3-13TH DECEMBER 2021
h t i m S s jule
ART
EXHIBITION
BETTER ANGELS & BONAFIDE HEROES
CATALOG DAVES CHRISTMAS TREE LOT
ACROSS FROM TRAIN DEPOT RAILROAD AVE
Santa Paula - California
julessmithart.com @jules_Smith_artist
BETTER ANGELS & BONAVIDE HEROES Early on, starting in March 2020, Covid19 had us locked down in our homes, social distancing, wearing masks, and washing our hands to flatten the curve of the Coronavirus pandemic. We sacrificed and continue to sacrifice our liberties freely to give our healthcare and essential workers a fighting chance as they risk their lives to save others. Social isolation gave us a chance to slow down, spend time with family, get creative, be unselfish. This exhibition expresses experiences and responses to this time in history. Better angels have emerged within some, bonafide heroes are everywhere. I paint what inspires me, Bonafide Heroes” aims to tell a story of the pandemic starting with a pastel painting of a stack of toilet paper, a sister sewing masks with her sewing machine, grandson visiting grandmother from outside her window, nurses, EMT worker, home care workers, school librarian and other bonafide heroes. Portraits created using zoom technology with a community of artists, and some still life and landscapes are also included. When we were are asked to fight this pandemic by not going out I had to do something. This is what I did. I want to tell the stories, so we remember
BETTEB ANGELS & BONAFIDE HEROES
moments ripped from the headlines. “Better Angels &
TABLE OF Going On A Bear Hunt The Unraveling
Delivering Love Early In The Movrning Hello In There, Hello Mask Makers We Love You
Angel In Desguise You Didn’t Die Alone Stop In The Name of Love Higher Form of Social Distancing Social Distancing at Sunrise - SB Beach Chocolate Strawberry Glass With Blue Plate Nurse Joanie New Jersey Hero Portrait for NHS Hero Peaceful Resilience Taking a Knee For Change Racial Reckoning & Remembering Freedom Summer 64’ Nurse Hilary Is My Hero July 4: Wearing A Mask Is Patriotic Strawberries with Eggplant On Copper Plate
Self Portrait In Lockdown
24 26 27 28 31 32 34 36 38 39 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 55 56
Lockdown Portrait Class Audriana Isabella Birthday Portrait Portrait Society of America Worldwide Event Audri and Sofi Portraits 29- Homeschooling with Nana Portrait of Nathan Freckles And All
Robby’s Birthday Portrait 33 - Mom’s Birthday Portrait Santa Is My Brother 35- Nurse Hannah My Niece Portrait Artist of The Week 37- Nurse Alex Our Angel Hero
Hope Arrives Hilary gets Vacinnated Oakland ICU Nurse Breaks Down Is This America? 41- Portrait of Courage Sister Cindy School Librarian 43 - Olivia: Homecare Hero Originals, prints, on website 45 - Bouquet of Humanity Purple Mountain Majesty 47- Topa Topa Mural Essential Farm Workers Deserve Respect
Heading up the Mountain Along Santa Paula Creek California Art Club Exhibit Hometown Treasure We Will Not Go Back To Normal Better Angel & Bonafide Heroes Art Exhibition Video Thank You and Aknowledgements
BETTEB ANGELS & BONAFIDE HEROES
04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
C O N T E N T S
11” x 14” unframed
”Going On A Bear Hunt” is inspired by the song I taught my 3 year
Oil On Panel
old granddaughter Audri and the scavenger hunt neighborhood
March 29, 2020
movement that was all the rage for parents and children in their
DAY 15
daily physical distancing walk. Such a cool idea. During the first months of the pandemic children (and adults) around the world were playing a game while taking a walk around their neighborhood. Children tried to see how many stuffed bears they can find perrched in neighbors windows. It’s part of a game meant to entertain children during the prolonged period of lockdowns and social distancing.
BETTEB ANGELS & BONAFIDE HEROES
GOING ON A BEAR HUNT:
THE UNRAVELING 10” x 10” unframed
Remember the phenomena of hoarding toilet paper at the
Pastel on board
onset of COVID-19I created this monument. It’s a little
March 27, 2020
humor for the times. The title comes from the lyrics of a
DAY 13
Joni Mitchel song. The ‘unraveling’ of the paper yes, but it has another less literal meaning. People clearly became unraveled in their greed to stock up on this essential. “...The greed is the unraveling it's the unraveling. And it undoes all the joy that could be. I wanna have fun, I wanna shine like the sun”
DELIVERING LOVE EARLY IN THE MORNING 10” x 10”” unframed
This is the view from my front door. So thankful my
Oil On Panel
daughter DAISHA delivered groceries to me during this
April 19, 2020
pandemic. I tried to mass the values and tried to show the early morning sun hitting my neighbors’ home and backlight framing Daisha’s head like an angel that she is.
