Paul Smith
As an artist and master printmaker, I have created many of my own prints, as well as paintings. My studio is waterside on Scotland Island, Pittwater, in Australia. In my prints and paintings are the subtle depths of the water around us. In a single glance, water absorbs a multiple of planes, light and colour. It is a constant source of information. My most recent work combines the woodblocks and paintings to create a sculptural and 3D surface so that the jetties jump out of the water.
My beginnings in Fiji have also inspired me. The importance of symbols is paramount to the life of these artworks. I have developed a suite of prints called Skins, based on shirts and fabrics with traditional island patterns. These patterns are reminiscent of the undulations in landscapes.
I have been working as a Master Printmaker for the last 25 years. I have collaborated with some of Australia’s most prestigious artists to produce limited edition colloblocks. Colloblock printing is a technique I developed that combines woodblock and collagraph into a multi-plate colour print. Recently I have been working with Tim Storrier, Euan Macleod, David Boyd, Jasper Knight, Salvatore Gerardi and many more.