Jeanne Rosier Smith

Jeanne Rosier Smith has been a painter since she can remember. After earning a a Ph.D. in English and teaching college English for ten years, she became a fulltime artist in 2003. She began painting her children when they were very young, and has been taking portrait commissions ever since. Since her subject is light, she enjoys painting everything—moving from still life in winter to marshes and dunes in summer, and always, always the human figure. Jeanne is a popular demonstrator and teacher as well: her Sudbury pastel studio offers three classes per week and some weekend workshops, with the focus changing monthly.

Jeanne studied art at Georgetown University, and with Rhoda Yanow at the DuCret School of Art in New Jersey. Because her art courses were the “electives,” they were all the more precious and valued. Her art education has been mostly hunted and gathered, a process that continues every year with master workshops and annual conventions.

Jeanne has exhibited nationally at the Portrait Society of America, the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Arts Club and American Artist League shows. She has won numerous awards, including the 2009 Award of Excellence at the Frances Roddy Exhibition in Concord, Massachusetts. Her paintings are in collections from Seattle, Washington to Monte Carlo.

Beauty is everywhere if we know where to look for it. Light glorifies the everyday in unexpected ways, and that magic captivates me. Painting those surprising, delightful moments is an absolute joy. I capture my inspiration quickly with pastel's luxurious colors, ready at my fingertips. Gradually building layers, I develop my painting as a whole, creating subtle tonal shifts to accentuate the light, playing with and pushing color to express my initial vision.

jeannesmithart.com