Biography
Heather Smith Jones is an artist, author, and instructor working in mixed media on paper, painting, photography, and printmaking. From 2003-2018, Smith Jones taught young artists in the Linda Reimond Arts-Based Preschool at The Lawrence Arts Center. She has taught children of all ages, adult workshops, and students on the college level. Her book Water Paper Paint, Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media was published in 2011.
Smith Jones's paintings and drawings are represented in galleries in the Midwest and on the East coast. Her work is in the public collections of the Sprint Corporation and Emprise Financial Corporation in addition to many private collections around the world. She has received fellowships and residencies from Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and Arrowmont School for Arts and Crafts. She has contributed to a number of books and has served as exhibition curator. Smith Jones earned her MFA from The University of Kansas and her BFA in Painting from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. She grew up in the mountains of Tennessee and on the South Carolina coast and now lives in the midwestern town of Lawrence, Kansas with her husband, daughter, and their two cats.
CV
b. 1974
Gallery Representation
Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS. 785-830-8030 (original art)
Smith Galleries, Hilton Head Island, SC. 1-800-272-3870 (original art, fine art prints)
Strecker Nelson West Gallery, Manhattan, KS. 785-537-2099 (original art)
Exhibitions
2018 2018 Benefit Art Auction, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS, April 14.
2017 SNW Presents, Strecker Nelson West Gallery, Manhattan, KS, November 3 - December 30.
Heather Smith Jones, Swallowfield Shop, Northeast Harbor, Maine, opening August 17.
Other Worlds, Strecker Nelson West Gallery, Manhattan, KS, April 7 - May 20.
2017 Benefit Art Auction, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS, March 10 - April 8.
Kansas City Artists Coalition 34th Annual Art Auction, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO, February 1 - 18.
2016 #CautionMayBeHot, Long Weekend Store, Oakland, CA and Fayes, San Francisco, CA, October 21 - November 27.
Palette Exhibition, Ampersand International Arts, San Francisco, CA, September 15 - October 14.
KCAC 40th Anniversary River Market Regional Invitational Exhibition, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO, August 12 - September 22.
HOTT SHEETS, Wonder Fair, Lawrence, KS, June 24 - August 14.
Essences: Abstracted Landscapes, Strecker-Nelson Gallery, Manhattan, KS, March 4 - April 23.
2015 re:MEMBERS, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO, July 10 - August 20.
2015 Benefit Art Auction, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS, Live Auction, April 11.
2014 Good Mail Day, Artstream Gallery, Dover, NH, November 14 - December 31.
Heather Smith Jones, Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence, KS, July 26 - August 28.
2014 Benefit Art Auction, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS, March 14 - April 12.
Watercolor- Delicate beauty from a difficult medium, Strecker-Nelson Gallery, Manhattan, KS, March 7 - April 26.
2013 TEN, Artstream Gallery, Rochester, NH, opening May 4.
2012 2012 Lawrence Arts Center Benefit Art Auction, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS, April 14. Exhibit March 16 – April 14.
At 20, A Creative Continuum Arrowmont Artists-in-Residence Anniversary Exhibition, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN, March 16 - May 19.
Inspired by, Artstream Gallery, Rochester, NH, March 3 - April 30.
2011 Wonder Fair Holiday Market, Wonder Fair Gallery, Lawrence, KS, November 25 - December 23.
Heather Smith Jones, solo exhibition, Douglas County Courthouse, Lawrence, KS, November 16 - January3, 2012.
Water Paper Paint, the Creativity of Heather Smith Jones, solo exhibition, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS, opening June 24.
31st Annual Lawrence Art Auction, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS, April 9, 2011.
Water Paper Paint, Heather Smith Jones, solo exhibition and book signing, The Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS, January 7 - February 4, 2011.
2010 Newness, invitational group exhibition with Lisa Solomon and Jen Garrido, Artstream Gallery, Rochester, NH, December 3 - January 31, 2011.
Heather Smith Jones, solo exhibition, Carnegie Cultural Center, Ottawa, KS, December 1 - 31.
Place, invitational group exhibition, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS, February 12 - March 13.
Paper Capers: Adventures in Paper Art, invitational group exhibition, Wenham Museum, Wenham, MA, February 5 - May 9.
