May 2014 - “Sights Often Seen, Rarely Noticed” by Shelley Smith

Opening Friday Reception on May 2, 2014 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm
Show will run from May 2 - 30, 2014

Shelley Smith knew her colors before she could talk and has been creating art her whole life. Shelley is a unique character, with an inexplicable fascination with oil painting.  However, each time she expressed interest in trying it, her most influential mentor discouraged her, but Shelley’s curiosity never waned.

For most of her life, Shelley followed the “practical” route.  After earning a BA in Economics and an MBA, she took up oil painting in her spare time, and spent 20+ years working in Corporate America.  However, even with accomplishments most would deem “successful” – a great education, a good job and a salary – she still felt as though she was neglecting some of the work she was truly meant to do.

In 2013, Shelley finally realized “squeezing it in” wasn’t enough, and has since picked up the painting pace and increased focus on her aptly named art business, Spunky Bohemian.  In addition to creating a number of new paintings specifically for “Sights Often Seen, Rarely Noticed,” Shelley has gathered some of her best current and vintage pieces as well, making this her most comprehensive show to date.  

The show’s title is particularly appropriate for her work as Shelley indicates:

"I love capturing views from our everyday world – the same places people see on a daily basis, but they don’t truly see.”  

People have told her that her subjects are often quirky – “Shelley, who would ever see a bait shop as a work of art?” It is this unusual knack for selecting images people see everyday, and capturing them in a work of art that has caused others to tell Shelley that she has literally changed their perspective.  They now see and look at things, like an underpass, that in the past they wouldn’t have even noticed.  

Shelley’s paintings of people, places and things are accomplished with solid brush strokes, an infusion of sunlight and shadows, as well as vibrant colors and shapes.  Since color has always been important to her, she is meticulous about it, searching for the best complementary color combinations, and sometimes mixing colors for an hour before beginning to paint for the day.

She is attracted to subjects and compositions for their history, irony, isolation and/or beauty, all reminding her of who we are, where we have been and where we may be going.

Visit Shelley's website at www.spunkybohemian.com

Refreshments and appetizers will be served during the opening reception.

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