Nedra Smith
Nedra Smith grew up on her family's farm on the Great Plains of Nebraska leading to a lifelong love of the outdoors. Her early education was in a one room country school house where Fridays were dedicated to "art". Imagine: one school day out of five devoted to art! No wonder she knew at an early age that art and the outdoors would be a major part of her life.
After high school Smith chose to pursue an art education at George Washington University in Washington, DC. At that time GW was one of the only universities teaching a classical approach to art education: studying live models, learning muscles and bones, working with materials and techniques used by the old masters, everything Smith wanted.
Living in DC Nedra spent hours in it's great museums. "I was in complete awe seeing the actual paintings -- it was surreal." This time spent with the great works of art solidified Nedra's desire to pursue painting.
Nedra spent years working as a graphic artist and art director but the desire to paint never faded. Finally, she took the plunge and went to Chengdu China to study figure painting with a friend and master painter who taught at Sichuan University. This was a turning point.
Returning to the states Nedra began studying and painting with fellow artists. She was introduced to plein-air . . . the perfect match to her love of the outdoors and art.
"I am happiest outdoors with brush in hand."
Guitar by Hugh Smith