HELLO IN THERE, HELLO Social distancing kept family members away from their
OIL ON PANEL
elderly loved ones in hopes of protecting them from the
April 16, 2020
deadly pathogen covid-19. The loneliness was and is real for those not able to have visitors especially in homes for the elderly. This was the first emotional trigger for me. This title of this painting is from the song of the same name, by late John Prine who wrote this when he was 24. It will bring tears. Thank you to all those who don’t forget to say Hello to those wise ancients among us.
BETTEB ANGELS & BONAFIDE HEROES
8” X 16”unframed
MASK MAKERS WE LOVE YOU 10” x 10”
As the need for masks rose during the pandemic, volunteers
unframed
worked to keep us covered. I was moved to tears to see the
2” gallery wood
huge effort by hardworking people designing, cutting,
panel
collaborating, and sewing these protective masks so people
April 17, 2020
did not buy the surgical masks in the marketplace that needed to go to the nurses and caregivers in hospitals. Big shout out to my sisters and friends who joined the worldwide laborers of love making masks on their machines at their dining room tables. This painting is my way to say to all the “Suzy Seamtresses” we honor you.
ANGEL IN DISGUISE 10” x 10”
This portrait of courage is my day 37 painting documenting my
Oil on
emotional response through the #Covid19 journey. We isolate at
stretch canvas
home to reduce the burden on our healthcare system and on
April 22, 2020
those precious souls manning the front line of this pandemic that
DAY 37
is gripping the world. I was so emotional about the protests and have such a burden on my heart for our nurses and other healthcare professionals working to save lives and comfort those suffering and dying. I painted this “battled hardened” nurse exhausted and bruised from wearing the N95 face mask in response. Definitely the “face of a hero”.
YOU DIDN’T DIE ALONE This painting was my response to all those nurses
Oil on canvas panel.
standing in the gap for those 50k+ people (as of April 26)
April 26, 2020 DAY 40
who died from Covid19 in hospitals without family and friends. The nurses comforted them, held their hands so they didn’t die alone. I have a cousin my age who passed away while I was painting, and other painful family memories I can’t even bare to talk about hearken deep emotions while painting this one. If this painting stirs up such deep emotions for you concerning the number of deaths around the world it’s okay they are worthy of our tears.
BETTEB ANGELS & BONAFIDE HEROES
11” x 14” unframed
STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE 8” x 10”
This painting is dedicated to hero Dr. Lorna Breen one of our
Oil on
first responders in New York, who was not protected from the
2” cradled wood
emotional and mental devastation caused by this disease. Dr.
April 28, 2020
Breen, 49, did not have a history of mental illness, yet took her
DAY 45
own life April 27th. Breen who contracted and recovered from Covid19, was back at work but seemed detached, her family knew something was wrong. She described an onslaught of patients who were dying before they could even be taken out of ambulances. These images haunted her. She was truly in the trenches of the front line. I praise her as a hero and a casualty of this horrid pandemic.
HIGHER FORM OF SOCIAL DISTANCING Remember in early April 2020 when outdoor social
Oil on canvas
distancing allowed us to go hiking? I dedicate this
April 29, 2020
painting to my son Nathan, who lives in California and an avid hiker who was able to maintain some hiking during the quarantine time. This hike was before California shut down the parks and trailheads. Nathan hiked alone and did not go where trailheads are closed or where people cannot be 6 ft or further apart. To encourage responsible excersise hiking was allowed with specific rules.
BETTEB ANGELS & BONAFIDE HEROES
11” x 14” unframed
SOCIAL DISTANCING AT SUNRISE 18” x
Strategically spaced more than 6 feet apart most Californians were
18”unframed
allowed to enjoy the fresh air and warm weather at the beaches as
Oil on canvas April 29, 2020 DAY 50
this painting of sunrise walkers at ARROYO BURRO County Park, the official name of what Santa Barbara locals call Hendry’s Beach, suggests.
AVAILABLE
This beach is surrounded by tall bluffs with parks and trails on top
Framed with
including the Douglas Family Preserve, a wooded space saved from
handmade wood floater frame.
development by locals and even Michael Douglas who named it in honor of his father Kirk. A footpath into the preserve begins at the entrance to the parking lot.
CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY GLASS WITH BLUE FABRIC 8” x 10”
During lockdown - the ARTISTS supporting ARTISTS movement
Oil on
started. I pledged to support artists during this time of lockdown by
2” cradled
selling paintings inexpensively and buying other artist’s work. This was SOLD MAY 13 - Thank you Debra Seabaugh for marking buying
wood
this painting when I posted it on Facebook.
May 15, 2021
The project states that when I sold $800, I pledged to buy a painting from another artist ($200). This painting “Chocolate Strawberry Glass with Blue” is a special still life because the blue fabric is a paint stained t-shirt of my late brother David who passed away in Sept 2019. I wear it when I paint.
