Artist Statement

My primary focus when sculpting is the female human spirt that comes from being raised in a family of strong women. Often, I like to convey a message or tell a story through my sculpture. “Beyond the Yellow Brick Road” as we know it from the book and movie, The Wizard of Oz, is referred to as a spiritual allegory. By searching for answers in life, as you travel the yellow brick road and then reach the end of the road, you come to realize the answers are inside you and you have the power to control your own destiny through your God given talents.

“Beyond the Yellow Brick Road” was coil built with Max White paper clay; the story was drawn and incised on the surface, and when the clay was bone dry, terra sigillata was applied with Mason stains. After bisque firing, copper oxide wash was applied and wiped off, then the sculpture was fired a second time. The color was enhanced by the application of a matte sealer.

Biography

When Katty Smith grew up in the small rural southern town of Halifax, Virginia, art was not a topic of discussion among the less than one thousand residents.  The opportunities to express any artistic ability were somewhat limited to coloring books and drawing scenes on the chalkboard. None the less, having a very large closely knit extended family, highlighted by frequent memorable gatherings, and knowing most people in the town made the formative years a wonderful experience.

A year and a half at The Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro was put on hold when Katty married her high school sweetheart.   Ten years later with two children on board, she began her journey to a B.S. degree from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and eventually earned an MBA from the University of Toledo at age fifty-nine.  Anytime there was an opportunity to go to school, Katty was right there ready to enroll.

In 2008, at age sixty-five, Katty enrolled at Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, GA, in a ceramic sculpting class.  The first day of class when she received her chunk of clay, her lifetime search ended and her passionate journey began. Never once in her sixty-five years of life had Katty ever dreamed of being an artist.

After moving to Florida in 2010, Katty enrolled at Crealde School of Art in Winter Park, FL, for three years of ceramic sculpting classes.   The purchase of a house with a large garage and a new kiln allowed Katty to become a studio artist in New Smyrna Beach, FL, in 2013.  Now in her spare time, she plays tennis and volunteers locally at The Hub Gallery on Canal, at the Artists’ Workshop, Inc., and teaches occasional sculpting workshops.   She belongs to art associations that offer exhibiting opportunities and has won numerous awards to include four best in show awards. Katty currently exhibits her work at The Hub on Canal in New Smyrna Beach.