Artist Interview: Corinne Smith

Corinne Smith, also known as Critty Smitty in the art world, is a visual artist who creates digital archival prints and animations that unveil profound mythologies within spiritual realms.

Corinne’s art practice is rooted in dream re-entry, intuitive plant medicine, and the evocative use of color. The artist delves into the intricate relationships with challenging aspects of the self, offering viewers a glimpse into the etheric processes of self and ancestral discovery.

We asked Corinne about her art, creative process, and inspirations.

Can you tell us about your background as a digital artist? How did you get started in this field?

I actually fell into digital art from a more stubborn place! I went to school for Fine Art and largely did printmaking, drawing, and textile design. A friend of mine showed me her iPad pro about 6 years ago and said “I know you love drawing, I think you’ll love this” and I was a little stinky about it, feeling like traditional drawing was the “only way”- after playing with the iPad, the ease of color, transportation and ways to edit drawing (SAVING SO MUCH PAPER! WOW!) I just fell in love and saved up to get my own. The rest is history! I’m a pretty 2D person, so I just use Adobe Fresco for all of my work and then if I’m creating zines or prepping work for the Risograph I’ll finalize all of my work on Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.

What inspires your art? Are there any particular themes or subjects that you enjoy exploring through your artwork?

My work incorporates various themes, but the constants are my own personal practice involving ancestral spiritualism and herbal medicine, transmuting my own feelings of grief, anger, sadness and joy and a celebration of identity and craft, largely honoring Black and Queer creatives through portraiture.

Can you tell us about some of your favorite pieces? What makes them special to you?

My favorite release so far is ‘Silene Capensis’ , my current, and first, solo exhibition at the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco. This work is special to me, because it is a visual catalog of imagery and symbolism derived from my personal practice of meditation, dream re-entry and intuitive herbalism. It’s so personal to me, because it is a representation of the internal work I’m doing shared publicly. It is also the first time I’ve seen my work at such a large scale (the largest pieces being roughly 50”x60”).

*Isis+Nepthys In The Astral Garden by Corinne Smith*

We absolutely love Blackity Black – can you tell us more about the series?

I have always been a deep lover of music, the arts and activists. This series began as a celebration of Black leaders and creatives who have been personally inspirational. I typically am listening to the music of any musician I draw as I create their portrait. It allows me to feel their art as well as reminisce times where their artistry has helped me move through difficulty or amplify my joy.

Can you tell us about Witness and the products you offer?

Witness was my temporary Brick and Mortar shop in Oakland (now online) where I hosted workshops (anywhere from Boundary setting to Fire Cider making), hosted pop ups like Reiki or Tarot readings and also offered goods from Vendors across the Bay Area. Witness was an extremely special place that allowed for me to interact with so many lovely creatives and folks within the neighborhood. While it was a place to shop, it was also a place where you could show up as yourself and just chat about life.

Your art is so vibrant and colorful – what do colors symbolize in your work?

I’ve always been a deep lover of color. Colors can quite literally lift, soften or harden my mood and that’s what I like to capture in my own work. Most of my abstract works are illustrative expressions of my current state of mind. Colors can overlap, separate or blend together, much like our constant variance in range of emotion. When I’m using heavy, deep blues, that usually coincides with periods of deep internal contemplation, periods of depression. Reds are typically used when I have a deep well of energy, usually from force, agitation, excitement or rage, for example.

Are there any specific projects or goals you're currently working towards as a digital artist? What do you hope to achieve in the future?

My dream is to do more design collaboration and large scale digital work. I’ve loved seeing my work at larger scale and would love to move into creating digital works that can then be used as inspiration/collaboration with furniture, lighting and soft goods design (rugs, wearables etc).

What is a fun fact about you?

A fun fact about me is soup is my absolute favorite food.

What would we most probably find you doing if not creating art?

When I’m not creating art I love hunting for strange treasures, being outside and tinkering around with plants.