Land Labor Light, New Paintings by Gary Ernest Smith

Artists find inspiration for art exhibitions in many different places and methods. But for Gary Ernest Smith, who has spent the last six decades painting in and around the West, the inspiration for his latest exhibition came while he was driving to his last exhibition.

Land Labor Light, New Paintings by Gary Ernest Smith, opens at Bonner David Galleries Scottsdale Thursday, October 8 with an artist reception from 6 to 8PM.

“Last year, I had my show in Scottsdale at Bonner David Galleries and we drove down from Utah,” says Smith. “Along the way, we went to Lake Powell and then drove through the small town of Price, Utah, which is Red Rock Country. I was so impressed, it was twilight when we drove through so I just stopped and had to start sketching.”

What Smith was inspired by was the beauty and color of the red rocks at twilight, the moon just above the purple-shadowed mesas and the sky brilliant yellows, blues and pinks.

“I love what I saw but what also struck me was just the quietude of the desert, the solitude of these places,” says Smith. “When I saw that low light and it all became so quiet, so beautiful. I just needed to capture those big shapes. It was right along the border, so I also painted the first cactus we came across.”