JOANIE N.J. HERO 10” x 10”
My first portrait for the #portraitsfornhsheroes project that was started by Tom
Oil on
Croft to honor frontline NHS health workers by having artists around the world
cradled wood panel
paint free portraits for them, thereby memorializing their sacrifice for us all. Joanie is a critical care nurse practitioner and works the nite shift in the ICU at Centra State Medical Center in Freehold NJ. She recalls how it began, “We got hard hit right away` ! I have been doing this for over 30 years and have seen a lot but
May 27,
never in my life would i expect to experience something like this virus and what it
2020
does to a human! I have never been so frightened to go to work in my entire life! I felt like I was fighting an invisible war! I have seen more death in the short span of the past 12 weeks than I have in a long time, but many triumphs too seeing super sick young people go home after fighting for their lives on a ventilator for 4 weeks! That was beautiful,” she remembers.
PORTRAIT FOR NHS HERO 8” x 10” 10” x 10” Oil on 2” cradled
This is Ian, my third finished portrait for the PORTRAITS FOR NHS HEROES project founded by Tom Croft In the UK asking artists to honor our health heroes by painting each a free portrait. Ian is a Solo First Responder Paramedic working in London for 32 years. “This has been a time for everyone in the NHS who deal face to face with Covid 19 patients and their families, and we have lost a number of colleagues due to the infection. I just hope that when
wood
this is eventually over we are treated with the same respect as we
June 6,
are currently by the public and government and not revert back
2017
to the obscurity we previously worked under,“ Ian explained.
PEACEFUL RESILENCE
8” x 10”
J
Oil
This painting is included in my “ripped from the headlines” collection. On her day off
on 2” cradled
from caring for patients in the Banner Health COVID-19 unit, intensive care unit nurse Lauren Leander went to the Arizona State Capitol on April 20, to meet those protesting the stay at home orders without wearing masks. She stood in a silent protest as, she
wood
said, people approached her enraged. "We were able to sort of take a back seat and
May 15,
really just be a witness to their story and their suffering and what they had to say," she
2021
said. “We wanted to be there as a voice for the healthcare workers and we wanted to be heard and seen louder than the misinformation and fear that has been sweeping nation," Leander said.
TAKING A KNEE FOR CHANGE A protester takes a knee and prays at a makeshift memorial
family of
at the place George Floyd was tragically murdered by
George Floyd,
policemen in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 26, 2020.
May 26, 2020
Photojournalist, Karem Yuce captured this moment and it
11”x14” Oil painting on panel
inspired me to paint this. Amidst all the protests and the legitimate outcry for justice, a nation grieves this man. One of many. Deep within I grieve and am shocked by the brutality in which this man and so many others are killed so often and the racial disparity in our country. Let us pray for the family and let us make a change. now.
BETTEB ANGELS & BONAFIDE HEROES
Praying for the
RACIAL RECKONING & REMEMBERING FREEDOM SUMMER ‘64 10” x 20”
As the nation began a racial reckoning with the Black Lives Matter
unframed
protests underway all over the world, I looked back to the Freedom
Oil on canvas
Summer of 1964 when three heroes were martyred trying to promote
June 15, 2020
voting rights: Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner. rights workers (teenagers) register black residents to vote. One night a church that was helping the cause by providing space to teach the people was burned down. Three of the leaders Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner, went to the church to investigate and to apologize for what happened because the church had helped in the effort to register people to vote. The three young men were not seen again. They went missing, and a long manhunt finally ended when the three were found murdered by the Ku Klux Klan. I painted this June 6th, 2020 to honor them and the BLM movement, (using a limited palette of three colors).
BETTEB ANGELS & BONAFIDE HEROES
The local people in Mississippi discouraged anyone helping the civil
HILARY IS MY HERO 12” x 12”
July 2020 brought a surge of Covid cases to hospitals around the nation
Oil on cradled
and in Houston, Texas it brought a host of new challenges to the cancer
wood panel July 19, 2020
patient population. Hilary, a nurse manager at Houston’s Kelsey Bold center is my fourth Portraits for Covid Heroes portrait recipient. I want to honor her with this free portrait to bring awareness to the complexity and far reaching effects covid19 has on all health heroes around the world. Thanks to Tom Croft for his project bringing awareness and helping artists honor our healthcare workers in the UK. I started a project to encourage artists to honor healthcare worker on this side of the pond. The hashtag #portraitsforcovidheroes has more than 1000 portraits created and gifted to North American essential working heroes.
WEARING A MASK IS PATRIOTIC - JULY 4, 2020 8” X 16” Oil on
Thoughts on July 4, 2020: The most patriotic thing to do is wear a mask. Love and peace. It seems appropriate to be home alone silent thinking about those Americans who were not given full freedom then and even
stretched
now. Stop racial injustice. Social reform will set us free. This portrait is
canvas
from a photo taken by John Moore of Rhiannon Navin. She lives in New
July 4, 2020
Rochelle, NY and serves at a food bank giving food to the needy during this time.. So grateful for her service to those who are suffering in these days. (She is also an author of the book “Only Child” written from a child’s viewpoint dealing with gun violence.) People like Rhiannon give us inspiration.
