Stolen painting’s return just a part of St. Bernard artist’s whirlwind spring
BY BARRY LEMOINE
Contributing writer
As an artist, Sabrina Schmidt is motivated by one thing — light.
This passion has served her well since she immersed herself in plein air painting a style in which the entire piece is painted outdoors. She focuses on a subject using a four-color oil palette, which challenges her to capture it with ever-changing light and energy
“You have a window of a good four hours to make something happen,” Schmidt said Schmidt has sketched and painted on scores of small canvases since 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic forced her outside. Last year, she began work on one of her most ambitious projects painting the famed Dueling Oaks in City Park near the New Orleans Museum of Art.
“I always wanted to capture the feeling of how I feel under an oak tree,” she said “It’s grounding, comforting and nourishing. It offers a sense of protection and fills my soul.”
To bring this feeling to life and capture such an iconic place and image, Schmidt chose a large format, specifically an 80- by 30-inch door After a yearlong process and countless days of painting, she finished the project in March.
The impressive painting was set to be featured at the historic Ford Plant on the riverfront in Old Arabi as part of the Creative Industries Assembly Exhibition, a 30,000-square-foot showcase of some of the region’s best art. However, the same day she delivered her painting to the venue, it was stolen. Schmidt was devastated. She had priced it at $7,500,
ARTIST
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but to her, the loss was far more than financial.
“It was a sickening feeling,” she recalled. “I remember walking along the river, and I felt like I was looking for a missing person.”
Fortunately the St Bernard Sheriff’s Office, the media and thousands of Facebook followers got involved, sharing the story of the Arabi art heist
Two days later, the painting was returned undamaged outside the gate where it had been taken. Two people were arrested soon after Schmidt said she was relieved and grateful to the media outlets that brought attention to the theft and to the law enforcement officers who “weren’t sleeping until the painting was found!”
While this event was jarring, Schmidt said such ups and downs are part of her life as an artist. Days before the theft, she had already been on an emotional roller coaster In New Iberia, she had won two of its most prestigious awards at Teche Plein Air Best in Show and Artist Choice. En route to her next event in Florida, her car broke down in Mobile. Her recent prize money would have to cover the cost of a tow truck and a rental car
Several hours later, she was
back on the road, trying to make her morning event in Apalachicola, when she was ticketed for speeding. She finally arrived, spent the week-
end painting, picked up her car on her return home, and delivered “Dueling Oak New Orleans City Park” to its fate at the Arabi exhibit.
Choose an evacuation destination early
Despite the whirlwind, Schmidt is grateful for it all.
“The more you learn, you realize how much you don’t know,” she said. Her focus is on working on larger canvases and learning from the outdoor environment.
“A studio space is static. The outdoors is alive,” she said. Schmidt likens her approach to painting to her yoga practice as a licensed instructor
“When I’m painting, like yoga, I feel connected to my body It’s so peaceful and rewarding. In nature, so many discoveries happen.”
In addition to “Dueling Oak New Orleans City Park,” Schmidt has several other paintings in the Creative Alliance exhibit, which runs through January Her work can also be seen and purchased at several venues across the city, including Second Story Gallery on St. Claude, DBA on Frenchman and Crevasse 22/River House in St. Bernard. Her work has been celebrated at festivals and galleries across the country, and the Louisiana House of Representatives gave her a commendation on May 5 in addition to her cherished winning of the Artist Choice Awards in both New Iberia in 2026 and Pennsylvania in 2025.
“Being recognized by my peers in two different parts of the country is truly gratifying,” Schmidt said. “This
registered and linked to the current contact information.
recognition means the most and gives me the motivation to keep going.”
Schmidt’s landscapes also reflect her time painting in Wyoming, Florida, Colorado, Idaho and Texas. At a recent event in Galveston, someone purchased one of her works directly off the easel. But Schmidt is seldom quick to let go of her paintings. She has shelves of many of her paintings at home.
“I hold on to certain pieces because they still have something to say to me,” she explained. “They still are talking to me, so I need more time. When the conversation stops you know you are done.” Schmidt truly loves the challenge of painting her experience in the moment and is driven by the work.
