Olivia Smith

“For me art is all about expressing yourself and creating something unique. Art can be intensely personal; with a hidden meaning behind it that can be political; challenging; or visual. All of these elements must work in harmony to create a piece of art that is pleasing to the eye and engages with the viewer. I think art is at its best when it faithfully records reality; artists from across the ages who have achieved this high level of realism continue to inspire and impress viewers, laying down the challenge to future artists to practise their skills and to attain this level of perfection. For my project, I have explored the theme of light and reflection, particularly looking at how shiny or reflective objects have been included in still life paintings by artists in the past and those working today. I am interested in the changing properties of light and reflection, and throughout my project.”