August 2018

Hello again. We survived the extreme heat in Texas. Temperatures are more normal now. I hope you survived the heat and are doing well.

My friend wanted a Gauguin inspired painting and I studied the Gauguin paintings I had seen in Paris this summer. I had chosen to listen to Black (a story about a dog) by Alexandre Dumas. I was enjoying the story and was in for a surprise when just as I was painting this painting the story moved to Tahiti... It was a wonderful coincidence!

Gauguin Canigou, palette knife on panel, 9x12"

Hope, graphite on Bristol paper, 11x14"

Hope, was drawn from a photograph of a beautiful, little girl I met at La Villita.

New Zealand Memory, oil on linen, 11x14"

I finished my very first palette knife from memory painting, started last fall after our trip to New Zealand. It is a subject I want to re-visit.

November 2017

I hope my American friends and family had a Happy Thanksgiving!

My Thanksgiving news is that my friend, poet, fellow watercolorist, Linda Simone, did interview me about my tree paintings and that the interview is going to be published in the Nov-Dec 2017 issue of the Indiana Voice Journal. The journal is online at:

https:www.indianavoicejournal.com//
IVJ is on Facebook as Indiana Voice

As of this event, I am putting the tree paintings on my website (www.verasart.com). My portrait paintings were also in my mind when I was answering Linda's questions. Thank you, Linda! Thank you, Indiana Voice Journal, this is a huge encouragement!

Gloria's Garden is a watercolor, I just finished. It was a piece I had fun painting.

Gloria's Garden, watercolor, 9x12"

These pen drawings are of trees in New Zealand. The trees in Albert Park were just awesome. Together with the mountains, hills and lakes of the South Island, these trees were my favorite part of New Zealand.

Snake Tree in Albert Park, pen, 6x8"

Miracle Trees, Albert Park, Auckland, NZ, pen, 6x7"

Rosalie's Mother, Oil on canvas, 18x24"

Rosalie's mother's portrait was a commission for artist, Rosalie Laxton, who was a true patron for me giving me four portraits to paint. Rosalie was an artist herself and a woman I admired for her great attitude and courage. She passed away this fall.

Rosalie, Oil on canvas, 18x24", 2014 started by Rosalie L. and finished by Vera Smith

I am grateful to have had Rosalie in my life as well as the other very dear friends who left this year.