When Music Becomes Light

Contemporary Art Blog, Aatonau from Japan, is currently featuring an article about me at https://aatonau.com/isaac-d-smith-when-music-becomes-light/

Enjoy the read!

Day 1 of New Oil Painting

 I started painting today!  I posted the image drawn out on canvas earlier this year and am at a point I can start painting.  Certain areas I don't quite have figured out as far as design, this will come as I keep painting.

The concept is "Letting Go" which is something I have been experiencing and having to let go of different things throughout my life such as certain emotions, relationships or dynamic of relationships, certain aspects of my job, old beliefs, patterns and other things not needed, different things I was taught that no longer fit me.  

Color scheme will be like certain trees in the Autumn that transition from greens to yellows to red which then the leaf falls off.  More greens will be towards the center of the figure with the transitions moving out toward the extremities.  

Testimonials

 I finally have a page on my website for testimonials! Glad it is finally up. Isaacdsmith.com is the website.

The following is the content of what I have on the page, but the format and explanation is different on the page:

Isaac kept our vision in focus all the time and was very easy to work

with; answering all of our questions, explaining the process, and

offering his artistic advice.  We visited his studio various times to

view progress, and together, adjust/tweak/update the work as we saw it

come to fruition. We are so pleased with the outcome and are enjoying it

tremendously! Our window is the artistic touch we were looking for in

our home! Isaac created a custom piece that reflects us!

 

Val Hambley and Kenn Wong

Vancouver, WA

________________________________________________________________________

Dear Isaac,

I want to thank you for designing and creating our beautiful hummingbird stained

glass window!  It is so beautiful and light! Your design and choice of colors are

awesome.  This is a lifetime treasure.

Having it over our entryway we see it multiple times a day.  The colors change

depending on the time of day and the beveling of the bird's feathers reflect light

and create movement.

They are exquisite!  It was a pleasure working with you! I really appreciated you

keeping me in the loop with the progress along the journey. I would highly recommend your creative work to anyone.

Thank you for the joy you have brought to our home.

 

Sincerely,

 

Susan

Vancouver, WA

________________________________________________________________________

 

Isaac,

 

We hold you responsible for us not getting anything done around the house for 4 days now: we stop and revel in our entryway whenever we pass by. We could not be more pleased! Pleased not just with the beautiful stained glass panels that now frame the door....but with the entire process we enjoyed with you from first contact through installation. You listened to us, our concept, what we felt about where we live. Added your insight and experience.....developed a design to capture what we wanted, the spirit of living here..... and executed to perfection! 

 

You've brought a constant colorful joy into the day with this wonderful piece of art you created. We'll get to those chores eventually....with a lighter heart. Thanks again for your talent and experience committed to this project.

 

Kim Rose

East Wenatchee, WA

 

Thanks, Isaac!

 

So excited to have all this light and color in our home!

 

Abby

Spokane, WA

_________________________________________________________________________

 

Dear Isaac,

 

Thank you for making these two window’s for us. They are beautiful and they help to complete my mother’s window.  It was very nice working with you, and meeting another fellow Alaskan down here in the states.

We will hopefully meet up again sometime.

 

Alan and Linda Wood

Spokane, WA

_________________________________________________________________________

 

Isaac,

Just a note to say that we absolutely love the addition to our glassware cupboard in our kitchen.  Your work and vision are spectacular.

 

Mike & Patsy Morford

Spokane, WA

_________________________________________________________________________

 

I commissioned Isaac to create a partial window for my dining area.  I wanted a design that worked with the view and had movement to it.  His initial design was great and was modified after a little more input.  After the completed window was installed he showed me how that the movement in the design also worked with the marbling detail I had on my walls.  I highly recommend Isaac for any window project for his artistic talent and detail.

