CLEARWATER, Florida — Works of art created by Ontario graduate Carrie Smith will be on display during the opening of her solo exhibition titled “The Sun Still Rises” at Gallery 1356 on Thursday, Sept. 10 from 6-9 p.m. at 1356 South Fort Harrison Avenue, Clearwater.
This is Smith’s second solo exhibition, having previously participated in one in Nelsonville, Ohio.
“I feel very fortunate to have a solo show down here,” she said. Though she’s not quite sure what to expect with this being her first solo exhibition in Florida, she said she’s looking forward to the event.
She began working on her pieces about eight months ago, shortly after moving back to Clearwater, where she was born.
The exhibition will consist of 13 or 14 oil portrait paintings.
“I like the challenge of portraits. It’s always fun for me to capture that particular person and try to match their expression and attitude through the medium,” she said.
Sometimes she enjoys creating abstract pieces to give her a break from the “tedious work of portraiture,” she said, adding, “but I’m mostly sticking with portraiture right now.”
The 23-year-old said her passion for art was sparked at a young age. “Ever since I was young I really enjoyed art class,” she said.
Her high school art teacher, Julie Buker, helped fan the flame by encouraging her to major in art at college.
“Julie Buker was really helpful my senior year of high school. She pushed me toward majoring in art and that’s how I really got into it at OU [Ohio University],” she said.
After graduating from Ontario in 2010, Smith attended Ohio University, where she mastered the technical skills of portraiture. During her time at Ohio University, Smith displayed her work at the renowned Kennedy Art Museum in a show titled “Confrontation/Deviation.” She went on to win the Excellence of Art award, the highest award in the Undergraduate Juried Exhibition.
She graduated in December 2014 with her Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in painting and drawing.
Since moving back to her native Florida, she has shown in five different shows across the state, winning Best in Show at the Dunedin Fine Art Center’s Members show and at the Osceola Juried Exhibition.
She’s currently renting her own studio space in the same building where Gallery 1356 is housed.
She said she hopes to continue participating in solo exhibitions throughout Florida, noting that she’d eventually like to show in New York and internationally.
To find out more about this emerging artist, visit her website.
