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BIOGRAPHY

Philip Smallwood.jpeg

An artist captures the essence of a person, place, or concept. The stroke or a brush, the strike of a pen creates an entire world that narrates the dialogue of art. Many artists known for oils continued to embrace the possibilities of watercolor. Hopper, Klee, Turner, O’Keefee and Sargent expressed both the intense and subtle qualities of light through this medium, and the tradition  continues with contemporary artists today.  Artist Philip Smallwood calls this body of work, "Lifescapes", portraying subjects within their natural environment, but with an emotive visual narrative that powerfully connects the viewer and the subject. The audience sees his world not with the casual glance of a stranger, but with the intimacy of a friend.   

 

Most portraits reveal the powerful, the wealthy and those of influence, and the community they come from. How many artists have dared to showcase the common person  navigating through their own stories and struggles?  There needs  to be powerful, positive images that resonate with an audience that often feels that art is not delegated  to them by the art world. His is a  voice created with brushstroke and line that immortalizes  the breaking of social boundaries and offers a poignant image. Utilizing anatomically correct form, meticulous attention to detail, and a strong architectural composition, these images breathe  life into the environment and create a visual dialogue that transports the viewer to an unfamiliar place .  

 

Influenced by his older brother, Fredrick Smallwood, the artist developed a keen interest in visual art that developed into a second career.  This artistic journey  has taken him and his works across the country and abroad. Mr. Smallwood is the consummate  observer, who uses his talents to give a resonance and reason  to subjects and places that would normally be ignored. These images are rendered with a dignity and grace that is usually  reserved for the  upper echelons of society. In the hands of a skilled practitioner, watercolor can take on the dynamics of the most detailed and complex  oil paintings. It is this very approach that has garnered P. Smallwood with numerous accolades and awards from the the most distinguished art societies  and organizations nationally and internationally.  The hopes, desires, and dilemma  of humanity are chronicled and cast by artists past and present.

honors and awards

2021

The Butler institute of American art

Dialogues with Reality: Paintings by P. Smallwood on exhibit December 26 - February 27, 2022

 

ARTIST MAGAZINE

Featured Artist in June Issue

2020

AMERICAN ART COLLECTOR

Featured Artist in Fall Issue

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AMERICAN ART COLLECTOR

Featured Artist in May Issue

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201 MAGAZINE - BERGEN COUNTY, NJ

Featured Artist in February Issue

2019

ARTS DE LA PRATIQUE MAGAZINE - PARIS, FRANCE

Featured Artist in June Issue

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14C ART FAIR - Jersey City, NJ

"Artist of the Day" Award

2016

 THE NATIONAL ARTS CLUB - GRAMERCY PARK SOUTH, NY

Accessible Art Fair

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the museum of art - deland, fl

"Personages" a Solo Exhibit

2012 - 2015

 A SERIES OF PRIVATE COMMISSIONED WORKS

CEO's in Corporate Organizations, Celebrities, Music, Entertainment, and sports.

2012

HARLEM FINE ARTS SHOW (HFAS) "MARTHA'S VINEYARD"

August 9-12, 2012, Oak Bluffs, MA

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watercolor artist magazine

Featured Artist in August Issue

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the springfield art museum - watercolor now 2012

Exhibition show dates April - July - Springfield, Missouri

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the watercolor honors society

Featured award winner in April

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ARTS ISSUE - PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Featured Artist in April Issue

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NEW MILFORD AUXILIARY POLICE DEPARTMENT

Commissioned work of late Chief Andy Boele

 

cypress gallery - 3rd thursdays

Presenting 7-10pm each third Thursday of the month from April to September,

featuring "Art, Conversation & More" in New Milford, NJ

2011

WATERCOLOR HONORS SOCIETY (WHS) 

Inducted into the Honors Society in Watercolor USA in June. WHS is dedicated to focusing national attention on watercolor painting through exhibition, educational opportunities, and the recognition of artists working in watermedia. â€‹

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THE FABRIC OF MY LIFE

Over 100 small portraits of friends and family that influenced Philip's career are included in this project of recent works. 

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FOCUS NJ - ART CENTER OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY

First place award for Watercolor - July

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WATERCOLOR USA - 50TH EXHIBITION

In May, Philip was awarded the Robert Vickrey Memorial Award for "Redemption" at the Springfield Art Museum

in Springfield, Missouri.

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the new smyrna beach art festival

Atlantic Center for the Arts (ACA) - New Smyrna, FL​

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UNCF - THE ART OF GIVING BACK

A vision created by Philip Smallwood as an art exhibition to raise funds to benefit the UNCF (United Negro College Fund). The inaugural event held in September at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. The works of contemporary emerging, mid-career and established artists were featured for this inaugural event. 

 

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Honors and Awards
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