Artist, Everett Schmidt
The Wildness of Emotion
Crumbling buildings, crashing waves, and flowing lava are some of the scenes expressionist painter Everett Schmidt likes to portray. Intrigued by the history contained in dilapidated but inhabited homes in Italy, Spain, and on the coast of Scotland, Everett uses bright colors to provoke a sense of historical intensity. The dramatic movement of seascapes also captures his attention; every year he travels to the coast of Maine to paint the wildness of the water. A recent trip to Hawaii gave him the opportunity to depict lava spewing into the ocean, an invigorating foil to the foam dashing against the rocky coast.
Through the month of September, Asheville Gallery of Art will host “Studies in Color and Light,” an exhibit of Everett’s work, A reception on Friday, September 2, from 5–8 p.m. will highlight his work, which is on display and available for purchase along with that of the other 30 gallery members.
Everett says, “Like every artist, I want to paint more than what I see—to increase the emotional value of a scene for the viewer.” Using watercolor to underpin a composition means that Everett must initially imagine each scene in its complementary color (e.g., orange under a blue sky, red beneath green forest), demonstrating his attention to the depth of a scene. This process yields a very personal expression.
An active member of the Transylvania Art Guild, where he was Artist of the Year in 2012, Everett is also a member of the Appalachian Pastel Society and has participated with the Asheville Urban Landscape Project.
The gallery is located at 82 Patton Avenue in Asheville, across from Pritchard Park, next to Red Ginger. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 1–4 p.m. If you prefer diner food to dimsum, Everett’s works are also on display at the Sunrise Café.