STRAWBERRIES WITH EGGPLANT ON COPPER PLATE 8”x 10”
During the pandemic I studied with many instructors including
Oil painting
artist Lori Putnam. This still life is a one of many glass studies
on 1 1/2 “
showing the interesting destortion abstraction of color and form
cradled
through glass. The complimentary pairing of the orange color of
wood
copper plate and purple eggplant gives a vibrant combination.
August 20,
Sweet Strawberries in a lovely glass: this is my 4 year old
2021
granddaughter Audri’s favorite painting.
SELF PORTRAIT IN LOCKDOWN 12” x 16“
During lockdownI painted a SELF PORTRAIT as part of a 30-
oil on stretched
day September challenge (paint from life everyday) I used a
canvas
mirror to paint my self portrait. Here I am in my studio space
September 9,
where I spent all of my days for many months painting.
2020
LOCKDOWN PORTRAIT CLASS Another zoom class I started during lockdown was with the talented British artist, Tim Hall. He had us painting the 19 year old actor in the Netflix 4 part series, “Unorthodox” I’ve been learning portraiture every Friday in a zoom class between my regular painting. So excited Tim, RSMA, Member of Royal Society of Marine Artist is an excellent teacher and getting together with a small group live on zoom was so fun. Artist friends chatting while painting. Best of times.
12” x 16 “ oil lon stretched canvas / August 6, 2020
LOCKDOWN PORTRAIT CLASS
Another portrait from a paint-along Friday zoom portrait class with Tim
11” x 14”
Hall. Loving it and learning lots, terrific teacher providing a way to keep
oil on
artists progressing and gathering together. My lifeline during this time of
stretched
isolation. Portrait of Alfred Thomas Highmore in “A Good Year” 2006.
canvas.
Freddie is an English actor who portrays the role of Dr. Shaun Murphy on
August 16,
The Good Doctor. He also writes and directs for the series.
2020
AUDRIS BIRTHDAY PORTRAIT 14” x 14 “ Oil on 1 1/2” gallery wrapped canvas
July 27, 2020 my granddaughter Audriana Isabella Rosa Smith turned 4 (four) and because of Covid we all joined in a zoom party. Fun chaos doing the best we can. Audri is the “mini me” of her mom, my daughter Daisha, and I enjoyed painting this portrait for her. New normal, new traditions.
PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF AMERICA’S WORLDWIDE DRAWING THE FIGURE 20” x 24”
All alone together I joined more than 1,400 Artists in the PORTRAIT
charcoal
SOCIETY of AMERICA’s “Worldwide Drawing the Figure” with artist
and conte
teacher Robert Liberace, ONLINE Thursday evening August 27, 2020 at
on
4:30pm. Here is my drawing from the draw along class.
strathmore paper
Acclaimed figure and portrait artist Liberace taught a 3-hour online
Aug. 27,
figure drawing lesson to a worldwide audience. In addition to an
2020
afternoon of inspiration and learning from an internationally known artist, the Portrait Society attempted to break the Guinness World Record for Largest Online Figure Drawing class. The model, our live sitter was the artist’s daughter. Very patient for three hours. Itwas a great experience during lockdown
AUDRI HOMESCHOOLS WITH NANA Charcoal and white pastel
Beginning in August 2020 I was finally able to contribute. I began
homeschooling
duty
at
my
house
with
my
on Grey
granddaughters because their mother had to go back to work
strathmore
and schools were not open. I managed to this get this quick
paper
pencil and white conte drawing done of Audri the Pre-K’er
Sept. 3, 2020
while she was looking at her screen.
SOFIA THE SERIOUS STUDENT Charcoal and white pastel on Grey strathmore paper Sept. 4, 2020
I was so thankful to be finally able to help in some way. Homeschooling duty at my house with my granddaughters was a true honor and pleasure when their mother had to go back to work and schools were not open. Sofia remained in virtual school and was a very good student always attentive and so tech savvy.
BROWN EGGS 8” x 10”
Day 10 #stradaeasel 30 day challenge September 2020. (Paint or draw from life
Oil
everyday for 30 days. The optional prompt for today is “muted” so here is a quick oil
on 1 1/2”
painting of three brown eggs on a non-primed birch wood cradled panel painted
cradled wood panel
from life. The browns, grey and natural wood gives a muted presentation. 8” x 10” Brushes down. I facilitate / teach school for granddaughters at my home so have had little time to paint. Always good to practice the forms. I used it with Audri the preschooler as she was learning shapes.
PORTRAIT OF NATHAN FRECKLES AND ALL 11” X 14”
Day 16 of
Strada Easel30-day September challenge paint or draw from life.
Oil on
Participating in challenges helped artists spur one another on during the
stretched
lockdown. FACETIME sitting with my son Nathan to complete his portrait
canvas
Freckles and all was a great experience during lockdown. This was the best
Sept. 16,
excuse to spend quality time with my son every day. This portrait took four
2020
sessions on Zoom over four days. This was his birthday portrait. September 19.
