I’m pleased to present “The Nearby Wild”, paintings by Kate Townley Smith. I have always been an observer and appreciator of critters, and glad to have had a rural upbringing with an abundance of wildlife. To those with this awareness, there is always an abundance of nature, whether in a rural, suburban, or urban setting. We live in proximity to nature, and ultimately are a part of nature. Kate’s work addresses the creatures that live on the fringes of the built environment, and her unique color palette brings an added dimension to the naturalist sensibilities of her paintings. I know you will enjoy this body of work, and Kate’s accompanying artist statement.

-Adam Farrington

For the past year, I’ve painted some of the animals I see around me in North Georgia, the wild ones that make their homes alongside mine. Since my college days, I’ve felt a strong connection to Southern Appalachia. These animals I paint build the beauty of this place I call home. They belong here as I do. 

I’m calling this show The Nearby Wild because these creatures were here long before we were, and are still here, even as we move into their world. They are easy to miss. We overlook them because of our busy lives, or because we see them as pests, as the invaders. These paintings are my invitation to pause, look a little closer, and notice our wild neighbors. 

To create these paintings, I start by putting down many abstract layers. As I paint, I think about what animal I’ve seen recently, been inspired by, or even what animal shapes start to emerge from the abstract design. Many of these paintings have a whole artwork hidden underneath what you see in the final version. I paint the animal on top, with some elements of the abstract painting peeking through. The animal, and what’s beneath merge, in the same way these animals are a significant part of the backdrop of where we call home.

Do you notice the animals that live where you do? What creates a feeling of belonging for you?

The deer greet me along the road to my house. I visit the barn owls on Lookout Mountain. Crows alert the neighborhood when I walk with my dog and cat. Moths flutter around my screen porch at dusk. The coyote hops over my backyard fence on her way home. Green tree frogs and cicadas provide the soundtrack.

-Kate Townley Smith