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The Patina Journal - Studio Life Artist Blog

Geoffrey Smith sitting on the floor of his studio working on a project surrounded by other projects with open doors showing more of his studio and some clay molds in the background

This artist blog offers a glimpse behind the curtain, featuring behind-the-scenes photographs of Geoffrey at work, a sculpture spotlight, and a personal message from Geoffrey reflecting on invasive species here in Florida. We would truly appreciate your feedback and welcome the opportunity to answer any questions.


“If we can teach people about wildlife, they will be touched... Humans want to save things that they love.”

- Steve Irwin


Flushing Snipe bronze sculpture by Geoffrey Smith depicting two life-size Wilson's snipe flying together

Sculpture Spotlight


This week's sculpture is Flushing Snipe. Cast in bronze, the piece features two life-size Wilson's snipe. Measuring 12"l x 15"w x 27"h, it brings a sense of movement that makes it a natural conversation piece in both home and office settings.


These little plump birds are the most widespread shorebirds in the United States, often found in marshlands, along quiet shores, and across wet fields. The word "sniper" traces back to the 1770s, born from the challenge of hunting snipe. Their erratic zigzag flight and speeds reaching up to 60 miles per hour make them notoriously difficult to track, let alone capture.



Geoffrey Smith working on his latest clay mold bird piece inside of his studio with more clay molds and reference drawings in the background

Studio News


We often joke that the studio is an "artistic mess." In reality, it is exactly that, and it has always been that way. If you have ever stopped to visit Geoffrey while he is working, you have witnessed this firsthand. The floors might be covered in dust from him carving away at styrofoam blocks to make heron armatures. His hands are almost always covered in clay from working on a new sculpture, and Band-Aids are in demand when he cuts himself with wires and mesh. There is a messy and whimsical magic about the process.


The photographs here reach back a few years, and yet nothing has changed. The studio is just as messy and whimsical as ever. There is an honesty to it all, with nothing staged or polished. It's just the quiet, persistent work of building something from nothing.


The photographs you find here are only a glimpse into his world. Please feel free to stop by the studio to say hello and see what he is working on now.


Geoffrey crafting a wing with images of ospreys in flight behind him

Geoffrey in his element creating a sculpture in his studio
Geoffrey's hands working on an osprey clay sculpture

a close-up of Geoffrey perfecting the feathers on his clay osprey


photograph of a Grey-headed swamp hen walking in the Green Cay Wetlands, a bird with colorful blue and gray colors and a red head and beak in the waters and plants of the wetlands

Geoffrey's Field Notes


On a trip delivering a sculpture, Geoffrey made a stop at Green Cay Wetlands. This nature preserve covers over 100 acres and has a boardwalk to explore.


While taking photographs, he spotted a grey-headed swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus). These birds are not native to the United States. In the 1990s, a number of them escaped in South Florida near Pembroke Pines. Despite efforts to eradicate them, their numbers have increased to the point that they are now commonly seen throughout South Florida.


This is just one of many non-native species posing a threat to our habitats and native wildlife. Click here to learn more from the FWC.



 
 
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