MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Anita Smith, Artist

Creativity seems to blossom in Bandera and Anita is true evidence of that. After nearly 50 years of refining her skills, the quality of her work is unquestionable. Here's a bit of her history....

Anita graduated from Cental Missouri State University in 1967 and began teaching Home Economics and Art in Utah. After many drawing classes, she began painting in 1972, studying in private classes around the country. She studied at Jean Woods Art Studio in Huntsville, Alabama; Mitchell Art Studio in Baltimore, Maryland; and in Davenport at the Iowa Art Gallery with Reba Doctorman. Classes were attended at Decatur, Alabama Junior College, University of Illinois at Chicago, and at Champaign, and at Columbia College, Columbia, Missouri.

She has been accepted into many juried art shows, winning numerous awards. In 2000 at the American Printing House for the Blind "Insights 2000" art competition in Louisville, Kentucky, her painting won first place among 400 entries. Additionally, her artwork was purchased by the APH for their permanent collection and was used on the cover of their 2002 international calendar.

She has worked in acrylics, pen and ink, colored pencil, charcoal, oils and pastels. Her favorite medium is pastel applied in layers on sanded paper to achieve a richness and depth of color.

Anita finds inspiration all around her and photographs those things that catch her eye. From each photo, she creates her own new and vibrant variation with unmistakable detail. She meticulously takes her time with each project, finishing most within 2 months.

Her artwork is professionally framed using non-reflective museum glass and can be found on display at Hill Country Embroidery in Bandera and at the River's Edge Gallery in Kerrville. Anita is a member of the Kerrville Art and Cultural Center, as well as the Hill Country Arts Foundation.