Stuart, Florida, has long been called the "Sailfish Capital of the World." With its close proximity to the Gulf Stream and steady supply of sailfish pouring through the area, the name is fitting. To celebrate the town's love of sailfish, marine artist Geoffrey Smith created a 18-foot tall sculpture of a leaping sailfish that rests atop a fountain in the center of town. The Stuart Sailfish has become an icon of sorts for visitors and locals as well as his best known work of art. For Geoffrey, "It seemed like a good way for me to give something back to Stuart, to a community that's been good to me and my family," he said. Raised in California, Geoffrey attended college in Montana and eventually made the move down to Florida. Geoffrey was always drawn to the outdoors. As a boy he'd carve duck decoys, but his path to becoming a full-time artist is a unique one. When you speak to him, you can see his face light up as he discusses the migrations of birds or the motion of a swimming fish. He's a naturalist, who spends most mornings paddling the local waters, finding inspiration all around him. In this podcast, Geoffrey discusses his approach to sculpture and painting. He also explains the ancient process known as lost wax casting that he uses to create his sculptures.

For more about Geoffrey Smith's art visit geoffreycsmith.com.

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