Clifford Smith's Ocean Field Paintings

One of Spanierman Modern's contemporary artists, Clifford Smith, is currently part of The Art of Fashion in the Hamptons held at Guild Hall (Aug. 15-Oct. 12, 2009). In the exhibition, fashion designers chose works from Guild Hall’s permanent collection as well as local artists’ works as inspiration for hand crafted vignettes. “The exhibition uses both art and fashion to depict how for decades the Hamptons have attracted and nurtured artists, designers, society mavens, as well as ordinary folks, from the locals to weekend renters," stated Ruth Appelhof, executive director of Guild Hall.

We are thrilled that Clifford Smith’s Ocean Field II (2009) was chosen by fashion designer Nicole Miller. Miller said, “Weekends in The Hamptons recharge and invigorate me". While imagery of the ocean can evoke something different within each of us, here Smith shares his thoughts behind these unique seascape paintings (taken from our press release of the show Clifford Smith, held at Spanierman Modern this past January):

Of the “Ocean Field” paintings for which Smith is acclaimed, he notes: “When I’m painting water, I am thinking of how it tastes and feels, of expressing my central response to it, instead of just a visual one.” What motivates Smith is a desire to “get beyond the physical essence of something,” to express a broader understanding of it. “When I’m looking at a landscape, that landscape is alive,” Smith says, “and I’m responding to what I know and feel about it.”

A few samples of Smith's ocean "fields”:

Study for Blue Ocean Field, 2009, oil on paper, 24 x 34 inches

Study for Grey Ocean Field, 2009, oil on paper, 20 x 28 inches

If you'd like info, please see Clifford Smith works, biography, and past Spanierman exhibitions.