Denver Catholic

17 DENVER CATHOLIC | OCTOBER 14-27, 2017 High School Open House Saturday, October 21 10:00 am - 1:00 pm rsvp to stmarys.academy/admissions Arrupe Jesuit High School 4343 Utica Street Denver, CO 80212 ~ 303-455-4661 If you have a 7th or 8th grade student who is interested in attending Arrupe Jesuit, please join us at the following events! OPEN HOUSE Sunday, October 29th ~ 10am-2pm HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST Saturday, December 2nd ~ 8:45-11:30am ($10 Test Fee) APPLICATION DEADLINE Friday, December 8th ~ 5:00pm Arrupe Jesuit + YOU = College Bound! momentous. I had wanted and tried to paint the Two Hearts images several times, but couldn't find the right inspiration. Favorite icons, Van Gogh, Klimt, a few contemporary artists, as well as my experience with portraiture and Kristen as model, helped to produce this image. It was two years in the making, and it seemed like every time it went on the ease, our life would just "hit the fan." While I started it on my own, a dealer I work with was able to arrange a commission. This was a great grace, as it forced me to finish and push through many times of utter frustration. "Immaculate Heart of Mary" was the first painting in which I combined abstract designs and pattern with more traditional modeling and realism. It's an idea from iconography, but I wanted to incorporate my own figure skills and use a pattern language that didn't allude to other particular pattern contexts. It had to be contemporary but also thoroughly traditional. The "Immaculate Heart of Mary" illuminated and paved the way for the "Sacred Heart of Jesus." DC: What is the most challenging and rewarding thing about being a painter? CS:²Seriously pursuing art while attempting to earn a living is a tremendous challenge, like training for the Olympics without a sponsor. Adding a Catholic family to the picture, finances have without a doubt been the greatest challenge and obstacle. I am extraordinarily blessed, however, that, while I've certainly felt this stress, providence has managed greater artistic growth through the struggle than I could have otherwise hoped for. The most rewarding things are seeing that my work has impacted others, reaching a point in artistic growth when one knows, without question, that a work of art is good and what makes it so, and participating in creating beauty. DC: What was your process like on the St. John Paul II sketch? How did seeing him inform the draw- ing ? CS:²The drawing, "Portrait of a Saint" was finished in early 2001. The success of the drawing gave us the idea to take prints of it to WYD Toronto. Just a month or so before WYD, we got the opportunity to go to Rome and see the Holy Father. It was a Wednesday audience and being in the same room with him, as large as it was, was moving beyond our expectations. His love was so palpable. It was this that inspired the draw- ing, felt through many of his writ- ings, including his letter to artists. His intensity and passion, his call to discipleship and holiness were so personal. I wanted to capture that, and this image had a piercing quality. I'd spend 10 hours of the day work- ing on a section the size of a quar- ter. ²My wife would come home from a 12-hour nursing shift and ask, "What did you do?" I'd point, "Right here." In retrospect it seems almost ridiculous, but that's how you learn. I still really like the piece. It's how I remember JPII the Great — aged but vigorous. He is a real father figure in many ways. St. John Paul the Great, pray for us!² DC: What are you working on now and why? CS:²Making Catholic art available is what makes Smith Catholic Art an apostolate. Providing images for the Church and missionary organizations at no cost is important. The call of the Catholic artist is, in part, to renew the face of the Church. This may not be feasible with original work, but as most images are now seen in digital and print form, there is great potential. I'm currently working on a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe with an organization which other Catholic artists should know about, The JPII Foundation for the Sacred Arts,²sacredartnc.org. It's purpose is to partner with artists, providing basic funding for the artist's own projects to be realized. It's such a vital role, as artists can only e•ectively market their work once it exists. The foundation is based on a crowd- funding concept, so it's critical for others to be involved. Directed by Fr. Michael Burbeck, it's an inspired vision for rebuilding a culture of sacred art. Edited for length and clarity. Images onƒsmithcatholicart.com. My artistic journey has mirrored my faith life in many ways. It's an ongoing cycle of reconversion/ recommitment/renewal." CAMERON SMITH "

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