Ladderback #3

5" x 5" original watercolor
SOLD

This is a classic Andy Smith painting.
Dramatic light flooding a dark room.
Featuring a ladderback chair. I have
painted this room from another angle
in the past but I just love the light and
needed to paint it from this view.

We just returned from setting up for my weekend
show. I must have a show scheduled,
there are snow flakes falling!
The Show:
Mar. 1 & 2 The 28th Annual Owen J Roberts Craft Show
held at the Owen J Roberts Middle School,
Rts 23 & 100, Pottstown, PA. $5 admission
10am to 4pm Quality work!!
For a coupon:
http://www.ojrsd.com/community/foa.asp?page=938


I ordered salads from a local restaurant and
Linda has a movie so we are in for the night.
Hope to see a few of you tomorrow.

Roof Top #3

6" x 4" original watercolor $225.00

contact: andy@andysmithartist.com

I used this painting as a demonstration
piece for my class. It is a great study in
clouds. Notice the birds I added for a
little interest

Other than my morning "snow make up" class
I had the day to myself. It was nice to not have

any running around to do. Tonight we met three other
couples for dinner. I realized how lucky we are,
we have been friends with this group since our
kids all ran track. I learned we are all celebrating

our 30th wedding anniversaries this year. It is so rare

to have friends all married so long. We have 10 kids
between us all and they are all college educated,
happy, pretty well adjusted kids. It is just nice.

I must take time to brag. I have two students who
have won awards recently. So I want to congratulate
John, he took "2nd place watercolors" and the "Peoples
Choice Award" at the Lancaster County Office of the
Aging Senior Art Exhibition. Also congratulations to
Pat who placed 2nd in the Lancaster Art Association
Garden Show. I would love to take credit for being a
super teacher but the fact is these two are very good
artists and I am proud to have them in my classes.
I think a new hook for me could be;
Andy Smith, teacher of prize winners!!
I have a show this weekend and set up is tomorrow late
afternoon. I need to pack in the morning. I will share
the show info in tomorrows blog.

Bittersweet #2

5" x 5" original watercolor

SOLD

I painted whis window as a large original
but without the hat. This time I wanted
to paint it the way I saw it. This is the inside
of a potting shed and features a study in textures.
I like the woody look to the bittersweet in the
foreground. The window and gardening hat
brings you into the scene. The berries add a bit
of color.

It has been busy here. Yesterday started with my
9:30 morning class. Then I had an eye doctor appointment
at 1; my eyes are fine. At 5 I had a track meeting and then
my evening class at 7. Somewhere in there I managed to
create a mini masterpiece! As I was writing my blog last
night I had to stop because we learned that Linda's
grandmother had passed away. She just celebrated her
94th birthday a few days ago.

Today I had my men's prayer breakfast at 6:30am
then I took my Mom to her hairdresser while Linda
worked at Meals on Wheels. We had a family dinner
and by the time we cleaned up it was time to teach my
"snow make up" class. The good news is I finished another
good painting and I am finished before 10pm!

Brick Porch

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

Because I enjoy historical sight seeing I
end up painting a fair amount of brick.
I hope you can feel the cool shade under
the porch. I liked the balance of the
overhead tree branch and the grass below;
with a little splash of pink from a peony plant.

Window Study #10

4" x 6" original watercolor $275.00
contact: andy@andysmithartist.com

This is actually an interior window from
St. Augustine's Lighthouse. It has these
extra wide deep sills and the interior is painted
all white. I am interested in the way the
sunlight casts a warm reflection of the window
against the sill. I painted it so you do not
actually see the window, just the reflection.
It is a wonderful play of whites.

I had a very nice article in the Lancaster Sunday
Newspaper. It is to large to get on my blog so I
will think about a way for you to link it...I may need
to consult my web man. I am expecting an increase
in blog viewers, so if your new...welcome! I had to
increase my shipping fee, one small box is costing a
minimum of $8.00. I guess I am helping to pay the
UPS trucks gas bill. I raised my fee from $6 to $7.
There is no extra packing fees since Linda does my
packing and she works pretty cheep!

Now that I am showing again Mondays have their own
routine. I unpack the van first thing in the morning.
I pack and unpack the van constantly. I think of it as a
substitute gym workout! Linda generally goes through
everything, makes any painting repairs, restocks what I sold.
Monday's is also her day to punch the sales into the
computer and update the mailing list. Once I fetch and
carry I escape to my Blog painting so I don't fall behind.

