About the Artist

Teresa Smith  

B.A., Visual Arts, Naropa University  

 

Informed by a naturalist philosophy, Teresa’s art combines a richness of oil paint and contemplative practice. Growing up in rural eastern Canada instilled a sincere and intimate love of deep woods. 

Years of riding horses and hiking through old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest and immersion into the plant world as a Master Gardener inform her work.

Influenced by Tom Thomson, Emily Carr, The Group of Seven, and Brian Rutenberg, she paints the soul in nature. 

Teresa graduated from Naropa University with a contemplative arts degree. She exhibits her abstract landscapes in the US and Canada.  Teresa’s work is featured in magazines, books and articles. Her paintings are included in private and corporate collections around the world and she is represented by galleries and in exhibitions in the US and Canada.

Teresa lives on a small island with her horses and giant fir trees. The vista in front of her is Mount Baker and the Salish Sea.

 

 

Teresa Smith_ Artist Statement

 

I am in the woods. Lagoon to my left, giant cedars on the right. Mist rises in a thin veil as if illuminating an alternate world. There is a sense of mystery and a feeling of comfort and peace; a magical embrace in a cathedral forest provides sanctuary.

 

A moldery scent of greenery gone by and brilliant red leaves, form patterns on the trail. Colors are intense after a rain. Damp brings out the richest color, like stones, luminous under water. Cedar tree appears green and I see alizarin, gold and blue. There are a thousand shades of green. Sun strikes foliage and light glistens white. Deepest shadows are as dark as raven.

 

In my studio I recall shapes, colors, lines and form. I remember smells and sounds, memorialize the place with paint. I begin with thin layers of oily warm transparent hues, mutating into thick painterly brush marks. Each layer stamps the recollection of that day’s hike or ride, the pieces unfold in a contemplative manner, with one mark informing the next. 

 

I am especially fond of the spaces between the branches. The shapes that twist and flow behind the scenes. Ambient light brings significance to the rich dark foliage. 

 

The finished piece is a mosaic of light, weaving and interlacing patterns and color.  Like stained glass, they represent the mystery beneath the surface, the layer woven between worlds. I paint an island as sanctuary.  A woodland temple and shelter from the storm. 

 

 

TERESA SMITH - Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

2012                         Bachelor of Arts, Naropa University, Boulder CO

2009-2010              Bachelor of Arts Program, University of Colorado Boulder CO

2009                         Painting and Design, Front Range College, Boulder CO

1998-1999               Painting, Skagit College/Friday Harbor WA

1976-1978                Bachelor of Arts Program Champlain College, Lennoxville PQ

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023                         JGO Galleries, Bainbridge, WA

2023                        Arts Alive, La Connor, WA

2023                        Waterworks Gallery, Friday Harbor, WA

2023                        Matzke Fine Art, Camano, WA

2022                        Waterworks Gallery, Friday Harbor WA

2022                        Matzke Gallery, Camano, WA

2020                        Waterworks Gallery, Friday Harbor WA

2020                       Friday Harbor Atelier, Friday Harbor WA

2019                        Waterworks Gallery, Friday Harbor WA

201                          San Juan Island Theater FH WA

2019                        San Juan Island Studio Tour

2018                        San Juan Island Studio Tour

2017                        San Juan Island Theater FH WA

2017                        San Juan Island Studio Tour

2016                        La Conner Arts Alive La Conner WA

2016                        San Juan Island Studio Tour

2016                        San Juan Island Theater, Friday Harbor WA

2015                        Nyland, La Fayette CO

2011                        Boulder Open Studios, Boulder CO

2010                        Boulder Open Studios, Boulder CO

2009                        Space Gallery, University of Colorado, Boulder CO

2007                        Equine Show The Great Frame Up, Longmont CO

2005                        Equine Show Landmark, Niwot, CO

1998                        Island Scenes San Juan Theater, Friday Harbor, WA

 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023                       Anacortes Fine Art Show

