Jaune Quick-to-See Smith Maps New Meanings

Could you tell me about the benefits of having a library next to your studio?

Because I’m a chameleon in a sense, I’ll be working on a painting and think, “Oh, I need to get my books of plateau pictographs out,” then I’ll rummage through my library and pull out what I need. I’ve got a dozen books that I pulled out before I started drawing my mother earth figure here, “Woman in Landscape” (2021). I’ll look things up, then go to work and scramble it all up and make my own thing out of it.

When you start a new piece, where do you begin?

I often begin with an idea, a very general idea, like maps. I’ve done maps before, but they’ve always been horizontal, like maps would normally be. That was my plan with these maps here, behind me, but then I stood them up to get them out of the way and I saw how it really changes the shape of the map — it becomes an organic thing, like a side of beef. It’s kind of creepy. And then I thought about that, and about what else I could do to that map, and got the idea that maybe I could put some beadwork designs or something on part of it. So I did a little bit of that and it scared me, so I stopped and worked on some other stuff, then came back to it and thought, “Yeah, that’s really kind of weird.” I have to grow into it when I do something like that.

And how do you know when you’re done?

Generally, I get it to a place where I think it might be done and then I’ll wait awhile before leaving it at that. You know, it’s like when you’re writing something and you leave it for a while and come back to it and, suddenly, you can see all the things that you need to fix. At that point you’re pretty sure that it’s probably OK. Then, of course, I’ve got my son, Neal Ambrose-Smith, who is an incredible artist, and I’ll call him up and invite him to come over and take a look.

What’s the first work you ever sold? And how much did you sell it for?

I think it was a pastel, back in the early ’70s, for maybe $45.

How many assistants do you have?

None. I mean, my son is generous and kind and he’s helping me with this butterfly mask because he’s an incredible fabricator. But he’s an artist in his own right, not an assistant. So I don’t have one, but I wish I did. I am very blessed, though. A couple of times I’ve had people come to help me straighten up a bit because I tend to clutter, and if I’m in desperate straits and have to show somebody the studio my son will come over and help neaten things up for me.

What music do you play when you’re making art?

Often it’s quiet in here, but I love Native flute music. I love Spanish guitar. I love Bach a lot. Those are my go-tos.

Is there a meal that you eat on repeat when you’re working?

I eat a lot of beans and rice. I’m a vegetarian, so I eat a lot of salad, and my granddaughters will eat that with me.