Meet Philip K. Smith, Michael Carson and Jan Maarten Voskuil, three artists who share the inspiration behind their awe-inspiring work.
You may recognize these three individuals based on the incredible work they produce. However, the art itself is only the product of something far more unique, their inspiration. Inspiration is the driving force behind all creation and innovation; find out what inspired Philip K. Smith to experiment with the playful nature of light, Michael Carson to paint beautiful, symbolic depictions of women, and Jan Maarten Voskuil to transform a canvas into a magnificent piece of 3D art.
Photography by Lance Gerber Photography
Philip K. Smith illuminates the art industry with his impressive large-scale light installations. Playing with the possibilities of the color spectrum, Smith’s work captivates an observer’s attention through the vivacious and luminous hues that radiate throughout an exhibit. Inspired by the relationship between the desert and natural light, Smith created lighting exhibits to capture the wondrous essence of this cycle. “When I came back to the desert in the late 2000s, I had a great re-awakening about the beauty of this place,” Smith explains. “When I lived here as a teenager, I couldn’t wait to leave, but when I came back, I realized just how beautiful it is here daily. An incredible natural light phenomenon happens all around the desert every day, multiple times a day. The change of the light and shadows from the mountains and the shift of colors in the sky from noon to sunset naturally made their way into my work.”
“When I came back to the desert in the late 2000s, I had a great re-awakening about the beauty of this place,” Smith explains. “When I lived here as a teenager, I couldn’t wait to leave, but when I came back, I realized just how beautiful it is here daily. An incredible natural light phenomenon happens all around the desert every day, multiple times a day. The change of the light and shadows from the mountains and the shift of colors in the sky from noon to sunset naturally made their way into my work.”
Photography by Lance Gerber Photography
The product of Smith’s genius can influence the mood and ambiance of a space. A cool blue and purple glow will often give the feeling of euphoria as if transported to space or a deep, secluded sea cave, while warm amber and orange hues can make you feel as if you’re engulfed in the auroras of a magnificent sunset.
Smith’s passion for art is not a recent development, but a lifelong journey. It traces back to his childhood when he found joy in drawing and was a frequent winner of art awards in elementary school.As he grew, he discovered another passion, architecture. This dual interest, he believes, is the key to the caliber of his works, as they blend the precision of an architect with the creativity of an artist.
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Photography by Lance Gerber Photography
Smith explains that both of his interests coincide, helping him create his works to the caliber they are.
“I think that with the art I create now, I couldn’t be doing what I’m doing if I hadn’t been trained as an architect. There is a lot of overlap between the two. Instead of designing buildings, I’m designing spaces and thinking about viewer experience and things that architects think about, but through the lens of an artist”
Photography by Lance Gerber Photography
Photos courtesy of Bonner David Galleries
Michael Carson is known for his dynamic and expressive figurative paintings on panel and canvas, with nondescript, abstract backgrounds that highlight the emotions and gestures of his subjects.
Carson is a Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduate, where he learned to hone his skills, which led him to create magnificent and evocative pieces. However, professional artist workshops Carson attended added depth and crucial insights to his craft.
“I think the defining moment came when I tried my first oil painting,” Carson remarks. “I was 28 and had been working as a product designer for 6 years. I walked into a gallery one night and saw a painting that made me want to try painting. So I did and decided right then that it was what I was going to do, no question.”
Photos courtesy of Bonner David Galleries
Carson’s passion for painting directly translates into his work. The emotions of the beautifully painted figures emanate through the canvas and directly touch the viewer. Some may think the paintings are planned meticulously. However, the opposite is true. Carson’s creative genius stems from spontaneity.
“I’m not completely aware of why I come up with the pieces I do,” Carson says. “I like figures and compositions of figures interwoven and making interesting negative shapes and all that comes with those design decisions. I suppose I’m influenced by all the other things that inspire me as well. But I do love the freedom of getting into the studio and doing whatever happens in that moment.”
Photos courtesy of Bonner David Galleries
In the 20 years that Carson has been represented by Bonner David Galleries, his art and technique have continued to evolve, and his career has ascended to new heights.
“Art has opened up so many different opportunities for me,” Carson says. “I have been able to travel to paint. One of my favorite things is traveling to Italy every year and teaching a workshop in a little vineyard outside of Florence. This act of traveling always inspires me to get back to the studio to paint. It’s an excellent cycle I get to repeat.”
Portrait by Harry Cock, Art photos courtesy of Bentley Gallery
An artist who truly takes things to the next level is Jan Maarten Voskuil. Voskuil stretches his paintings into the third dimension. Utilizing a wood canvas, Voskuil curves the wood, stretches the frames with linen and usually paints them in monochrome colors. The result is a work of art that partly stands in the tradition of the twentieth century’s constructive, minimal and concrete art.
Voskuil graduated with a Master of Arts from the State University Groningen. Originally inspired by the art created in the 19th century, Voskuil honed his focus into his painting skills, however, over time, Voskuil wanted to branch away from what has already been done before and embark on his journey of originality.
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Portrait by Harry Cock, Art photos courtesy of Bentley Gallery
“I started making the art I originally hated,” Voskuil says. “It’s weird how you develop in a direction you wouldn’t expect. I thought I would become a 17th or 19th-century realistic painter; it went the opposite way.”
While Voskuil’s art can be categorized as a sculpture, spatial object, autonomous design, or even architecture, Voskuil still considers his work a painting because the piece’s focal point is painted.
Portrait by Harry Cock, Art photos courtesy of Bentley Gallery
“It remains painted on canvas and deals with the limitations of the flat surface”
At the start of his career with his contemporary work, Voskuil worked on his pieces in modular segments, held together by clasps so the art could be moved and assembled in various ways. This made him not only an artist but also an architect of his art.
“I didn’t intend to make a final piece; I originally wanted to make parts of pieces so depending on the exhibition space, the art could be manipulated and assembled to complement the gallery however I felt best,” Voskuil explains.
Portrait by Harry Cock, Art photos courtesy of Bentley Gallery
Voskuil’s unique artistic approach has not gone unnoticed in the art world. Introduced to the Bentley Gallery by the prestigious Peter Blake Gallery, he has been a recognized and respected artist associated with the gallery ever since.
“To me, it’s very generous that one gallery introduced me to another gallery,” Voskuil says. “Usually galleries are very protective of their artists.”
Portrait by Harry Cock, Art photos courtesy of Bentley Gallery
Voskuil’s strong work ethic has led him down a path of success, making the wildest dream of many come true for himself; when asked what advice he would give to aspiring artists, his response was a single word, “Work.”
