Today we’d like to introduce you to Letitia Smith.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My grandmother and my mother were both painters. I tried my hand at painting a little bit, but it never stuck. I was gifted a camera in high school and started taking macro photos of food. That started my love for seeing things from a different perspective. I began taking photos for the high school yearbook and school newspaper. Then, into college, I took a few classes. I moved to New Zealand for a year and found my first professional job in a family-photo studio in the mall. When I returned to Austin, I started working part-time for a wedding photographer and began shooting weddings on my own nearly a year after.
I graduated from UT at Austin in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. I combined my love for people, culture, and alternative perspectives with my love for making beautiful images, which has brought me to where I am today.
I am currently a photographer, graphic designer, and music event producer in Austin, TX. I can’t do just one thing. Growing up, my father and brothers were all musicians- so I’ve had an affinity for fellow artists who possess that talent.
My most recent project I’m working on is called “In Essence” I’ve composited two images, a portrait of a musician and an abstract photo of their favorite instrument or tool. I’ve coupled those images with the question: In 1-2 words, what do you intend to project to the world with your music. We’re putting this into a book alongside bio’s written by Tiffany Harelik, to be released late spring/summer of this year.
Please tell us about your art.
I try to find some truth in people.
I try to find that moment of vulnerability.
My favorite images to take are those of people, raw portraits that make you feel, but also make the person I photograph feel. I take photos for them; I want them to be happy with how they’re portrayed. It’s a beautiful thing to see the subject react to their images, to see them absorb something new; they view themselves in a way that they don’t often get to see. That, to me, is a beautiful thing.
What do you think about the conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
I think it’s difficult to be a happy artist. We have to sacrifice the time we want to spend making art to making money to live.
It’s not a fair trade, and in fact makes you feel like you’re not fulfilling your true purpose at times because you can’t just live and breathe your art, and constantly improve.
With the traditional lifestyles out of vogue, throw away culture taking over, and turn and burn mentalities plaguing our society, the market’s call for original art feels to have waned. I don’t know that for a fact, but it feels true to me.
In Austin, I think there are many artists who don’t feel that way and love to support local and original art, so I am fortunate to live here.
Cities can go to art shows, buy local art for more than you want to pay, compliment artists, give them feedback, tell them you love what they’ve done, buy local original art for gifts. Take pride in curating your art collection, and never buy artwork from Hobby Lobby.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
www.Whitelightexposure.com
People can support my artwork by following me on Instagram, and staying tuned for the In Essence book release!
If you give me some time before this article publishes, I could get a pre-sale link made.
Contact Info:
- Address: Austin, Texas
- Website: www.whitelightexposure.com
- Email: letitia@whitelightexposure.com
- Instagram: white.light.exposure
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/whitelightexposure
Image Credit:
Letitia Smith
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