Dec 2018

I hope you are having a wonderful Holiday season. I wish all of you a Healthy, Happy 2019!

Abbie's Trees, oil on panel, 9x12"

 Abbie's Trees were painted from a photo in the studio. I kept thinking about O'Keeffe while working on them.

Gracie, graphite on Bristol, 9x12"

 Dreamy Gracie was a challenge I enjoyed.

Pond Reflections, oil on panel, 16x20"

 Pond Reflections were painted on location, by an ever changing beautiful pond.

Springtime Canigou, oil on panel, 16x20"

 Springtime Canigou is waiting for me to have time to evaluate it. I am torn between my old detailed way of working and my new carefree approach.

 All the work above was commissioned and I am very grateful for your trust and the challenge and learning that comes with each new piece. 

 However, I am not accepting any new commissions for at least a year as I want to finish current projects and cut out some time to work on paintings of my own.

Jan/Feb 2015

 It has been a busy beginning of the New Year. For a change from portraits, I was working on my Bald Cypress River Scene and hoped to have it finished by the end of January. It took a little longer. There is a magic about Texas rivers. Two elements that fascinate me about them are the surprising colors of the water (the most beautiful green blues) and the trees found on their banks. I wanted this to be an Impressionist style landscape, only the trees would not cooperate... I was also thinking about a river scene by my friend and fellow artist, Cindy Morawski, (cindymorawski.blogspot.com) who a while ago beautifully portrayed the bald cypress at Garner State Park. I will ask her, if I can show you that particular painting next month.

Bald Cypress River Scene in Boerne, TX, oil on canvas, 30x40"

Till this week, I thought I needed to work some more on this gestural abstract done in class. Looking at it carefully, I finally realized that the painting was finished. The gestural technique was explained by Edward Povey and I mean to paint some more abstracts in the same way. It is very different from my other work and I found it liberating. It can be rotated, since I rotated it again and again when I was working on it.

Gestural Abstract, oil on canvas, 30x40"

My goal for this year is to have a portrait (or other) commission every month. I am painting an icon on commission right now and then a young woman's portrait.
If you know someone who would enjoy a portrait, or other work by me, let me know.
For prints and cards of my work, visit the River Art gallery in San Antonio or online http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/vera-smith.html?tab=artworkgalleries

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!