Click to view a PDF of the entire Maine Antique Digest article.

We did an extensive profile of folk artist Robert E. Smith for the Maine Antique Digest, which was published October, 1993. In it we have many quotes from Bob, which we tape-recorded and transcribed. Interestingly, he rejected the term outsider: “I’m not exactly an outsider,” he said. “I been there before. I’m more broken in-I’m not no outsider. I’m a folk artist. If you’re not known, [you’re an outsider], aren’t you?”

Bob not only painted interesting pictures he was a showman, musician, poet, and all-around intriguing personality. See also Crystal’s post, Happy Birthday Robert E. Smith, which has a number of photographs taken when we interviewed him for the Maine Antique Digest.