She said being on the road with her easel and canvas is something she wouldn’t trade, but it also inspires her to recruit fellow artists to her hometown. She often organizes Paint the Parish days, so others can experience and enjoy St. Bernard.
“When I’m painting in other places, I realize how much there is to paint here. We have such a beautiful place.”
Schmidt also enjoys sharing her talent with other artists as a teacher at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts. She shares work on Instagram under the username sschmidtartist and on her website sabrinaschmidt.me.
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Stores become crowded, gas lines grow longer and stress levels skyrocket. That is why pet preparation should happen now, before panic mode kicks in. Emergency planning for pets means preparing for both possibilities: evacuating and sheltering in place. Ideally, families should have enough food, medications and supplies to care for both people and pets for at least five days, if not longer After going through Hurricane Ida, I learned firsthand how important it is to overprepare. If evacuating takes longer than expected, finding pet supplies, prescription food or medications on the road can be extremely difficult. And if sheltering in place, roads, stores and veterinary offices may remain closed for several days after the storm passes. The more organized we are before hurricane season ramps up, the calmer and safer the experience will be for everyone. Here are some important things pet owners should address now while the forecast is clear:
Whether the plan is Houston, Jackson, Shreveport, Destin, or somewhere in between, decide now where the family would go if an evacuation becomes necessary Once a destination is in mind, research petfriendly hotels, boarding facilities or friends and relatives who can accommodate animals. Trying to figure out lodging while sitting in evacuation traffic with anxious pets in the car is not the way to go. Make sure ID is current Collars with ID tags remain one of the fastest ways for a lost pet to be reunited with its family Double-check that tags include current phone numbers and emergency contact information.
Microchips matter
If the pets are not microchipped, the start of hurricane season is a good time to get it done. The procedure takes only seconds at a veterinary office and provides permanent identification that cannot fall off like a collar
The microchip must also be
An unregistered microchip does little good.
It is also wise to ask the veterinarian to scan existing chips during annual visits to confirm they are still working properly
Keep paperwork together and waterproofed
Vaccination records, medication lists, veterinary contact information and microchip registration paperwork should be easy to access in an emergency
Many boarding facilities, hotels and veterinary clinics require proof of vaccinations before accepting pets. Keep copies of records in a waterproof bag or container, and save digital copies on a phone as backup.
Stock up on food, water and medications
Have enough to last well beyond a few days. If the pet eats prescription food or takes specialty medications, make sure to have extra supplies before a storm enters the Gulf.
Speaking from experience,
bring every medication you may need if evacuating even those your pet is not currently taking daily Ear medications, eye drops and other “just-in-case” items can suddenly become essential when away from home longer than expected.
Prepare carriers and supplies ahead of time
Pet carriers should be sturdy clearly labeled and large enough for animals to stand, turn around and lie down.
Other often-forgotten essentials include leashes, harnesses, cat litter waste bags, towels, cleaning supplies, favorite toys and comfort items that can help reduce stress during an evacuation.
Don’t wait until a storm is approaching
Every hurricane season, we see the same pattern: people scramble for supplies once a storm becomes a potential threat to our area. Preparing early not only makes things easier but can also save lives.
When a storm is approaching, the last thing
anyone wants is to be searching for pet food, digging for vaccine records or trying to find the dog carrier A little preparation now can make a very stressful situation far more manageable later
For more information on pet hurricane preparedness, visit https://www louisianaspca.org/pet-care/ disaster-preparedness/ or https://www.ready.gov/pets.
Events
June 7: PetSmart Adoption Event, 6851 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, from noon to 4 p.m. Meet puppies and dogs from Animal Rescue New Orleans. All approved adopters will receive a PetSmart coupon book and a new bed from ARNO. For more information, email adopt@animalrescueneworleans.org.
Traci D. Howerton is the volunteer manager for Animal Rescue New Orleans, a nonprofit, volunteerbased, no-kill shelter For more information on ARNO, visit www animalrescueneworleans. org.