Window View

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

Today was a cold, snowy, icy day so I focused on
something inside to remind me that spring is
just around the corner. I used my studio windowsill
as my model for today's painting. Linda keeps these
tiny bottles with flowers on the windows. This one
held a small pink carnation, one open and one with
a bud. Like me, waiting for some sunshine! I was
a little lazy and did not feel like painting in the
houses that are across the street, so I used artistic
license and put a blind with a tear in it on the top half.
Linda wanted me to tell you we really do not have a
blind, I think her words were; an awful looking torn
blind (must be a woman thing!). Anyway, on the lower
half I painted the reality of the day and season. Outside
my studio is a snow covered slushy road with tire tracks.

We found out today a dear friend was diagnosed with MS.
You are in our thoughts and hearts and I will put you on my
prayer list.

I guess you figured out I did not go to the show tonight.
I did not want to battle icy roads. I will be there the
rest of the weekend. See you in Hockessin, DE in the
morning. Look at yesterdays blog for the show info.

Thursday check in

There was just no time to paint today. I took my Mom to
her foot doctor this morning and left at noon for Delaware.
Linda stayed home so she could go to her grandmothers 94th
birthday get together. Since I was by myself it took much
longer to get set up. But my booth looks pretty good! It took
almost 4 hours to get the panels, covers, lights and paintings
hung. I only got home at 7:30 tonight and I am just not up to painting.
They are calling for really nasty weather and it may impact my
show on Friday. If you were planning to attend you may want to
wait till Saturday. Feel free to call the studio to confirm if I am
even going to make it there on Friday!

Show info:
Feb. 22 to 24 Hockessin Art Festival held at
The Hockessin Memorial Hall in the Hockessin
Fire Hall, Hockessin, DE. $3 admission
30% of sales go to the operation of
Wilmington & Western Railroad
Fri. 5pm-8pm ~ Sat. 10am-5pm ~ Sun. 12-5pm
For more info: http://www.wwrr.com/artfest/

Linda just talked to Abbey, she is coming home for a funeral on
Sunday. A high school classmate just passed away. It will be
her first non-family member funeral. It is a rude awakening at
24 years old. Actually it should remind us all how tenuous life can be.

Baskets

5" x 5" original watercolor
SOLD

This still life turned out to be a little more
complicated than I planned. There is a lot
of blended color and texture. Take a bit of
time to study it. The blue cloth in the basket
draws your eye right into the painting.

I did a little volunteer work this morning and had to
pack my van. The show season is starting. This adds
a new dimension to my week. I handled it all last year
but you may need to give me some time to get back into
a new routine. Plus, I am happy to report, Track starts
in 18 days. If you know me, you know I get a bit wrapped
up in my track team. I will keep you posted. For now I
will concentrate on getting the first show under my belt.
I need to drive to Hockessin, DE tomorrow afternoon
to set up my display. Wouldn't you know the weather
is not cooperating. I will give you the show info tomorrow.
But I do not think I will be able to get a blog painting done.
I take Mom to the foot doctor at 10:30am and leave for DE
at noon. Drive there, set up and drive home will not leave me
any time. But you never know.

1933 CadillacV16

6" x 4" original watercolor $300.00
contact: andy@andysmithartist.com

My interest in painting cars is not over!
I had to try again. I liked the sleek lines
of this old Caddy. The color is black but
with such a high gloss that the grass is
reflected in the paint. I find it interesting
to paint a limited view of the car. In
the first two car paintings I focused on the
front end, but this side view is intriguing
to me.

I taught two classes today plus my blog
so that did not leave much time for any
thing else. I did squeeze in an early
morning bike ride. It's 10PM and I am
quitting for the night.

Pastoral View #7

6" x 4" original watercolor

Rolling hills and a patchwork landscape is
today's painting. There is a water tower
in the distance.

I did not have my painting laid out this morning
so it was a little harder to pick something under
pressure! I forced myself to paint today, what I
really wanted to do was ride. It was so warm
but the road was to wet. So I did the adult thing
and just painted! Thank you to all who wrote
supportive emails from yesterday's blog. I wallow
occasionally but it is nice to know my clients are
listening. Artists often suffer from bouts of insecurity,
that's what makes us get better. I am getting my
blog on early tonight; I want to run out to Borders
bookstore.

Pastoral View #6

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

I told you we took a road trip to New Holland
to see a pair of Bald Eagles. This is part of the
farm scene where they nested. I had to be satisfied
with painting this since the eagles were small dots
without binoculars. The eagles were to the right,
in the middle of the field in a set of trees. You will
need to use your imagination and trust me that
they were there!