ROBBY, BIRTHDAY PORTRAIT 18” x 18” oil on 1 1/2” Gallery wrapped canvas Oct. 22, 2020
Happy birthday portrait of my son Robby. I grabbed this photo reference from his TicTok video. During the pandemic he danced his way to become a huge TicTok influencer with 373K fans and 20K followers on Instagram.
BIRTHDAY PORTRAIT OF MOM 16” x 20” Oil on stretched canvas Oct. 2, 2020
Mother turned 89 on Oct 2, 2020. I painted this for her using her high school black and white photo that hung in our family home all the years I can remember, as a reference. I painted it on her birthday while she watched me paint via video. She’s was in California and I was Puerto Rico. Thanks to my sister Andi who set up the video on her end. We had a nice chat and she gave me the nicest encouraging compliments. I needed to know the color of the dress as I was painting from a black and white photo. She told me a maroon brown color. She told me our dad (her husband Jim) said this was her ‘dressy dress’. Best birthday memory. It turned out to be the last conversation I had with her before she died in December. I was unable to travel to be with her because of Covid travel restrictions until June 2021.
SANTA (MY HERO) MAKES APPEARANCES AT ART EXHIBITION BELIEVE IT OR NOT my Covid Hero of the week (December 2020) was my
12” x
sister’s partner who is Santa. Yep, this is my brother! I’m honored to paint this
16”Oil on
portrait for him. Because of the pandemic, opportunities in his seasonal work
linen
as Santa and otherwise as a musician have been curtailed. However, he has
covered
been able to bring joy to children in some altered situations with masks and distance protocols implemented. He serves as Santa at a local mall in Missouri - the children must sit six feet away from his perch on his throne chair, everyone in a mask. Merry Christmas everyone. He is a year-round white bearded joyful soul and I’m blessed to have Santa as a brother. Gary Gordon Goff you’re my hero!
birch panel Dec. 13, 2020
HANNAH, MY NIECE THE NURSE ! 18” x 18” oil on 1 1/2” Gallery canvas October 22, 2020
It was my honor to paint this portrait of my niece nurse Hannah who is serving on the frontlines in an Arizona hospital. She continues to work long shifts serving others. I pray for her and her colleagues and all nurses who risk their lives and give so much of themselves daily. She experienced the helplessness of watching many of her patients die every day. The frontline of this pandemic is horrifying. Please encourage our health care workers by doing whatever you can to keep yourself and your family safe.
PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE WEEK Global paint-along zoom event Sundays during the pandemic lockdown by SkyTV
PORTRAIT OPERA SINGER 12” x 12” Oil on panel handmade linen over birch December 12, 2020 During the pandemic I joined a community of more than 1200 ARTISTS WORLDWIDE every Sunday for a global Paint-along. This is one of many portraits I painted while watching SkyArts TV live on Sunday mornings. It was a magical session with UK portrait Artist Tom Croft painting the ever effervescent British soprano Leslie Garrett. Love this show. It was something to look forward to every week. Delightful to listen to her chat about opera and even her belting out Silent Night to everyone’s astonishment and shear delight. It was fabulous to participate in this live four hour global painting event on Sundays.
PORTRAIT DANNII MINOGUE 12” x 12” Oil on birch Dec.18, 2020 This is another of many portraits I painted while watching SkyArts TV live on Sunday mornings. Australian singer, actress, fashion designer, presenter, host Dannii Minogue was a pleasure to listen to and paint. She was a real trooper sitting for 4 hours entertaining and chatting until 1 am from her home in Australia to all of us around the world. Just so fabulous to participate in this live four hour global painting event, from my easel in Puerto Rico where I spent the lockdown as I was unable to travel. This paint-along on Sundays allowed me a chance to experiment in different styles.
ALEX OUR ANGEL HERO 11” x 14” oil
Alex was my Covid Hero of the Week for #portraitsforcovidheroes. December 15, 2020.
on linen
She is one of my mother’s two rotating hospice nurse practitioners who attended to my
primed with clear gesso
mother every other day in the home. (Santa Paula, California) She gave my sister Andi (mom’s full time caregiver) assistance and guidance in keeping our mom comfortable and pain free, monitoring her vitals and occasionally more extensive procedures. Alex’s eyes sparkle as she enters the home, showing her kind and loving nature. She’s was blessing to
adhered
my mother who suffered from advance stages of dementia and is bedridden. Especially
to birch
during this covid pandemic, I wanted to take time to thank and honor her with this
board.
portrait for helping my sister and mom in these difficult days. I wanted to have the backlighting give her a halo, portraying her as the angel she is to our family.
