David Smith

I want to make paintings that make the viewer ask ‘How were those made?’ and to make paintings that resemble objects other than paintings - specifically foodstuffs. Cakes, ice cream, boiled sweets, desserts, anything that is edible, palatable and enticing become sources of subject.

When I was a child I remember having a strong inclination to put the putty-like toy Play-Doh in my mouth. Gloss paint, by its nature, has that same pseudo-edible quality for me, in its consistency, attractive colours and sweet smell.

When making a painting, I first look at a specific foodstuff and note its colour combinations. I select some of those colours and arrange them in a relationship that I feel works. This can be tonally harmonious or welcomely awkward.

The paint is applied to the surface by pouring: by pivoting the support and allowing gravity to manipulate the paint, I build up layers of slick, smooth, reflective gloss to create shapes, sometimes resembling a ribbon blowing in the wind, or a landscape, but the process is mostly concerned with paint as a medium and the unorthodox application of paint to a surface, reminiscent of the techniques used by Jackson Pollock and Ian Davenport.

Camberwell College of Art (2002 - 2005)

Graduated with Bachelor of Arts Upper Second Class Honours degree in Painting.

Eastbourne Open 2015

Dates: July 4, 2015 - July 25, 2015
Venue: Art Under Ground, The Under Ground Theatre, Eastbourne
Group show of local artists to coincide with Eastbourne's Open Festival 2015, featuring works by Patricia Latham, Valerie Maclean, Abigail Myers, William Anthony Josephs, Andrew G. Forrest and David James Smith.

New Paintings

Dates: Sept. 22, 2006 - Nov. 5, 2006
Venue: Rocket Gallery, London, UK
Jonathan Stephenson / Rocket presents the first solo exhibition by London-based David James Smith. Ten new paintings will be exhibited. His paintings are built-up by repeatedly pouring glossy household paint. Each new layer obscures part of the previous layer. They are created with equal measures of chance and control.

Rocket Exchange

Dates: Sept. 16, 2005 - Nov. 5, 2005
Venue: Paragraph, Kansas City
...featuring work by Gerold Miller, Will Taylar, Lars Wolter, David James Smith and Michelle Grabner.