I have been squeezing in work on this large painting.
I wanted to show you how far it has come. If you
go back to Jan. 27th you can see the beginning.
The pots are painted in, the shadow work on the
porch floor and more detail on the door.
There is still plenty
more hours to go.
Click over it for a
better view.

I did not realize my
artistic ego was so
fragile. But I had my
first week of no bidding
in a very very long time.
I know the paintings were
well executed and I had
a variety of subjects. Any
unsold paintings get framed
and put on my show stand
so, it is not a waste of my
time but... it somehow
makes me stop and
question what I am doing. Public opinion should not be the
guiding force to what an artist creates, but there are always
compromises to the artist earning a living on the largess of
his clients. So, I had to take the time to line up the weeks
accomplishments and honestly look at them. The dry spell
started with the Bugatti, an unconventional angle I know
but very well done! And I must ask who doesn't like a
Bugatti? Although Linda did suggest the number of Bugatti
fanatics on my mailing list may be limited! Next was a pastoral
view. Pleasant, maybe not a strong painting, would not win
an award...but it is pleasant and will frame up nicely.
Then the corner of a window, I was attracted to the shadows,
so I guess I painted that one for my own study or for someone
that likes the offbeat. Wednesday I went back to what I know
very well, the shaker boxes. Good strong use of color, I
absolutely know I can sell that at a show. Then I finished the
week with my kisses. I knew that would be a hard sell, but
I spent a whole day on them. And to defend myself, they were
really really hard! I am not ashamed of the week's work,
if I am at fault it is my attempt to grow artistically at the expense
of cash. Deemed admirable by some, just not my mortgage
company! So I am following my wife's advice...
just paint.

We did have a nice weekend. Friday was spent with our
friends. We had dinner and a movie rental, Becoming Jane.
Saturday night I took Linda out dancing. There was a live
band playing at the Ritz in New Holland. Not exactly
a hotbed for dance music but the band was excellent; they
played a good variety of 60-70-80's. Been a while since
we went out at 9pm and rolled home at 1!

Kisses

5" x 5" original watercolor
SOLD

I pretty much feel there is nothing I can't paint in
watercolor. Now that is not said to brag, just that
I feel pretty confident in my skills...most of the time.
Since I announced my kiss plan last night I could
hardly back out of a challenge. And you know who
threw out that challenge! I was up to it...last night.
But when I started this morning I had serious artistic
doubts. After all we are talking foil. Crinkled up foil...
In fact I threatened to quit several times. Linda was
not too impressed with the progress and I admit it had
some ugly stages! It had a very abstract quality
in fact you could barely tell what it was. I took the
photo below so you could see the progress.

There are so many facets
of color; you may be thinking
plain ole silver. But that is
not in my palette. I kept at
it and am presenting you
with a finished piece.
Since it is Valentines Day I
am starting the bidding at $30!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Shaker Boxes #2

4" x 6" original watercolor
SOLD

These Shaker Boxes were stained blue and
I was interested in the way the sunlight from
the window effected the shades of the blue.
The overall look is a bit architectural but I hope
the sunlight softens this painting.

Yesterday I was housebound by snow, today it was ice
and freezing rain. Again, a good day to stay in and paint.
Linda and I were chatting about what to paint for
Valentines Day tomorrow. I had this bright idea to try
a few Hershey Kisses in their foil wrapper. So I ventured out
on a kiss run. It will either be a great success or a total flop.
I am off to work on some sketches.

Washington, DC #11

6" x 4" original watercolor
SOLD

I know this is busy however I am intrigued
with shadows. It is a continued study of
the Georgetown house I painted for the blog
on January 8. I think a nice mat will tone down
the shadow work but if you view it knowing a
tree is behind you and you focus more on the
window I think you could fall in love with this
painting. It is actually a bit lighter than it
photographed.

The weather gave me no choice but to sit with
my paints all day. No one made it to tonight's
class so I just continued my painting. I hate this
stuff and meanwhile Linda couldn't wait to go shovel.
That's why we get along so well!

Pastoral View #5

6" x 4" original watercolor $275.00
contact: andy@andysmithartist.com

I did not really plan on a focal point. But
the lake in the middle seems to draw your eye in.
The sky has a strong blue reflected in the lake.
Nice play in shades of greens with the fields in
the foreground against the tree filled mountains.
Simply pleasant to look at.


