Annette Smith

Arizona artist Annette Smith was born in Wisconsin, where she developed a deep appreciation for nature and the outdoors. Drawing and painting from early childhood, her favorite subjects were people and wildlife. Working as a designer for twenty-one years in the giftware/craft industry, she now devotes her time to developing her artistic skill. Today her greatest passions are portraiture, floral, and landscape. She works in both watercolor, and oil, and uses a painterly, impressionistic style to express her vision. Her art education includes the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and continuing education at Mesa Community College. Living near Scottsdale Artists School has allowed her the wonderful opportunity to study under John Michael Carter, Phil Beck, Henry Yan, Ted Nuttell, and Ned Jacob. She is greatly influenced by Charles Reid. Annette has participated in several juried shows, and one solo show in 2010 at the Cathedral Center for the Arts-Olney Room Art Gallery. She has won awards for water media, and pastel including a 1st place in water media at the 2011 Best and Brightest, Juried Art Show and Sale, Scottsdale, Arizona, and 2nd place in drawing/pastel at the 2005 Best and Brightest, Juried Art show and Sale, Scottsdale, Arizona. Mesa Community College purchased a series of her pastels for their private collection. Annette demonstrated watercolor portraiture from life for the Portrait Artists of Arizona in 2013, along with a teaching a 6-week portrait watercolor workshop at Studio 1307 in 2014. Her life drawings are published in two Northlight books, Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing, and Strokes of Genius 2: The Best of Light and Shadow. Currently she is illustrating a children’s book, and preparing for an invitational portrait show, Women Making Faces, which honors well-known Arizona women who have made a difference in the state.