Artist, Josh Smith: Hello. This is Josh Smith.
I'm trying to make artwork that I don't understand, but don't understand in a way that keeps me wanting to understand it. I want to feel like the viewer, not the maker.
I am always trying to make my art different from other things that already exist—I mean, even though I know that's virtually impossible. I want it to go off in its own direction.
I have to feel free. When I don't feel free, the paintings get thick, and they turn into the type of paintings I specifically never wanted to make, which is a thick, contemplative thing. And perhaps the reason I work on something repeatedly is to try to eliminate that, to get past the idea of thinking on the canvas. So all the thought is just in me and it goes onto the canvas really directly and flat.
I always want to reach past what I know. I think proficiency or competence is the destroyer of creativity. So the minute I figure something out, I really do try to move away from that thing, even if it's embarrassing or it makes me feel kind of bad for a while.
I believe that an artist or a painter shouldn't be an authority on something. I don't think it's an interesting position to work towards that you're an expert or ace at executing a certain type of painting or knowing how to make a certain type of thing. I think all good artists know that pretty quickly.
I think that painting is just ideal. It allows me to be myself and to be a little bit funny and a little bit mean and a little bit sweet, and a little bit dishonest, but I can apologize for the dishonesty and make it right, right in the same painting. And I really am thankful for that and I’m very lucky.