Faces in Places

Girl with knots

Watercolor

22" X 18"

Girl with blue knots

Watercolor

32" X 15"

For the months of January and February, the Underground Gallery is featuring Basil Smotherman’s watercolor and acrylic paintings. 

Smotherman’s show, Faces In Places, primarily features portraits and a selection of landscapes. These works invite viewers to see people in relation to their environments and also through Smotherman’s eyes. The paintings span more than 15 years of Smotherman’s career. Smotherman was an educator for 42 years and would often paint while teaching a class; some of the work even came from Smotherman’s days teaching at North Central High School.

“The work is exploring the black experience,” says Smotherman. The collection of work includes portraits that document Smotherman’s family members at various times in their lives. 

Smotherman begins finding his subject matter by taking a series of photographs, which he then paints. Smotherman loves the process of watercolor painting: “I like the process, and I’m still learning after all these years. I try to be methodical when I start and work from light to dark. You have to be anticipatory and think before you start painting. Once you stain the paper, it's stained. I like watercolors because it's fast and you have to layer and be patient. Sometimes, I’ll use a hair dryer to make the process go faster.” 

While Smotherman loves engaging with his materials and processes, the part of his practice he loves most is people and honoring them through paint.

The show can be viewed anytime during the months of January and February in the Underground Gallery during Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The works can also be viewed and purchased on our online gallery.