It is the wonderment of colour in the world that drives Marg Smith to put brush to canvas. She paints what catches her heart.
An Albertan, Marg lives in Okotoks. Marg’s amazement of beauty in life plays an important role in her paintings. Painting gives her the opportunity to capture that “WOW” moment in vibrant oils and evoke that feeling in the viewers of her art.
Marg’s work is oils on canvas, or canvasboard and is usually done ala prima (wet on wet). Her subject matter is varied and includes landscape, children, pets, animals, florals and commissions. The majority of her works are influenced by life in western Canada and particularly of Alberta. This includes the landscapes, farm animals and pet portraits that she paints. Her love is to capture that spontaneous moment in time and preserve it for all to enjoy, such as a little boy preparing to jump into the water while his sister watches, or an alpaca or donkeylooking into a camera lens.
Marg hones her skills and knowledge through workshops with Canadian and American artists such as Doug Swinton, Gabor Svagrik, Neil Patterson and Roger Arndt. She is an Active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, Leighton Art Centre, Mohagany Art Guild, and The Group Art Society of Calgary. Marg owns Lavender Art Studio and was co-founder of Brushed With Flair.
Marg gives back to her community in several ways. One example is she was the resident volunteer artist at the Foothills Country Hospice where for approximately 9 years she painted on Monday afternoons for the hospice residents and their families. For four years she annually co-organized a fundraising event for the Hospice, called Art With Heart. She also co-organized art Fundraisers called for The Rowan House Emergency Shelter.
Her art is also shown at Leighton Art Centre, at Highwood Gallery & Gifts in High River, Lineham House Galleries in Okotoks, Upper Level Pottery and Gallery in Vermilion Alberta and in the Okotoks Art Gallery gift shop. She has shown at Western Art Gallery at the Calgary Stampede and the Reflections West Emerging Artists Show at the Hyatt Regency, Calgary AB.
Her work is in corporate and private collections throughout Canada, the United States, Panama, and the United Kingdom. Visit her website at www.margsmithfineart.com.
She has shown at
-Leighton Art Centre Clothesline Sale June 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020
-Leighton Art Centre Christmas In the Country Dec 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020
-High RIver Rotary Club Art Sale 2015 and 2017
-High River Art Society Spring Gala 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013
-Okotoks Spirit of Christmas 2020, 2019,2018 2017,2016, 2015, 2014, 2013,
Her work is in corporate and private collections throughout Canada and the United States, Panama, and the United Kingdom.
M
Educational Background
Workshops
Doug Swinton – Wed afternoons from 2015 to to current as scheduled
Neil Patterson- Sept. 2012: Jan 2013
Roger Arndt – Oct. 2012,
Andrew Kiss – Feb 2012 and 2011
Brent Laycock –2006, 2007, 2011 & in Feb 2012
Murray Phillips/Roger Arndt –2011 and 2010, 20113, 2014
Murray Phillips – July 2011
Jonn Einerssen – 2011 and 2010
Paula Henschell –2011
Exhibition History
Publications
“ROUTES a rural hip lifestyle magazine” Sept/October 2012 – page 18
Town of Okotoks CULTURE PROGRAM GUIDE – fall 2012 – page 9
Juried Shows and Sales
– Artpoint “Summer Invitational”, Calgary, Alberta – 2018
– Lineham House, Okotoks, Travel Alberta 2017 and 2018
–Beacon Original Art, Calgary, April 2016, Oct 2015, April 2015, Oct 2014
-Reflections West Emerging Art Show and Sale, Hyatt Hotel, Calgary AB July 2014
-Federation of Canadian Artists “Journey In Art” at the Leighton Art Centre – June , 2014
-Wellspring Visual ArtNetwork Association, Olds – Artwalk – July 3 – Sept 2, 2014
The Rabbit Hole – Alberta Faces, Places & Things, downstairs @ The Emporium of Impossible Things, Okotoks AB July 4-Sept 2, 2014
-Vale’s Greenhouse “Cultivation of Art” , Black Diamond, AB – June 2021, 2020, 2019 2018,2017,2016,2015,2014,2013,2012,2011
-Caprices Fine Arts Show & Sale at Fort Calgary, Calgary, AB – Sept
-Beacon Original Art – Sale #11, Calgary, AB – Oct
Western Art Gallery of the Calgary Stampede, Calgary, AB – July 5-14
Against the Grain Art Gallery, Nanton Alberta – 2013 to 2015 when business closed
Canadian Federation of Artists On Line Gallery, Vancouver, BC
All About the House – Evanescence Art Gallery, High River – Nov.,– to Dec 22
Vale’s Greenhouse in “Cultivation of Art”, Black Diamond, AB , June
Evanescence Emerging Artists, High River, AB, March – April 2012
Okotoks Art Gallery, Okotoks, AB – Jan. 2 to Feb 5 – Gone but Not Forgotten
Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, Crowsnest Pass, AB – Sept – Oct. 2011
Vale’s Greenhouse “Cultivation of Art”, Black Diamond, AB, June 2011
Art in the Halls – Okotoks Art Gallery, Okotoks, AB – July 1-31 2011
Okotoks Art Gallery, Okotoks, AB – Group of Seven – July – Sept 2011
Participated in
2013, 2012, 2010 and 2009
Paintworks Art Studios Show and Sale, Okotoks, AB
Calgary Retired Teachers’ Association Show and Sale April 6
High River Art Society Spring Show and Sale – May 10 and 11
2012
Duo Artist Show & Sale – Foothills Music Society Concert , Okotoks, AB
Okotoks Art Gallery in Okotoks, AB – Spirit of Christmas
Solo art show & Sale at Okotoks Arena, Okotoks, AB
3-person Artist Show & Sale in High River Library, High River, AB
Sheep River Library – Duo artist show, Turner Valley, AB
2011
Okotoks Art Gallery – Life on the Prairies
Okotoks Art Gallery, December- local artists’ sale and show
Contact:
Marg Smith, Artist
Okotoks, AB T1S 0E7
403-660-0684
mistyque2010@gmail.com