Teta SmithTeta Smith, co-owner of Artists' Showplace gallery paints luminescent paintings in watermedia and collage. In Kindergarten, she was asked to bring one of her father's old shirts in order to paint the next day. "I don't know what was more exciting - the bright colors of paint, or getting to wear my Daddy's old white shirt. Whatever it was, I was hooked. I still wear one of his shirts whenever I paint." Fortunate to have an artistically talented mother, Teta has vivid childhood memories of creating all kinds of things with her. Together with her grandmother, who lived with them, she had plenty of encouragement for her blossoming creativity. They indulged her active imagination, even setting a place at the table for her imaginary friend. They played along with her stories about pigs, which she claimed were kept in their fireplace. They only insisted that the pigs couldn't be fed when they had company - perhaps concerned about others, who may have been less tolerant of their creative daughter! It comes as no surprise that when Teta was asked why she painted, her response was simply " I feel I've been created to create. Besides, I'm a nicer person when I have time to paint ! " Pursuing her passion for art came naturally, guided as she was, by an unseen hand. Painting has now become an inseparable part of her life. " I create to involve the viewer by expressing emotions and intangible concepts, supported by strong design. My paintings take me to places that I can't get to, and convey so much that I can't express in any other way. Phrases, brief comments or a scene, can move me to tears and I feel compelled to paint it." Teta enjoys weaving in symbolism and avoids photo realism in her work, preferring the sort of elusive quality that prompts a closer look. " The process of painting engages me, I am always disappointed when a painting is finished. Art that expresses a bit of the artist's soul is inspiring." "What color is it?" was, and still is, her favorite question. At four, when she heard her parents talking about a friend's new car, she pestered her father to call them back to find out what color it was! "My fascination with color paid off, when three of my paintings were chosen to be in the book Confident Color by Nita Leland." Teta is an Associate member of National Watercolor Society, a Member of Richardson Civic Art Society, Southwestern Art Society, and Collage Visual Art. One of her paintings won Best of Show for First time entries in RCAS exhibition. Over the years she has won numerous awards in the Vertu Art Exhibition. Her work has also been part of the juried Park Cities Presbyterian Church's annual art exhibition.
Teta also teaches Beginning Realistic and Beginning Abstract Watermedia painting classes. A seasoned teacher, she holds an undergraduate degree in Education and a Masters degree in Counseling, which is a terrific combination for teaching the art of painting to beginners. Teta finds it satisfying when students apply the weekly lesson to subjects that inspire them. She spends a third of the class time in a demo & lecture format, and the rest of the time helping each student. Stimulated by the variety in her class, students are encouraged to paint everything, from realistic watercolor portraits, to non-representational acrylic paintings. Yet she is diligent to instruct them to consistently apply the basic principles and elements of design. "I love to teach a student how to successfully paint whatever inspires them! " Often invited to art clubs and societies, to demonstrate her unique approach to painting, Teta's objective is to educate people about quality abstract art. She prizes audience participation during her demos . "People are surprised to learn that it isn't done simply because "that artist can't draw!" Just as in representational art, there are quality abstract paintings and some that miss the mark. The groups are always so much fun and their interest and participation are always energizing." Artists are very generous people and some of the very best are the co-owners at our gallery. I learn so much from them and my other artist friends. I've been blessed to be influenced by some of the absolute best artists in the country." Naomi Brotherton, a legend in American watercolor, was one of her first teachers and continues to influence her. She has also studied with Katherine Chang Liu, Mary Ann Beckwith, Dale Laitenen, Ann Bagby, and Carol Barnes. Never one to take herself too seriously, Teta recounts an amusing incident. "I was working in the gallery and heard a lady say, "This is it!! This is the painting we've been looking for. I love this painting. It makes me feel so peaceful." Her husband walked over and said, "That's the worst painting I've even seen!!" Before I could control myself, I laughed out loud because it was one of my paintings!" Check back often to see Teta's newer work.
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