 

Marvin Reguindin

Spokane Valley, WA

__________________________________________________________________________

 

Isaac was hired to design and install beveled glass in our existing raised wood panel kitchen cabinets.  We were hoping for a new look.  Isaac’s custom design and hand beveling work was superior to anything I have ever seen before.  We were absolutely blown away by the transformation.  Isaac was a dream to work with. I would highly recommend his services to anyone!

 

Kevin Guthrie

Spokane, WA

New Juried Show

 Hi all;

My artwork 'Dual Wave' is now being showcased at Mega - 2026 exhibition, organized by Biafarin and powered by @Biafarin platform.

To learn more, please go to:

https://www.biafarin.com/mega2026?AW=AW127120326

Curatorial Review

 Art Curator Despina Tunberg had gone through all of my artwork and wrote a curatorial review.

I am very pleased and excited about what she wrote! She was able to verbally say in a short time what I have been feeling and going through, striving to express over many years.

Enjoy reading! 

Drawing Started for New Painting

 I've had an idea for a new painting for quite awhile and it has been slowly coming together both in my head as well as the design being drawn on the canvas.

The size of this canvas is 60 inches tall by 42 1/4 inches wide. I stretched the canvas and have been slowly working out the design, changing certain aspects as I go.  Even though I have a good image in my head, sometimes the actual supplies I have on hand are slightly different which changes the size and thus the composition.  I am working from a photograph of the pose and have to change certain aspects because a photograph tends to flatten the image and I am drawing and redrawing to create more depth of the figure and surrounding space.

Fun to show the initial aspects of getting the design on the canvas before starting the painting.

Sunlit Glass Color, Patterns

 Certain times of the year the sun shines on the stained glass we have in our kitchen and the color and patterns show up on the shade I have in front of it.  I never tire of seeing this, it excites me, calms me, mesmerizes me. I love the way the texture of the glass and other aspects show up on the window shade.

Best Art Awards 2025

 I had forgotten that I had submitted artwork to a huge international competition with multiple categories.  I received an email today stating that I am a winner, Honorable Mention,  in the Open Theme Category !

Considering there is a ton of entries for this competition globally, I am very grateful to have my painting "Spiritual Tuning" in this list of winners.

The link to the site is:  http://www.bestartawards.com/  

The first page is the Open Theme Category and I am in the Honorable Mention section.

There is no financial award for this or many other awards I have been receiving, just the acknowledgment of placing in these international juried competitions and that my artwork is competitive among so many amazing artists.

Juried Glass Exhibition Acceptance!

 My glass piece "Searching" has been accepted in a national juried glass art exhibit titled "Glass Immersed" at d'Art Center in Norfolk, VA.  

This is the piece that has been accepted:

I had submitted this along with a couple of smaller pieces hoping the smaller would be accepted as they are easy to pack and ship.  I have had to decline, sadly, as this panel and stand are quite large, would have to crate it and the shipping costs are just too much for me at this time.  If I was able to ship it and it did not sell at the show then I would have to pay shipping costs to return it.  Oh, well.  Nice to have been accepted into a juried show with national submissions.  

New International Online Art Show! The Big Chill

 I have a painting accepted into an online art show titled The Big Chill.  It is an international show put on by ART FLUENT out of Boston, MA.  426 entries from 5 countries and I had my painting titled Winter Tree accepted into this! The acceptance letter with the link for the show is below the image.

Media Name: Winter Tree - - Accepted


Isaac Smith:

Congratulations!

We are thrilled to inform you that your artwork has been selected to be part of our online exhibit, THE BIG CHILL. Your submission stood out from 426 entries from five countries worldwide, and we are honored to have the opportunity to showcase your work.

We were blown away by the incredible quality and diversity of the submissions we received, your work truly spoke to us. We believe that your talent and creativity will inspire others and make a real impact in the art community.

Your work is now proudly displayed on our website, www.art-fluent.com/gallery/the-big-chill/

We encourage you to share this exciting news with your friends, family, and followers and to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to expand your reach and connect with new audiences.