I finished my painting early due to our dance class. I found out
we practiced a step wrong all week. That's not good! Friday
we drove into Washington, spent the day at the Spy Museum
which was pretty neat. Then we went to Nat'l Portrait Gallery
to see the exhibit...
"Let Your Motto Be Resistance:African American Portraits".
We picked up Abbey and Ben and brought them home for the
weekend. It is always good to have them home. Ben's Dad did
the return trip. Tuesday I teach two classes and they are calling for snow
storms here. Luckily I get to stay home and my students can decide
if they want to venture out.

Bugatti

6" x 4" original watercolor $300.00
contact: andy@andysmithartist.com

This is the second in my car series. All that
chrome, and no silver paint in my palette! For
me it is all in the challenge of creating the illusion
of shine. And who doesn't love a Bugatti!

I am finishing very late tonight. I was out for a bike ride at
6am. Had breakfast at 8 with friends and then went to see
their new home. We then needed to take care of a few
things for my Mom and while out our car engine light came on.
Never fails, it only happens when we have a tight schedule.
Our Saab man is a half hour away, its 3pm, we have a client
coming at 4:15 and Linda is having dinner with an old school
friend she has not seen in 20 years at 4:30. To top it off we
need the car tomorrow because we are going to DC. Somehow
it all just works out, but not without anxiety. The car is patched,

a new part ordered. My blog is finished. Linda is happy to be
seeing Abbey tomorrow...all ends well.

Moon in the Pond Farm #5

5" x 5" original watercolor
SOLD

I have painted several paintings from this
organic farm in MA. We visited the farm
last summer and this was a scene I have
wanted to paint. I hope I did them justice.

Today my day got away from me. Linda had
Meals on Wheels and left a "to do" list and it was
noon before I blinked. Then we took a little road
trip. Linda found out about a pair of Bald Eagles
nesting in New Holland and we decided to check
it out. Even in the rain it was exciting. Both birds
were setting in a tree. We had to use good binoculars
to see them. My photo looks like a dot in a tree! So
there will not be a Bald Eagle painting. We will be
returning and I want to do a little research to learn more
about them.

Evening #8

4" x 6" original watercolor

SOLD

I had no idea what I was going to paint today.
At my 9am class a dear friend and fellow artist
returned to class after a long absence due to her
husbands' illness. She shared this photo with me
and I knew this farm from my bike rides. It is on
Millport Road in Lititz, PA. I fell in love with the
colors and I knew I had to paint it. I am dedicating
this to Pat. Thank you for providing today's
inspiration in many ways.

With two sets of classes there was not much goof off time.
I did take an hour to run errands and get some new music
CD's from the Library. Gotta have the tunes. Linda was
at her desk all day, I know she is on a clean out and throw
out binge and its best if I stay away. At a client's request,
Linda spent the evening working up a bio for eBay. When
you are in one of my paintings on eBay if you look to the
upper right, Under Meet the Seller there is ME, click on
it and my bio comes up. Next on her list is a You-Tube movie.
She really should not have free time on her hands, I get
worried! Since it was rainy here and I did not get out on my
bike I am going to ride my rollers as soon as I finish my blog.

Window Study #9

6" x 4" original watercolor
SOLD

I painted this from the inside looking out and
wanted to see it from outside. There is a potted

geranium in the window offering a hint of red.
The tree branch gives a little feeling of movement,

like there might be a soft breeze.

It was a pretty quiet day here for a change. I managed an
early morning bike ride before settling into painting. Linda
was at her desk all day working on inquiries for teaching and
lecturing gigs out of state. If you belong to an Art Association

email their address. Maybe I can hold a workshop in your area.
We had a family dinner and then it was off to dance class. We
left the Rumba behind and started East Coast Swing. Just the
basics but I can't wait to be able to throw Linda up over my
shoulders. I can just picture us...

Waterlily #3

5" x 5" original watercolor
SOLD

It was cold, rainy and generally miserable here
today so it was necessary for my sanity to paint
something bright and warm. I often focus on
a single lily but today called for three blossoms.
They range from off white to pale pink boasting
yellow centers and floating on a pond full of pads.

What a week...I'm talking about my painting. Just scroll
down and look at the variety of subjects. I even impressed
myself. I am a little excited; I had fun this week, especially
painting the car. I need to see some exciting bidding for even
more inspiration!! Comments are always welcome! I can't
possibly get bored, there are just too many subjects that interest
me... Linda spent the whole day on show applications, yes again.
The show schedule is slowly coming together unless I am not
accepted. That messes things up. It looks like a quiet weekend
here. I am sure we will do something with friends but I am
planning to get some paint on my big painting. I will share the
progress. February 1st already...