2023                       Puget Sound Northwest Artists- Juried Art Show

2023                       Matzke Fine Arts Gallery

2023                       Vernum Ultimum-Abstract Sanctuary- Juried Art Show

2023                       CVG Juried Art Exhibit

2022                       Friday Harbor Atelier, Friday Harbor WA

2021                       Matzke Gallery, Seattle WA

2020                       Winchester Gallery, Oak Bay BC

2020                       Island Museum of Art Friday Harbor WA

2020                       Casteli Art Space Los Angeles CA

2020                       BG Gallery online

2019                        Island Museum of Art Friday Harbor WA

2019                        Musceo Gallery Langley WA

2018                        Fierce and Frail juried show Portland OR

2017-18                   Island Museum of Art Friday Harbor WA

2017                        Art in Bloom Juried Show Anacortes WA

2016-17                   Island Museum of Art Friday Harbor WA

2015-16                   Island Museum of Art Friday Harbor WA

2012                        Undecim Naropa University, Boulder CO

2011                        Member Show Spark Gallery, Denver CO

                                Heat Next Gallery Juried Show, Denver CO

                                Colorado Juried art show, Boulder CO

2010                        Member Show Spark Gallery, Denver CO

                                Colorado Juried art show, Boulder CO

2009                        Student Show Space Gallery, University of Colorado, Boulder CO

                                Open Show Spark Gallery, Denver CO

2008                        Member Show Boulder Art Association, Boulder CO

                                National Juried Show Louisville Art Associate, Louisville CO

2007                        Watercolors Salud, Longmont CO

2001                        Watercolor Florals Daniel Smith Gallery, Seattle WA

 

REPRESENTAION

2023                        JGO Gallery, Bainbridge Island, WA

2020-23                   Matzke Fine Art and Sculpture Park, Camano WA

2022-23                   Seattle Art Source

2019-23                   Waterworks Gallery, Friday Harbor WA

2019-23                   UGallery, online.

 

AWARDS     

2023                        Signature Member,   Puget Sound Northwest Artists

2010                        Visual Arts Award, CU Colorado.

2009                        Cover, Natural Awakenings Magazine, Boulder CO

2008                        Best in Watermedia, Boulder Art Association Member Show, Boulder CO

                                Cover, Natural Awakenings Magazine, Boulder CO

2004                        CD Cover Joe Bongiorno, Seattle WA

2002                        Poster Selection, Chamber of Commerce, Friday Harbor WA

 

COLLECTIONS

                                Private collections throughout US and Canada

                                San Juan Vinyards

                                Jeff Metzger, New York and Miami

                                Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

                                Collective Edge Consulting, Boulder CO

                                Maureen and Myles Prince, Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada

                                Sandie and Charly Schultz, Vancouver, BC Canada

                                Kim Jurnecka, Santa Cruz CA

                                Mary Stone, Friday Harbor WA

                                Stephanie O’Day, Friday Harbor WA

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

2016                        Atmosphere Magazine Friday Harbor WA

2012                        Bombay Gin, Boulder CO

2010                        Front Range Magazine, Longmont CO

2007                        Daily Times Call, Longmont CO

2006                        San Juan Update, Friday Harbor WA

2004                        A Collection Of Works By Notable Northwest Artists Northwest Artists, 

2003                        San Juan Update, Friday Harbor WA

                                Journal of the San Juans, Friday Harbor WA

2001                        Islands Weekly, Lopez WA

2000                        Island Sounder, Orcas Island, WA

1999                        Wildflowers of The Pacific Northwest (Illustrated) 

 

TEACHING

2003-2015               Studio Classes Longmont CO

2011                        Painting Teacher and Organizer of New Mexico Painting Trip

2009                        Painting Teacher and Organizer of New Mexico Painting Trip

2008                        Painting Teacher and Organizer of New Mexico Painting Trip

2008                        Painting Teacher and Organizer of Italy Painting Trip

2007                        Painting Teacher and Organizer of San Juan Island Painting Trip

2005                        Painting Teacher and Organizer of France Painting Trip

2003-2012               Painting Teacher Lifelong Learning, Boulder CO

                                Painting Teacher Colorado Free University, Boulder CO

                                Painting Teacher Arvada Center for the Arts, Arvada CO

2001                        Painting Teacher and Organizer of Hawaii Painting Trip

2000                        La Conner Art Center, La Conner WA—Painting Teacher

1999-2003               Painting Teacher Skagit College, Friday Harbor WA

1999-2003               Painting Teacher Daniel Smith, Seattle WA

 

ART RELATED BUSINESS

2022-23                   Art Commissioner Friday Harbor Art Commission. 

2014                        Reviewer for the Tending Space Fellowship for Artists, Hermera         

2011-2012               Artistic Process Curriculum Committee, Naropa University, Boulder CO

1996-1998               Committee Chair Sunshine Gallery, Friday Harbor WA

1996-2011               Facilitator and Owner, Northwest Colors/ Colorado Painting Workshops

1995-2008               Owner, Publisher of Fine Art Cards and Prints, Art By Teresa