If you have provided us with your website, thank you. You will see your website when you click on your image to view full size. It will be on the following page. If your site is not displayed, don't hesitate to contact us by email at hello@art-fluent.com. We would be happy to create a direct link to your site.

We are passionate about supporting the arts and giving back to the community. As a part of our culture, we have donated to various art organizations across the United States since our inception in 2020, and we are committed to continuing this important work.

Again, congratulations on being selected for our exhibition, and thank you for allowing us to feature your incredible art. We wish you all the best in your future artistic endeavors, and we hope this exhibition will be just the beginning of an exciting and successful journey.

Sincerely,

Amy Matteson Neill
Creative Director

 

ART FLUENT
1 Washington Mall #1218
Boston, MA 02108
www.instagram.com/art__fluent
www.art-fluent.com

Story of My Artwork

 I have been in the process of having the story of my artwork be edited by myself and another person over the last couple of years.  Whenever an artist applies to juried shows, applying for art shows, etc. one has to submit Artist Bio, Artist Statement or other information pertaining to her process and other information.  I have always had a difficult time with these until recognizing that synesthesia is the underlying source of the visual imagery I put on canvas and glass.

Here is the current version of a short bio that has been revised over several years. Bio is written in 3rd person and usually has info such as education, awards, art influence and process, etc.  I tend to stay away from indicating these things and try to produce a story pertaining to the artwork that will connect with the viewer:

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1970, Isaac D. Smith is a visual artist now based in Washington State, where he has lived since 2004.  His creative vision is shaped by a rare sensory phenomenon: the ability to see colors and images while listening to music.  Only recently realizing the uniqueness of this experience, Smith has embraced it fully in his artistic practice.

Working in both oil painting and glass, Smith translates sound into visual form, producing compositions that combine luminous transparency with bold opacity.  His works explore movement, rhythm, and the emotional resonance of music, often described as "nourishing the soul through a symphony of light and color."  Each piece serves as a bridge between auditory and visual experience, allowing viewers to enter a world where music and imagery converge.  Smith's art invites reflection, contemplation and joy.  His canvases and glasswork evoke harmony and vibrancy, encouraging audiences to consider the profound connections between sound, emotion and vision.

Stained Glass Views

 I was soaking in our tub the other day and to my right and left are glasswork that I had installed, one last year and a couple approx 11 yrs ago.

This last one is the reflection in the water which is a nice, calming affect
Very relaxing and enjoyable viewing these while relaxing in tub.

Group Exhibition Juried Acceptance- Painting

Hi all;

My artwork 'Gusty II' is now being showcased at Biafarin Awards - 2025 exhibition, organized by Biafarin Inc. and powered by @Biafarin platform.

To learn more, please go to:

https://www.biafarin.com/ba2025?AW=AW127000538

@biafarin #biafarin #biafarinart #IsaacSmith #Painting #biafarinonlinesales #onlineartsales #buyartonline #onlineart #artonline #onlineartgallery #sellart #sellartonline #onlineartshop #onlineartstore #onlineartexhibition #onlineartshow #onlineartist #artmarketing #artmarketingservice #Biafarin @biafarin #biafarin #biafarinart #BiafarinAwards2025Exhibition

 

Out of 344 artworks accepted into this award exhibition my painting is ranked 43rd!

New Juried Gallery Shows and Art Magazine

 I have been submitting art work for different juried art shows as well as magazines/ publications.  I have had various paintings accepted into different gallery shows as well as an art magazine.

KBM Art Gallery out of Hollywood, CA has an online gallery show titled:

Year End of Art Extravaganza 2025 in which I have 3 paintings accepted into the show. The link is https://kbmartgallery.com/year-end-art-extravaganza

I am excited to have various oil paintings accepted into several juried events!  I have entered several that will be finalizing decisions into the first part of the year and will post updates.

Aesthetics 2025 Exhibition

 Here is my poster with QR code for the online exhibition.  

The link for the show is   https://www.gallerium.art/aesthetics-2025

"Pianist" is in Another Show!