HOPE ARRIVES: NURSE HILARY GETS VACCINATED 12” x 12” Oil on linen
I was honored to paint another portrait of Hilary Chandler, this second time all smiles instead of tears. Vaccinating healthcare workers brings hope to Health Heroes. “Christmas came early this year, take that Covid-19”, says
wrapped
Hillary Chandler a nurse in Houston when she received her vaccination on
birch
December 19, 2020. Her family and friends are all very happy she has
wood
received the vaccine and breathing a sigh of relief. She is a nurse manager
panel
for Kelsey-Seybold Cancer Center in Houston, Texas which provides
Dec. 19,
outpatient clinics, a radiation center, and infusion centers. They take care of
2020
adult cancer patients. “It’s often overwhelming, interacting with our patients who are not only facing their cancer diagnosis, but also the stress of receiving cancer treatment during a pandemic,” explained Hilary.. The vaccine brought her the gift of hope.
ICU NURSE BREAKS DOWN 12” x 16”
The heart-wrenching expression on my portrait of Oakland, California emergency covid Nurse
Oil on
Marcella Aiello breaking down in tears says what we all should know, but don’t. As we pass the
stretched Canvas
400,000 (January 2021) milestone of those Americans who have died from covid, healthcare workers are under extreme pressure, fighting fatigue and exhaustion in ICUs across the nation. The surge continues to rise. On this day Marcella said, “My shift devolved into me sobbing in the
January
ambulance bay FaceTiming my husband who encouraged me to finish my shift ... and not just go
19, 2021
home. Today I saw far too many families lose a loved one that they had to say goodbye to,” explained Marcella.
IS THIS AMERICA?
11”x 14” Gouache on watercolor paper
On January 6, 2021, the United States Capitol was attacked by domestic terrorists who sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election
beating
police
officers
with
flagpoles,
sticks
and
bullhorns. They blinded them with bear spray, tased them, gouged their eyes and more. Officer Harry Dunn, one of the many black capitol police officers who fought for our democracy that day asked, “Is this America? What just happened? Is this America?” Let us never forget the sacrifices that #CapitolPolice and #MPD heroes made that day. This painting was not in the tent solo show, although it is part of my Hero collection, because it was included in the Santa Paula Art Museum, juried group exhibition, WORK FROM HOME I was so honored to have this painting included in the exhibition which ran from Sept 18, 2021 - Jan. 9, 2022. (AVAILABLE FRAMED)
PORTRAIT OF COURAGE
EUGENE GOODMAN CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL, CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER Congress presented the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the nation’s highest civilian honors, to U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who directed the violent mob away from the Senate chamber on Jan. 6. The Senate honored Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman's courage giving him a standing ovation for risking his own life to save theirs on January 6. Goodman alone faced a swarm of rioters near the Senate chamber. They followed him up a flight of stairs as he led them away from the doors to the chamber where the senators were gathered. B E T T E R
A N G E L S
&
(AVAILABLE framed)
B O N A F I D E
H E R O E S
SISTER CINDY: ESSENTIAL SCHOOL LIBRARIAN HERO 12” x 12”
It was scary but necessary sending children back to school during the
Oil on
pandemic but my sister Cindy, who grew up in Santa Paula, now a school
cradled wood panel March 2021
librarian in Northern Arizona, never missed a beat. I am so proud of her for so many reasons, including working almost every school day through the many months of the pandemic. She adhered to the protocols. I’m so relieved she received her covid vaccinations in March 2021. She is my Covid Hero working on the frontlines as an essential school employee bringing her unique charm and sparkle to the students at her school. The month of March is National Reading Month. The start of this is initiated with ‘Read Across America Day’ on March 2. As the school librarian Cindy organized a community reading event at her school inviting local dignitaries to come read to the students. Super proud of her. FUN FACT: Both our birthdays are on March 22.
OLIVIA 11” x 14” oil on linen primed with clear gesso adhered to birch board. It was an honor to paint this portrait of my niece Olivia who works at a nursing home in Ventura County, California. Olivia cares for the elderly, assigned to the memory ward, she brings joy into the lives of her patients and their families who are not allowed to visit during the lockdown. She organizes fun activities and helps the families communicate through online technology, She was nominated for this portrait by her eldest sister my niece, Jerica who also worked on the frontline as an essential worker in a restaurant during the pandemic dealing with the risks, fears and protocols. “I want to nominate Olivia because she is doing so much to help the elderly with memory issues whose families can’t visit. She plans activities, dresses up in costumes, and is there almost everyday, even on holidays, all the while raising two babies at home. She really cares about her patients and wants the best for them,” recalls Jerica, so proud of her sister’s consistent special work and energy at the nursing home during the pandemic.
O R I G I N A L S
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Giclee prints are fine art archival reproductions of the original painting printed on museum quality, acid-free matte paper or canvas. These are examples. All paintings are available in prints on your choice paper or canvas. Framed or unframed. email me or go to website for more information. If you are interested in commissioning a
HIGH QUALITY GICLEE CANVAS PRINTS
custom painting. Click here.
