On Keeping With It - Jeffrey Smart (May 2005)

Untitled - George Street / Sydney (Tue 01 Sep 2015)

Jeffrey Smart on Keeping with It:

It is no use waiting about for inspiration. An artist has to work, work when he does not wish to work, and sometimes pursue and flog a dead painting, all the time knowing, it will be discarded. But he knows that by the act of painting, even in despair, he is placing himself in a position where something may turn up. It is the agony of creation. It takes some sort of mad persistence to go on being a painter.

via Jeffrey Smart (by Barry Pearce) by Jeffrey Smart.

On Carpark Spaces - Genoa (Sun 14 Aug 2005) / Shanghai (Thu 06 May 2010)

Parking Space - Genoa / Italy (Sun 14 Aug 2005)

Parking Space - Shanghai / China (Thu 06 May 2010)
Always question myself why I take these kind of photos and at times I say to myself:

What are you thinking? What are you seeing? What will others think?

When I look at it now, I can see and appreciate, just like Jeffrey Smart (specifically here):

the geometery, colour and lines

I am always surprised to see photos that are so far apart in time and space to be so similiar in intent and result. Makes me realise that my visual filter is consistent, strong and resilent in time. Afterall, they are just photos of a carpark spaces.

Photos: Brisbane - Wed 01 Sep 2010

Brisbane - Wed 01 Sep 2010
Brisbane - Wed 01 Sep 2010
Brisbane - Wed 01 Sep 2010

Photos: Intersection - Shanghai - May 2010

Intersection - Shanghai - May 2010
Just another intersection photo. Could say there are some Jeffrey Smart influences in seeing this photo. Was firstly, drawn in by the Red Car and Front Red Sign. Then was pleased to see the receding Red Signs as well as the Blue Signs. All came together nicely. The most complicated version of the colour theme photos I have posted so far.

Another and closer view ..

Intersection/Another view - Shanghai - May 2010

Favourite Photos: Tung Chung Intersection - Hong Kong - Jul 2010

Intersection - Tung Chung/Lantau Island/Hong Kong - Mon 26 Jul 2010
Seem to be drawn to Intersections, Pedestrian Crossings, Safey Barriers, Traffic Signs and Road Markings. Saw the above photo while waiting to catch the Cable Car (Ngong Ping 360) to see the Tian Tan Buddha. This is just one of many Intersection photos I have taken over the years. Very Smart like.

Study for 'Car Park at Night' - Jeffrey Smart - oil on canvas, 56 x 46cm - 1986

Favourite Photo - Bridge Work - Magdalene Street/Cambridge/UK (Thu 03 Sep 2009)

Magdalene Street Bridge Work - Cambridge/UK - Thu 3 Sep 2009 - (see picasa)
As mentioned earlier, I very much like the work of Jeffrey Smart. This is another photo that was inspired by his work.

We spent a day in Cambridge (UK) during our Europe 2009 Trip. Traveled by train for the day from London and had a really nice day exploring this historic university city. Was separated from the others for a while and was a little lost, but stumbled across this scene and still had time to capture this photo. Stood back a little and zoomed right in to effectively enlarge the background.

Enjoy the composition and colours (the reds, yellows, oranges, blues and whites) in this one. Also the white arrows on the blue signs work well and are definitely Smart inspired.

Finally, often a photo has something little to find and entertain. In this one I really like the bike (a signature element of the university city) which is elevated and chained to a post on the side wall of the middle of the Bridge (see upper left corner).

Favourite Photos - Intersection - Singapore - Sep 2009

Intersection - Central Boulevard/Raffles Quay - Singapore - Mon 28 Sep 2009 (picasa)
As with most of my Favourite Photos, it just comes down to colour and composition. The yellow lines of the intersection come together to form an apparent big yellow arrow. Like the effect of the painted over lines.

Reminds me of a scene that Jeffrey Smart might paint (examples). I enjoy his work and have a few of his books which have provided much inspiration, particularly while travelling. It is fun to make a photo with good composition and colour, from nothing. Will put up a selection of my favourite Jeffrey Smart influenced photos with time.

Found a couple quotes I liked about Smart's work ..

Indeed, Smart's conception of what he does is thus - "My only concern is putting the right shapes in the right colours in the right places. It is always geometry." [..]

Smart's subject matter is very urban and in many ways, mundane and often bleak, but he treats it in such a way as to make it almost special, using colour and light to make the urban landscapes/objects themselves scapes to be admired for their honesty.


Screenshot - Google Images - Jeffrey Smart Paintings