Press Releases

Escaped Artist Surfaces

Trapped in the concrete and cubicles of the Dallas business world for 25 years, J. R. Smith surfaces in Fort Davis, Texas. He will be the feature artist of a one-man show at the Twin Souls Coffee House and gallery for the month of July.  

Raising a family took him from the ranches to town. When his youngest graduated from Texas Tech a year and a half ago, he began to plan his exodus. Now spending his days in the Davis Mountains, he records countless reference photographs. His work now expresses and records the many beauties the Big Bend displays daily. He works to capture these vistas and broaden his “daydream escape’ portfolio.

He is known for his beach and seascapes, he calls “daydream escapes”. These are meant to trigger memories of far away “favorite” places or events of the viewer. Thus giving the owner of the piece an opportunity to escape the pressures of the day by a momentary daydream.  

Not wanting to be pegged a ‘beach artist’ only, J. R. is known for his variety of work. He too, likes for his work to look rough, if not primitive, to steer from looking manufactured. It ranges from the emotions of his abstracts, to the detail of his architectural portraits. His portraits are often void of detail, if it is not pertinent in capturing the character of the person. Much like his favorite, Amedeo Modigliani, he won’t overwork a portrait.  

He loves people and strives to record their uniqueness. The show at Twin Souls is entitled “They Make the World Go Round”. It is mainly his people, from the famous, to the “ should be famous”.  Representation of the true Texas bluebonnet is an obligation he feels as a true Texan. The reception of these has led to two such bluebonnet pieces be produced in limited edition prints. These have been popular outside of Texas too.

New Big Bend work by Mr. Smith can be seen at Galleria La Esperanza in Fort Davis. He now has a night/weekend studio there in the gallery. He can be found there most nights working on several canvases at a time.  

On July the 7th, he will be at Twin Souls from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for the show reception. The public is invited. Twin Souls Coffee House and Gallery is located at 209 North State Street in Fort Davis.

March, 2005

"Dallas artist tops the night" at the first in the Houston Eastman Gallery Series of 2005 shows.  A Houston collector had to have J. R. Smith's triptych, "Red Beach Border," 3' x 6'.  Mr. Smith captures the images of freshly washed up red seaweed on the beach just west of Galveston on a bright May morning.  In the distant gulf is a shrimp boat and a red tiled roof down the beach.  Gulls in the surf and pelicans patrolling the shore highlight the piece.  Later the collector and his wife decided to round out their selection by taking all three of a series called, "Pelican Patterns," Nos. 1, 2, & 3.  The triptych was by far the most significant sale of the night.  Add to it the other series and Mr. Smith had to be pleased.

February, 2005

A Good Day Done

20" X 20"

Delivered to Woodbine Development Company for Hyatt Regency Hotel - DFW Airport .  (Lucchese boots)