HIGH QUALITY GICLEE CANVAS WITH WOOD FLOATER FRAME
BOUQUET OF HUMANITY
12” x 16 “
I painted this on the anniversary of George Floyd’s death as we take 9
oil on
minutes and 29 seconds out of our day to remember the seismic effect the
stretched canvas
brutal death of George Floyd under the knee of a policemen one year before, May 25, 2021 has had on our nation and the world. I was inspired to paint this after that trial because I was so moved by this group of heroes.
May 25,
Not only were there multiple bystanders of different races and ages, a
2021
‘bouquet of humanity’, but they were all strangers with nothing in common, explained the prosecutor in the trail against the policeman who murdered George Floyd. Say their names: Darnella Frazier, Donald Williams. Genevieve Hansen. Charles McMillan. These and several others shine as true heroes in the tragic story of George Floyd, just regular people who were brought together by fate in that place at that time to witness that moment. Because of the videos a nation began a race reckoning, sparking protests and new legislation to reform police departments all over the nation. A lot has happened in one year and yet there is so much more to be done to become a nation truly bent on creating justice and equality for for all .
PURPLE MOUNTAIN MAJESTY AT RAINWATER’S RANCH Laying a New Water Line 15” x 30” oil on stretched canvas Sept. 9, 2020
With the backside of Santa Paula Peak, Cienaga, Bear Haven lit up in a sunset glow of purples, Rainwater’s Avocado orchard is bathed in the last moments of golden sun. Located at the foothills of the Topa Topas, with views of Sespe backcountry, Sulphur Mountain and Santa Paula, the ranch became my campsite this past summer and I’m forever grateful. This is the place where I painted the mural on the side of Dave’s new 22’ trailer which was stored just waiting for the Christmas season. Fabulous waking up here surrounded by cattle, horses and the beautiful views of the mountains surrounding Santa Paula. Thank you Marianne and Kevin for your kind hospitality and the great opportunity
TRAILER LOCATED NEXT TO TENT ART EXHIBITION AT DAVE’S CHRISTMAS TREE LOT Thanks to Dave Wills for commissioning me to paint a mural of the Topa Topa Mountains on his 1970 trailer that was located at the entrance to the BETTER ANGELS & BONAFIDE HEROES Art exhibition at his Christmas Tree lot from December 3 until Christmas Eve. Placing the trailer with the mural next to my semi-outdoor tent gallery solo exhibition was fabulous. I appreciate Dave for sharing his space for my exhibition and craft tables where everyone was encouraged to paint on a wood disc. Thanks to Sam Jackson, lot manager, and all the tree lot workers who became like family. Nighttime fires, ukuleles, great food, collaborative painting sessions, hometown traditions abound and were encapsulated at the annual roundup of friends and families searching for their perfect tree. I painted the mural last summer while the trailer was stored on a ranch in the upper valley. Camping off the grid while painting on the trailer at the foothills of the Topas with vistas of Sespe backcountry with cattle and horses as daily visitors was one of the best experiences of my life. Thanks Dave and all who enjoyed the mural. A special thanks to Frank’s Paint and Hardware. I’m looking forward to wrapping the painting around the back of the trailer in the future.
photo by Nathan Arroyo Smith
TOPA TOPA MURAL PAINTED ON
ESSENTIAL FARM WORKERS DESERVE RESPECT The original painting was not in the tent solo show, although it is part of my Hero collection, because the original hangs in the SANTA PAULA ART MUSEUM As part of “ART ABOUT AGRICULTURE” juried Exhibition. Opening reception was Nov. 13, 2021. On view through March 6, 2022.
11” x 14” oil on linen birch panel
ESSENTIAL FARM WORKERS DESERVE RESPECT I am honored to be one of the 61 artists juried into
During the pandemic we began to realize how
the "The 13th Annual Art About Agriculture" exhibition
important front line farm workers are to our
now at the Santa Paula Art Museum through March 6,
nation. I pray that we continue to appreciate,
2022. The Art About Agriculture is a juried, group art
protect, honor and thank our essential agricultural
exhibition presented annually by the Ag Art Alliance,
heroes. I painted this in September, 2021 which is
which was formed in 2007 by Santa Paula artists Gail
Food Safety Month. This reminds us that farm
Pidduck and John Nichols. The purpose of the exhibit
workers are on the front lines of providing our
is to promote awareness of agriculture by using art to
food,
explore its many facets—from workers to water, from
address threats to food safety, workers need
the fields, to the food that goes on our plates.
dignified working conditions, training and a culture
and
preventing
food-borne
illness.
