The Artistic Journey of Vernon Smith
Vernon Smith was an American regional artist associated with Cape Cod. His diverse body of work included oil paintings, watercolors, batik designs, and constructions in aluminum, though he was best known for his bas-relief woodcarvings. During the 1930s, he developed an "antique" style of painting using oil glaze over gessoed hard board, where he scratched and scraped the surface to create highlights. His landscapes depicted farmhouses and cottages in rural Cape Cod, while his later works featured more abstract motifs on flat wood panels.
In addition to his personal studio work, Smith served as a supervisor for the Federal Art Project in Southeastern Massachusetts. His travels also included a 1937 tour of Alaska, where he recorded impressions of the territory through paintings and drawings featuring boats, wharfs, and mountains. Later in his career, his carvings explored themes from the American Southwest, such as canyons and pueblos, as well as motifs from California, including seals and redwood forests.
Life and Contributions
Born in Cortland, New York, Smith studied at the School of Fine and Applied Arts in New York City. Following service in the Army during World War I, he spent time in France, studying at the Sorbonne Institute of An Art. He later moved to Orleans on Cape Cod, where he designed batik fabrics, aluminum items, and carved wood samples.
Smith's involvement in the community included several notable achievements:
- He designed the Church of the Holy Spirit in Orleans, outfitting it with engraved sconces, carved pews, and a crucifix.
- He helped found the Cape Cod Art Association and served as its president.
- His works are held in collections such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
