Gretchen Smith


Profile

Gretchen Smith
Age: 37
City: Paducah
Country: United States
Joined: Jan 2008

Artist Statement of Faith & Works
Gretchen M. Smith
The Christian Art Center
PO BOX 1022, Paducah, KY 42002-1022
270-243-0444 or email: tallartist@hotmail.com

My name is Gretchen M. Smith and I am a Christian Artist. I have been producing work professionally for 14 years and am the founder of the Christian Art Center and a member of CIVA or Christians in the Visual Arts (www.civa.org). I have been blessed to exhibit my art in The Caribbean, Central America, Africa, the Middle East, and of course, the United States. Typically my work is categorized as abstract expressionist paintings but I work in many media and basically follow God’s lead. I also do live demonstrations of black light chalk art and abstract art for audiences of up to 30,000 people.

I often travel and therefore I have been able to share my work and skills with many people in many different cultures. I enjoy teaching children and work with a variety of organizations to help encourage children to develop and explore their God given creativity.

I seek to exhibit my work in venues that encourage cultural gaps to be bridged through religion. My work is on exhibit in secular as well as religious venues. More than 50,000 people participated in the classes, demonstrations, exhibits and outreach programs I coordinated in 2005-2009.

For me, art is essential. If I couldn’t create art, I simply couldn’t breathe. It is also interesting to note that it is the process that is so important to me…not the result. Once a piece is finished I can let it go, to find it’s way in the world, to speak on it’s own.

Finally, I am not the creator, God is. I simply stand in awe of God’s creation and sometimes I feel a deep stirring inside of me and am inspired by God to try to create something. I know it is what God wants me to do. There is simply no other choice. It is my sincere hope that through my work you will come to a better understanding of how magnificent and awesome God really is.

If your church or organization would like to invite me to do a demonstration or exhibit my work or the work of other Christian Artists please don’t hesitate to call me at 270-243-0444 or send an e-mail to tallartist@hotmail.com.