To
that encourages them to speak up. True heroes with steadfast devotion providing the world what we need. The exhibition will continue through March 6, 2022 at the beautiful Santa Paula Art Museum on 10th street in Santa Paula. Framed and Available for sale contact museum 805-5255554
So very happy and grateful that “Heading Up The Mountain along Santa Paula Creek” has found a wonderful home with dear friend, classmate and former Santa Paula resident Susan Walker Bell. She lives in Santa Barbara with her husband Bob. “It will be a wonderful piece to add to our home, it will remind me of my time in Santa Paula,” said Susan, whose family moved to Santa Paula in 1966, she left in 1976. “It will always hold a special place in my heart” she explained about our hometown. With this sale of painting and two other generous donations I was able to purchase power tools and wood to make the frames and a tent for my upcoming solo show in Santa Paula Dec 3, 4 & 5th at Dave’s Christmas Tree lot across the tracks from the Train Depot. Susan's mother was a founding member of the SP Society of the Arts and lifelong artist as was my mother. I’m so thankful this new landscape is going to a hometown girl. “I’ve been wanting a painting in your style, of a California scene, and because it’s SP, it’s extra special…so thank you for creating it,” Susan explained about adding my latest landscape to her collection.
B E T T E R
A N G E L S
&
B O N A F I D E
H E R O E S
HEADING UP THE MOUNTAIN ALONG SANTA PAULA CREEK
20”X16” OIL ON STRETCHED CANVAS
‘Jules captures the feeling of our Magnificent valley!” - Christina Wayman
Growing up in Santa Paula and also living in the Upper Valley, half way to Ojai, I have passed this dynamic view of citrus and palm rows nestled in the valley on the banks of Santa Paula Creek countless times. The foothills of Santa Paula Peak and Topa Topas intersecting in a pattern of shadows and form; an iconic mesmerizing vista that stirs memories and says, “HOME” I drove by this view on the way to the jobsite-campsite at the end of Koeingstein to work on the mural on the 22” trailer all summer. I finally took time to paint this in September. During the opening weekend of the show (December 4) many of those who live in the area came by and commented on this landscape, “Jules captures the feeling of our magnificent valley!”, wrote rancher Christina Wayman in the exhibition guestbook.
I am over the moon happy that my recent Plein Air oil sketch, “Hometown Treasure”, was accepted into the California Art Club’s exhibition: En Plein Air: An Exploration of Malibu and Ventura County featuring 33 artists, all members of the famed, 113-yearold club. The Exhibition opened January 15, 2022 at the Santa Paula Art Museum, 117 North 10th Street in Santa Paula, California. This painting is available at the Santa Paula Art Museum along with many others in the Plein air exhibit that continues through May 8th, 2022. This Queen Anne treasure is located down the street from our family home where my sister lives. I’ve longed to paint it as the afternoon sun hits the beautiful ornamental shingle pattern, slanted bay windows, cornices, dentils since forever. Finally took a couple afternoons and gave it a go. Designed and built in 1893 by well-known Santa Paula architect Herman Anlauf whose other notable local designs include the Faulkner House and the Adolfo Camarillo residence, this home was the personal residence of Anlauf and his family.
Photo by John Nichols
“We will not go back to normal. Normal never was. Our precorona existence was not normal other than we normalized greed, inequity, exhaustion, depletion, extraction, disconnection, confusion, rage, hoarding, hate and lack. We should not long to return, my friends. We are being given the opportunity to stitch a new garment. One that fits all of humanity and nature. -Sonya Renee Taylor
Take a photo of QR Code to go to video slideshow
BETTER ANGELS & BONAFIDE HEROES: A Solo Art EXHIBITION curated by Jules Smith was held under tents at the Santa Paula, California’s Rose Garden amidst Dave’s Christmas Tree Lot across the tracks from the Train Depot December 313, 2021. “I thank everyone who believed in this project of presenting the collection of more than 40 paintings I created during the pandemic starting in March 2020 titled; BETTER ANGELS and BONAFIDE HEROES to honor our essential workers and tell a story of this past year and a half. What a pleasure it was to watch and listen to the response to the portraits of everyday heroes and landscapes by the visitors to the gallery. My hearltelt thanks to the people of my hometown Santa Paula and all over Ventura County and especially family who drove up from Venice and El Segundo. So many took time to visit and walk through the semioutdoor tent gallery studying the paintings recalling their own memories of the lockdown, expressing emotions and encouraging me. Thanks to Susan Bell Walker, Danny and Tammy Flack, and D’Etta and Ken for their special support making this show possible. Thanks to Paul Belgum and his ukulele group, my brother Santa: Gary Gordon Goff and Sheila and so many other musicians serenading us at the opening and at the daily bonfires. Thanks to my son Nathan who took photos, brother James who lent his tools and other family members and friends for your support. Thank You Marianne and the Santa Paula Times for their timely article. Thanks to Dave Wills for commissioning me to paint the mural on his 1970 trailer that he positioned at the entrance to the Art Exhibition at his tree lot during December until Christmas Eve. So grateful to Dave for sharing his space for the ART EXHIBITION and craft tables where everyone was encouraged to paint on a wood disc, and join in collaboratve paint sessions and singalongs. Let us never forget to gather together and spur one another on.” (click to see video/slide show)
— Jules Smith