Juanita Smith

Artist
Mariposa, California
email Juanita here

209-742-7403

Juanita works in mixed media, pastel, colored pencil and acrylic. Many subjects appeal to her but primarily children and portraits.

Juanita began drawing when she was six years old and continued to draw throughout her young years hoping to eventually go to art school… she received mush positive encouragement and won many art awards. Throughout her youth she did a great deal of charitable projects for her schools and community. Circumstances didn't allow for art school, however, and she found herself working as a secretary in order to support herself. Eventually she became an RN but her interest in art never waned and she never missed an opportunity to be creative within her nursing job in public health. While anticipating retirement, she enrolled in classes in colleges and Mendocino Art School in addition to studying with other artists.

Since retirement she has immersed herself in classes, art shows, competitions, group painting sessions, demonstrations, and exhibiting her art which can be found in galleries and private collections throughout the United States. Of her new profession she says, "I have a lot of catching up to do and probably not a lot of time (!), therefore, I must be totally committed and I am… art is my life"!

"I would like to say simply… I draw what I love and I love to draw. I hope that you get as much enjoyment from viewing my work as I did in creating it."