 My painting "Pianist" has been accepted into another international show titled "Aesthetics 2025"

The link for the show is https://www.gallerium.art/aesthetics-2025 

QR Code and Link for NUDITAS 2025

 My painting "Anxiety" is in the current online show titled Nuditas 2025. 

The link is https://www.exhibizone.com/p/nuditas2025.html?TP=artworks

Here is the QR code and my poster with the painting accepted in this international juried online exhibition:

Glass Panel Installed, Interior Door

 The glass panel is now installed into the interior door frame.  

Here are some different angles and details:

Very happy with how this turned out, love the bevels and how they create dimension and light play.  Really has a lot of movement to it.

Bonding Glass Completed!

 Bonding the beveled color pieces onto the clear bevels is now completed. 

The panel is still on the table so there is no back lighting.  The following is what the panel looked like before bonding the color pieces on.

Next up is installing the panel into the interior door frame which is scheduled for this coming Friday.

Bonding Glass- Halfway through

 I am now halfway through the bonding process.  11 more pieces to go.

Nuditas 2025, Juried Show

My painting titled Anxiety has been accepted into an international juried show titled Nuditas 2025!  The online show will be held Oct 11 - Dec 11.  I am grateful that this painting is part of the show.

Day 4 Bonding Glass

 Got a couple of the triangle shapes bonded on yesterday.

The first image shows the UV adhesive that gets squeezed out and has to be cut and cleaned off.  

The next image is a closeup of the bevel.

Couple different angle shots.  Don't get the full affect until the panel gets installed the the light coming through the glass.

Masters of Art - 21st Century

 I have 2 paintings accepted into a publication titled Masters of Art - 21st Century, published by World Wide Art Books .  There are 55 artists from around the world who were juried and accepted into this book.  The online version can be seen at  https://wwab.us/moa-1/    My page is 111. The printed books come out next month.

I am grateful to be part of this collection and for my being acknowledged for being at this level.

Day 3 Bonding Glass

I did get to squeeze in a little time today and got another glass piece bonded.  

 

Day 2 Bonding Glass

 Yesterday was Day 2 in bonding the color glass pieces on top of the clear bevels.  I was able to work an hour and completed 2 of the green ones.

 

I am hoping to get 1 piece bonded today.  

Autumn Equinox and Bonding Glass

Today is the Autumn Equinox and it was the perfect day to start bonding the beveled color glass pieces onto the clear bevels of the large glass panel I had been working on a few months ago.  I am finally at a good point with all that has been happening to start this part of the project.

 My goal is to bond 1 - 2 pieces on the days in which I work 12 hr nights and then on my days off I will do more.  I plan on installing this door panel by mid October.  This is a tedious process and will take considerable time.  The 2 red/orange color pieces took 45 minutes.  The outcome is definitely worth the effort.  

Busier Summer Than Expected!

 Hello to All! I figure I better check in!

This summer has been much busier than expected with getting one son ready for college, work schedule, projects around the house, emergency projects, etc.  

In regards to the large interior door I have not been able to proceed with bonding the beveled color pieces on top of the clear bevels.  Starting mid September I should be back on schedule with older son away at college and younger starting school.  I will start posting images once I am further along with the bonding.  After that will be installing the panel into the door.

Thank you for your patience!

Isaac

"Pianist" is in a Show in NYC!

 At the end of May I submitted 5 paintings for a Digital Art Show in New York City titled FLOW put on by ARTHOUSE.NYC.  There were 6 curators and my painting "Pianist" was accepted into the show!

The show runs from June 8-22 with a reception that occurred on the 12th.  At the reception the Best of FLOW is displayed on a large outdoor screen in the Big Screen Plaza. To my surprise, my painting was one of the pieces shown!

 This is absolutely amazing!

Following is a description and dates of the show:

The curators are:

Artists in the show:

I am excited to be in this show and honored that Pianist was selected as part of the Best of FLOW!