Rising Above Artist Blog - The Patina Journal
- Geoffrey C. Smith
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Welcome to The Patina Journal. This artist blog features a sculpture spotlight, studio news, and field notes from Geoffrey's trip to Scotland.
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“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”
- Aristotle
An Exciting Call
For those who might not know, we had a humbling and amazing opportunity at Geoffrey C. Smith Galleries. One of Geoffrey's pieces, the lotus "Rising Above," was given to Pope Francis by the President on May 24th, 2017, during the President's meeting with the Pope at the Vatican.
The community outpouring of support for Geoffrey and his artwork is encouraging and inspiring. In a recent interview with Stuart Magazine, long-time collector Mary Ann Houghland said, "I am absolutely delighted that people outside the state of Florida are getting an appreciation for the talents of a wonderful artist, gentleman, husband, and father.”
Eve Samples with TCPalm wrote, "How a sculpture to the Pope made us a little less testy about Trump." She pointed out that once the news hit, "What followed was a swelling of community pride that could not be disturbed by politics."
That opportunity was a meaningful moment in Geoffrey's career, and now, nearly a decade later, it is especially exciting to see that same path continue in a new way. Since 2024, Geoffrey has been working on eagle sculptures for the State Department, and it has been a remarkable reminder that the reach of his work has continued to grow.
It is encouraging to look back on how far Geoffrey's work has reached, and just as encouraging to see where it is going. Please feel free to contact us or stop by our studio location in Port Salerno with any inquiries!
-- Geoffrey C. Smith Galleries Staff
Photo Credit: Tom Winter
In the Studio
When you have an artist as passionate about his work as Geoffrey, he's always there working in the studio. As we dig through our older photos, we've found many, many examples of this. Here he is sculpting one of his sculptures, a pair of doves that he named "Unity." This sculpture drew inspiration from recent events at the time, and it conveys unity, love, and peace.
For this piece, he has used wax instead of clay. When warmed, the wax is malleable to his touch and allows for finer and smoother details than the clay he normally uses. Please reach out if you would like more information on this sculpture.
Geoffrey's Field Notes
When asked what inspires me, my normal reply is "the world around us." Some places, like Scotland or the Everglades, are rich with wildlife and beautiful landscapes. Other places you have to have an eye for observation to see the Ibis in the parking lot, the Kingfisher on the power line, or the Osprey perched in the dead tree.
This week, I am sharing my trip to Scotland with all of you. My wife and I, joined by two friends, once traveled to Edinburgh, Glenesk, St. Andrews, and Oban. Everywhere you look, there are sculptures, castles, wildlife, and lush landscapes. There is no shortage of art inspiration.
One thing I have always felt strongly about is that good art makes a connection, conveys an emotion, and tells a story. Along our travels, I came across the Dragon of Dundee by Tony Marrow. The Dundee partnership commissioned this sculpture to commemorate the local legend of the dragon and nine maidens. The story is about a farmer who sent one of his daughters to the well. After time passed and she did not return, he sent another daughter to investigate the cause of her delay. The farmer continued to do this until the last of his nine daughters was sent to the well. She fell to the same fate as her sisters and was overtaken by the dragon, but before she perished, some locals, including her sweetheart, heard her screams. He rushed to her aid and slew the dragon. This is a great example of a sculpture telling a story that is hard to forget.
With Scotland's rich history, I found a story behind almost every painting or sculpture we came across. The way their art preserves history and keeps stories alive is the way I hope to preserve the presence and stories of our wildlife.
