Ashley Smith

  I was invited to be guest artist at the 2019 Waikuku Art Institute show. Its theme was ' What Inspires You' and 'surrealism' featured in my response - which enabled me to reincarnate my painting of the breaching clothes peg and the encouragement for all those sympathetic to endangered species ( whales and 70yr old artists) to wear a yellow peg on their lapel, at least for the night. Got a great response. Shown here, a sample of peg wearers including the purchaser of the painting and the mayor of the district.

Wai Guest Artist Statement

Hey, don't get me wrong - I CAN be subtle… but creating an image inspired by the drama of mythological and biblical allegory is a lot of fun!

My Pegasus painting is a product of that strain of inspiration. I was delighted to read that, with a blow of its hoof, the Pegasus can produce a font of water and wisdom … a trick that many in the bay bearing its name would encourage.

Another source of inspiration, possibly my original one, is the dreamscapes of the Surrealists. In these stage-like settings disparate elements interact in often telling ways.