In her teens, Smith’s family moved to Denver where she eventually met and married her husband Jim. With her artistic goals diverted by family life, it wasn’t until after her daughter left for college that Smith was able to consider the career path she shunned in her youth. With the encouragement of her husband, she took a year long workshop – a soup-to-nuts approach to painting – with Jake Gaedtke at the Longmont Art Center, Longmont, CO.  

Success came quickly, when, in 2005, after just one year of painting fulltime, galleriest Mary Williams spotted several of Smith’s paintings at a photographer’s studio. So taken by the work, Williams invited Smith to show in her Boulder gallery. In the meantime, Smith also took workshops from notable plein air painters, George Strickland, Matt Smith and Camille Prezwodek, and was accepted into Jay Moore’s highly competitive professional studies, six-month mentorship program. 

Though Smith paints other subjects, she prefers landscapes, and enjoys letting the work speak for her. The gentle yet vibrant images she depicts are inspired by her favorite vistas—most notably, the mountainous views that surround her home—and reflect her reverent admiration for the land. “Nature, to me, is so perfect in every detail; it gives me peace and, at the same time, is exhilarating. I am trying to capture that ethereal sensibility in my work, knowing that these moments of solitude are often fleeting. I invite the viewer to step inside my paintings and enjoy with me these special places.” 

As she continues to paint and show her work, Smith says that she is thrilled with the response from patrons and recognizes the truly amazing non-verbal connection that happens through art. She said, “Paintings speak to people for a variety of reasons. I have such a sense of gratification knowing that my art exudes a gentle spirit and joy and that I am able to share this with others.”


Resume

Selected Activities
Colorado Governor’s Invitational Art Show, Loveland, CO (2008, 2009, 2010)
One Woman Show, Saks Gallery, Denver, CO (2010)
American Art Invitational, Denver, CO (2010)
Windows to the Divine, Denver, CO (2009, 2010)
Landscapes of Colorado, Robischon Gallery, Curated by Ann Daley, Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO (2007)
Nomadas Del Arte, National Plein Air Event (2008,2009)
Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters Annual Show,  (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
Plein Air Artists Colorado Annual Show, Denver, CO (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010)
Greeley Stampede Western Art Show, Greeley, CO (2007, 2008, 2009,2010)
Flagstaff Star, Solo Exhibit, Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder, CO (2005, 2006, 2007)

Representation
Saks Galleries, Denver, Colorado
Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder, Colorado
Philinda Gallery, Edwards, Colorado
Grand Image, Seattle, Washington.

Publications
Southwest Art, Cover Artist, Feature Article, February ‘10
Southwest Art, Artist to Watch, October ‘07
Landscapes of Colorado, Fresco Fine Art Publications 2007
Southwest Art, Start Your Collection, February ‘07 

Commissions
Boulder Chamber of Commerce. “Flagstaff Star”. 2005, 2006, 2007
Boulder Marriott Hotel. Large canvases for public areas.
Boulder Community Hospital. Originals and giclee prints.

Collections
Judy Collins, Singer/Songwriter, New York, NY
“Tuffy” & Shirley Holland, Greeley, CO
U.S. State Department, Pretoria, South Africa
NTD Architecture, San Diego, CA
Great Western Bank, Boulder, CO

Education
Mentorship Program, Jay Moore
Private Workshop, Camille Przewodek
Scottsdale Artists’ School. Matt Smith, George Strickland
Longmont Art Academy, year-long workshop, Jake Gaedtke

Memberships
Plein Air Artists Colorado (PAAC), Signature Member
Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters (RMPAP)