accurate labeled drawings. I chose subjects to paint much more carefully, as I did not want to waste paint or canvases. I tended to focus on birds, since they were visually distinctive and technically simple. Birds and wildlife are still a favorite subject of mine, and I like to feature my bird pictures prominently in my collections.
Morgan Smith ARE6933
Young Mockingbird, Acrylic paint on canvas
Toucan, Watercolor
Morgan Smith ARE6933
When I began my undergraduate studies as a painting and drawing major, I had very little knowledge of the practical art world. All I knew was that I enjoyed creating. The world of art changed for me, however, when I started my first college level art class. Most art majors’ very first art class is Drawing 1 or 2D Design; mine, however, was Traditional PaquimÊ Pottery-making. In this course, my classmates and I learned how to make pottery in the traditional style of the indigenous people who once inhabited PaquimÊ, an archaeological site in Chihuahua, Mexico. I tried to adorn my forms with traditional lined designs, but the techniques themselves inspired me to create multiple designs based on elements from music (Figures 4 and 5). Although I did not master this art form as well as I had hoped, my artistic interests took a significant turn. Instead of focusing merely on mundane paintings and drawings that I could create to fit in to the Nacogdoches community, I began to focus on historical works. I became particularly interested in Native American and Mexican art and techniques.
Twin Bottles, hand coiled clay and mineral pigment
Music Staff Bottle, hand coiled clay and mineral pigment
Morgan Smith ARE6933 My view toward art and my artistic goals shifted once more when I discovered the study of art history during my first art history survey course. I found that art is so much more than painting and drawing pictures that mimic real life subjects. Art is a philosophy peoples adopt to inspire unification or individuality, to promote beliefs, and to express feelings. I was fascinated by the symbols which over time became conventions and the styles which became hallmarks. Very quickly, it became my goal to emulate and pay tribute to the Old Masters by perpetuating their styles and conventions in order to educate others about their accomplishments, both personal and societal. I continue to create works when I can which draw upon traditional symbols and motifs, often combining Western and non-Western conventions to create unique images with complex meanings.
Memento mori, Acrylic paint on canvas
Self Portrait, photograph
Morgan Smith ARE6933
Although I may not have as many opportunities to make art as I would like, I am pleased with the work I have completed so far in my lifetime. My art has changed greatly over the years, and it is interesting to map my creative development, as well as my shifts in preferred subject matter, over the years. I hope to create more art in the upcoming years, and I imagine my works will continue to reflect my heritage and my vast collection of historical motifs and symbols.
Patron Saint of Dirty Laundry (Self Portrait), Acrylic paint on canvas
Morgan Smith ARE6933
References Eisner, E. (1978). What do children learn when they paint? Art Education, 31(3), 6-10. Hamblen, K. A., & Jones, B. J. (1982). Art theory as a sociological metaphor. Visual Arts Research, 8(2),46-53. Jaquith, D. B. (2011). When is creativity? Art Education, 64(1), 14-19.
Black step pot, Hand coiled clay fired black