May-June 2018

Statue from the Wild Souls exhibit from the Baltics in the Orsay 

 One of the beautiful paintings and statues I saw in the Orsay in Paris.

Study of a poppy field close to Aix-en-Provence, watercolor

 I knew poppy fields only from Monet's paintings. This year there are poppies everywhere.
It was a wonderful surprise arriving in the area of Aix.

A study of Serrabonne, oil

 Serrabonne was a favorite spot of my father. I had not returned there in many years. I used waterbased oil paint for the study.

Karine's Cat, watercolor

Spring 2018

Barbara's Huey, watercolor on arches,  8 x 10"

This pet portrait was painted for my friend, Barbara. We both have a cat named Huey. The decorations are from a favorite rug.

Mission San Jose Cat 1, watercolor and marker, 6 x 8"

Mission San Jose Cat found a home during the Say Si Silent Auction.

Impression, oil on canvas, 9 x 12"

Impressions and Cool Morning at the River were painted during my lesson using palette knife and paint brush.

Cool morning at the River, 9 x 12"

The Starving Artist's Show in La Villita, (San Antonio) was well attended this year in spite of the cold weather. I had a good show and enjoyed meeting new customers.

In April my cat art is on display at South Alamode,
my pencil portraits are at Four Kings together with landscapes by Maren Philips.
The large tree paintings are at FLOAT.

I hope you have some time to enjoy spring.

January 2018

I started taking lessons in oil painting using a palette knife with Jim McDonald. I have had two lessons so far and what is interesting to me is that Jim paints landscapes from memory. It is very relaxing to me to learn to create art in a very different way. Jim has a zen way of approaching painting. I look forward to my lesson each month as a treat.

My first attempt turned out a little dark. I consider that I painted it by myself. Jim did show me how he works on another canvas and he gave me advice along the way. I made the decisions, however, and did the painting. My favorite part is the green sky. (I remember that Edward Povey once advised me to paint a sky green and at the time, I just could not bring myself to do it. It is a few years later and I can see the benefit.) I believe, there is something more I can do on this and I will keep you posted...

Coming into View

The second attempt is a painting where we took turns painting, discussing what was happening along the way. It was fun!
Now, I am usually not comfortable with anybody working in my painting. Somehow this was a cooperative project from the beginning with each of us coming up with what we could to help bring this landscape into the world.

Morning Mist

December 2017 blog

Beverly's cats, watercolor, 9x12" 

 Beautiful Family,  oil on canvas, 24x30"

Merry Christmas,
Happy Holidays
 and a Happy New Year!


Three commissions I have been working on.
Beautiful family is still a work in progress.



The interview is online! http://www.indianavoicejournal.com/2017/12/linda-simone-interviews-artist-vera-von.html?m=0

Our Lady of Vladimir, watercolor on wood, 11x14"

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.

Dog days July 2017

We experienced very high temperatures this July in San Antonio, we had dog days really!

For a few of months, people have started referring to me as the cat lady, not the crazy cat lady, mind. (I am told I don't have enough cats to qualify for the special addition.) It has been impressed upon me that we live in a dog loving world and in spite of that fact, I will continue to dote upon my feline friends. However, I love my dogs and am willing to make some concessions.
After I had been asked repeatedly about dog portraits, I drew and painted three during the last month.

First meet Izzy, a beautiful Belgian Shepherd.

"Izzy," graphite

Then two best friends.

"Dog Pyramid", watercolor and pastel

Last of all: Faith a chihuahua.

"Faith", watercolor
and marker

 Last of all, that is what I thought, but then Bruce came along and needed a portrait as well.

"Bruce", graphite and pastel

My last painting was done by me and Sandy Gray and we imagined instead of researched it.

(Huey, Dewey, Louie Cats" watercolor

Have a safe summer! Stay out of the heat!

April, May and June 2017

While listening to Marcel Proust and Emile Zola's novels, I have been drawing and painting my commissions over the last few months.
The Brother with his Baby Sister are direct descendants of Mary Cassatt's brother Alexander. I found it quite an honor to portray Mary's relatives.

Brother with baby sister, graphite 16x20"

The Virgin of Guadalupe is very popular in San Antonio. This is the first time I painted her image.

Virgen of Guadalupe, watercolor on wood

Sham in his darker summer and lighter winter coat. I enjoyed painting this portrait. It started when the trees were bare and I kept thinking, I need to paint those black trees with a building. There was very little time to paint and before I knew it, spring had come and the trees were leafing out. Looking through the photographs I had taken of Sham, I found the right one with lots of bare branches.  I felt confident that Sham's owner would understand, so I began without consulting her. (It is the first time I took such a chance on a commission.) As it turned out, she likes it, too!

Sham, oil on canvas, 18x24"

In June and July, my art will be exhibited at the Courtyard Cafe at 7600 Eckhert Rd in San Antonio (till July 31st). The reception will be on June 23rd from 4 till 6pm. It will be followed by BillyRay Sheppard Jazz duo from 7 till 10pm. The Courtyard Cafe has gluten free and vegetarian options.
I hope some of my local supporters can make it.

Have a great summer!