About Jacob R. Smith

I want visitors to the gallery to do more than stare mindlessly at a painting or photo, it just seems so passive. My work makes you act out, that's why I call visitors to my shows participants.

Above all else I am a fine artist. My work spans a variety of media including: painting, drawing, sculpture, 2D and 3D digital media and installation. Most of my work centers around two main themes.

The first is an investigation into healing and therapy. I want viewers to move beyond passive interaction with artwork and become participants. I do this by creating interactive objects and scenes that the participant touches, changes or even adds to. I believe that the design of these pieces leads to a psychological reaction much deeper than the typical artist/viewer relationship.

A second component of my work is play. In contrast with the often dark or gloomy nature of my therapy work, I enjoy the refreshing nature of lighthearted and satirical work.

I also teach Introduction to Digital Photography at Virginia Western Community College. This is a class designed around the digital SLR camera but taught in the same manner as the 35mm SLR. The difference comes when the 35mm students would enter a darkroom; the digital students learn processing in Photoshop. Students are introduced to the multiple distribution avenues such as a website gallery, sizing for e-mail, .pdf slideshow and pre-printing setup.

During the day I am director of art at 4DD Studios, an exhibit and themed environment studio in Roanoke VA. I lead a talented team of artists, engineers and builders in creating products for clients across the nation. At 4DD Studios we take concepts from designers and produce sculptural elements based on the specs provided. Often we scan or create 3D models to be carved using a CNC router. This router can mill pieces up to twelve feet long. Our work varies from a thirteen foot tall class ring for VMI, a ¾ scale NASCAR: Car of Tomorrow exhibit to faux brick and concrete panels with photos of victims printed on them, for the Holocaust Museum in Skokie IL.

I have taught painting, drawing and animation at adult and senior education facilities in the Washington DC area.

While in Washington DC, I also served on the board of The Friends of Guy Mason or FOGM. This was a non-profit group that raised money for and maintained the Guy Mason recreation facility in NW Washington DC. FOGM provided services such as materials procurement, general maintenance of the grounds and special events. One such event was the Glover Park Day, festival which included and art show inside the facility. I assisted in the show along with other events at Guy Mason.

I also taught Watercolor, Drawing and Introduction to Digital art at The George Washington University.

Employment:

4DD Studios LLC, Roanoke VA, Director of Art.

•  Develop designs and lead production of sculptures, themed environments and museum exhibits for clients across the nation. Train artist in the use of materials including: gypsum, plastic, foam, wood, vinyl and silicone. Responsible for researching and acquiring new techniques and technologies, product pricing and project management as well as training and evaluating employees. Program and operate large format CNC router capable of foam, wood, composite, metal and stone milling. Operate two 3D laser scanners and accompanying software designed to take small maquette and enlarge to desired scale.

Teaching:

Virginia Western Community College, Roanoke VA, Adjunct Professor.

• Introduction to photography: Designed to introduce students to chemical process (analogue) photography. Students primarily use 35MM manual SLR cameras and focus on the basics of paper printing. Projects are designed to introduce the techniques of exposure control, depth of field, lighting, and various other attributes of photography.
• Introduction to digital photography: A class designed to introduce students to digital process photography. Students use DSLR cameras and Adobe Photoshop to focus on the basics of digital imaging. Projects are designed to introduce the techniques of exposure control, depth of field and lighting. The digital lab component introduces students to advancements in photo correction and manipulation.

The George Washington University, Washington D.C., Adjunct Professor.

• Drawing: Focused on the basic attributes of visualization and representation using mainly dry media. Concepts covered include: perspective, negative space, depth, texture and shading. Media includes charcoal, pencil, pastel and some ink assignments. Students are introduced to a variety of artists and discuss those works in a critique environment that leads to discussion of their own work.
• Introduction to computer art: Designed to introduce students to art production within digital media. Students use the Adobe line of products (mostly Illustrator, Photoshop and Flash) on Macintosh hardware. Projects are based primarily on traditional 2D design assignments that have been adapted to the digital environment. Assignments are critiqued in the same critique structure as other design/art classes.
• Watercolor: This class focuses on the fundamental principles of art as applied within the unique environment of water based media. Students were given the opportunity to experiment with a wide range of tools and techniques, in the effort of better understanding representation and expression through the painting process.

The Guy Mason Center, Washington D.C., Adult Educator.

• Introduction to Studio Art: Teaching drawing and painting to beginner level adult and senior students, focusing on fundamental practices. Discussion includes tools/materials, art history, critique and practical application.
• Intermediate Painting: Designed to advance the skills introduced in the Introduction to Studio Art class. Focusing on development of core painting practices in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and gouache.
• Beginning Animation: Teaches the fundamentals and history of basic animation using analogue techniques. Students produced simple flipbooks, thaumatropes, and zoetropes.
• Continuing Animation: Focuses on a combination of analog and digital animation techniques. Students produced storyboards, thaumatropes, zoetropes, and finally using a digital camera and Adobe Premier produced an animated short.

Within the Community:

• Painted the cover for author Richard Bagudu's book Judging Annan: The Race Factor, a historical account of Kofi Annan's ascent to power.
• Elected to the board of The Friends of Guy Mason in 2006. FOGM is a non-profit organization that raises money and provides services for The Guy Mason Center, an adult education and recreation facility in Washington D.C.
• Donated the poster design and other publication material for The Russian Art Project, a Maryland non-profit organization who organized a recent exposition and auction of Russian artworks in the D.C. area.
• Designed and donated publication materials for many D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation activities and programs.

Education:

The George Washington University: 2006, Master of Fine Arts.

• Art Gallery Spaces Committee: Graduate run organization that provides support, management and funding for the student run gallery at The George Washington University.
• Created and presented in: The Video Show, Dimock Gallery, Washington D.C. An open film and video expo designed to incorporate broad community participation from throughout the Washington area, both in fund raising, publication and artistic involvement.
• Participated in a discussion group led by Kristen Hileman, Assistant Curator at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. The group visited exhibitions and read articles dealing in contemporary artists and movements. The group questioned traditional and academic principals such as the term “original”, and the role of and need for, an artist.

Roanoke College: 2000, Bachelor of Arts.

• Fine arts prize in visual arts 2000 Roanoke College Art department.

Technical and Software Skills:

• Proficient in sculpture/shop tools and techniques including: 3 axis CNC router and accompanying software, various saws, joiners, plainer, routers, stone, wood and soft material carving tools and clay modeling.
• Experience in mold making using: Silicon, plaster, urethane rubbers and plastics and 3D model derived.
• Software experience: Rhino, Blender, ArtCam, Nextengine and Frogscan 3D Scanner software, Photoshop, Fireworks, Corel Draw, Freehand, Illustrator, GoLive, Dreamweaver, Adobe Encore DVD, DVD Studio Pro, Adobe Premier, Final Cut Pro, Sonic Stage Mastering Studio and Flash.
• Gallery skills: Receiving, layout and installation of sculpture and two-dimensional works. Also proficient with lighting, reception , managerial tasks, packaging and shipping, delivery and pickup
• Experience using and teaching: Oil, Acrylic, Gouache, Watercolor, Pastel, Charcoal, Graphite, and Oilbar. Also work with fiberglass, encaustic, plaster, plastic, rubber, epoxy and polyester resin image embedding.