Sallie K. Smith

Creativity came naturally to Sallie K. Smith who grew up in Ohio under the influence of her talented mother, and was further nurtured by yearly vacations to the Western states to visit an aunt who also painted. Ultimately, however, after watching both important women in her life struggle with the business side of art, Smith directed her own youthful talent toward other creative pursuits.

In her teens, Smith’s family moved to Denver where she eventually met and married her husband Jim. With her artistic goals diverted by family life, it wasn’t until after her daughter left for college that Smith was able to consider the career path she shunned in her youth. With the encouragement of her husband, she took a year long workshop – a soup-to-nuts approach to painting – with Jake Gaedtke at the Longmont Art Center, Longmont, CO.

Success came quickly, when, in 2005, after just one year of painting fulltime, galleriest Mary Williams spotted several of Smith’s paintings at a photographer’s studio. So taken by the work, Williams invited Smith to show in her Boulder gallery. Over several years she took workshops from notable plein air painters, George Strickland, Matt Smith and Gail Przewodek, and was accepted into Jay Moore’s highly competitive professional studies, six-month mentorship program. Then in 2009 Sallie was offered representation by the prestigious Saks Galleries in Denver.  In the company of some of the finest painters in America and with the careful support and guidance of Catherine and Mikkel Saks, Sallie’s work has matured.

Sallie fell in love with Hawaii on her first visit 25 years ago and knew that someday she would call it home.  She moved to Maui in 2015 and after settling in has begun the process of learning to paint in a totally new environment.  Different atmosphere, a totally new color palette and exciting new subject matter are all part of the challenge of transitioning from Colorado to Hawaii.  She is currently building a body of work to include landscapes, seascapes, marine life and flowering plants.   The gentle yet vibrant images she depicts are now inspired by a whole new natural world. “Nature, to me, is so perfect in every detail; it gives me peace and, at the same time, is exhilarating. I am trying to capture that ethereal sensibility in my work, knowing that these moments of solitude are often fleeting. It is my hope that people can glimpse into my scenic travels and likewise be carried away with the work.”

As she continues to paint and show her work, Smith says that she is thrilled with the response from patrons and recognizes the truly amazing non-verbal connection that happens through art. She said, “Paintings speak to people for a variety of reasons. I have such gratitude knowing that people feel my art  reflects the spirit and beauty that surrounds us.”

Sallie K. Smith

Selected Activities

International Whale Day, Pacific Whale Foundation, Maui, HI (2016)

Summer Miniatures, Trailside Galleries,  Jackson, WY (2011, 2013)

American Miniatures, Settlers West Gallery, Tuscon, AZ (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)

American Art Invitational, Denver, CO  (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Colorado Governor’s Invitational Art Show, Loveland, CO  (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Contemporary Western Art Show, Mountain Oyster Club, Tuscon, AZ  (2010,2011)

Les Femmes, Saks Galleries, Denver, CO  (2010, 2011)

One Woman Show, Saks Gallery, Denver, CO  (2010)

Landscapes of  Colorado, Robischon Gallery, Curated by Ann Daley, Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO  (2007)

Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters Annual Show,  (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)

Greeley  Stampede Western Art Show,  Greeley, CO (2007, 2008, 2009,2010, 2011,2012, 2013,2014)

Representation

Saks Galleries, Denver, Colorado

Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder, Colorado.

Grand Image, Seattle, Washington.

Publications

Western Art Collector, Featured Artist, March ‘12

Southwest Art, Cover Artist, Feature Article, February ‘10

Southwest Art, Artist to Watch, October ‘07

Landscapes of Colorado,  Fresco Fine Art Publications 2007

Southwest Art, Start Your Collection, February ‘07

Commissions

Boulder Chamber of Commerce/Leanin’ Tree.  “Flagstaff Star”.  2005, 2006, 2007.

Boulder Marriott Hotel.  Large canvases for public areas.

Boulder Community Hospital.  Originals and giclee prints.

Collections

 “Tuffy” & Shirley Holland, Greeley, CO

U.S.  State Department, Pretoria, South Africa

NTD Architecture, San Diego, CA

Great Western Bank, Boulder, CO

Education

Mentorship Program, Jay Moore

Private Workshop, Camille Przewodek

Scottsdale Artists’ School.  Matt Smith, George Strickland

Longmont Art Academy, year-long workshop, Jake Gaedtke