Color, invitational three person exhibition, Eyebuzz Art Gallery, Tarrytown, NY, February 2 - March 25.
The New Show, invitational group exhibition, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS, opening January 22 - March.
2009 Incredible Print Show 2, invitational group exhibition, Artstream Gallery, Rochester NH, December.
Common Ground, group exhibition, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS, October.
Art House, invitational, exhibition at the home of Jacquie Israel, Art Consultant, Pacific Palisades, CA. May 4 - June 1.
Incredible Print Show, invitational group exhibition, Artstream Studios, Rochester NH. May 1 - June 30.
Delicacy, invitational group exhibition, Warehouse 414, Topeka KS. Feb. 6 - Mar. 2.
Fresh StArt, invitational one night benefit, Arena 1 Gallery at the Santa Monica Art Studios, Santa Monica, CA. February 7, 2009.
Warmth in Winter: Color, Heart, Home, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS January 23 - April 17.
2008 Lawrence Arts Center Faculty and Staff Exhibition, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS. June 27 - July 25.
Modern Spring, Artstream Studios, Rochester, NH. May 2 - July 8.
Heather Smith Jones, Grace Episcopal Cathedral, Cloister Gallery, Topeka, KS. June 2 - 30.
KC in LA, invitational, Milo Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. April 26 - May 31.
Heather Smith Jones, Douglas County Courthouse, Lawrence, KS. February.
2007 TEXTURE, invitational, Gallery XII, Wichita, KS. December 28 - January 23, 2008.
Mapping the way, Artstream Gallery, Rochester, NH. October 1 - January 1, 2008.
Abstraction:The Language of Art, invitational, Strecker-Nelson Gallery, Manhattan, KS. August 3 - September 13.
Wish You Were Here 6, A.I.R. Gallery, New York, NY. June 26 - July 21.
Spring Faculty Exhibition, Sandra J. Blain Gallery, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN. March 2 – April 14.
Kansas City Artists Coalition 24th Annual Art Auction, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO. Preview exhibition February 2 – 16. Auction event February 17.
The Neighborhood Show, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS. February 9 – April 7.
2006 The Gift, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS. December 1 – January 27, 2007.
Lawrence Own-Your-Own, A benefit for visual artists of the Lawrence Community and Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Juror: Carla Sanderson, Asst. Dir., City Arts; Division of Arts and Cultural Services for the City of Wichita, KS. Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS. December 9 - 16.
Landscape & Light and the Black and White Show, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS. July 28 – September 23. Lawrence Arts Center Faculty Show, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS. July 21 - August 31.
Wish You Were Here 5, A.I.R. Gallery, New York, NY. June 28 - July 22.
Kansas City’s Art for Arthritis, invitational, Ron Berg Studio, Kansas City, MO. April 27.
All Women One Word, invitational, Thornhill Gallery, Avila University, Kansas City, MO. March 31 - April 28.
The Kansas Landscape: Images from Home, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS. January 27 - March 25.
2005 Poetry and Art: The Intuitive Connection, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS. October 28 - January 21.
All Femme, invitational, Strecker-Nelson Gallery, Manhattan, KS. September 16 - October 29.
Unfolding, solo exhibition, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS. August 26 - October 22.
Heather Smith Jones, Charno Gallery, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO. May 6 - 27.
Installation view of solo exhibition at the Kansas City Artists Coalition.
2004 Lawrence Arts Center Faculty and Staff Exhibition, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS. December 9 - 23.
Truth and Beauty, All New Work by Signs of Life Gallery Artists, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS. October 22 - January 22.
Lawrence Own-Your Own, Corporate Centre Building, Lawrence, KS. Juror: Edward Barr, Director Mulvane Art Museum, Topeka, KS. September 25 - October 3.
Judith Mackey: At Home in the Flint Hills, with Donna Cole, Judy Geer Kellas, Margo Kren, Caroline Kahler, Heather Smith Jones, Chris Arensdorf, and Oscar Larmer, Strecker-Nelson Gallery, Manhattan, KS. September 17 - October 30.
Making Connections, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS. Pieces selected and arranged by: David Cateforis, Associate Professor of Art History, The University of Kansas. August 20 - October 16.
Color, Color, Color, Woodcuts and Paintings, three person exhibition, Center for the Visual Arts, Wausau, WI. July 2 - August 8.
Voice of Authority: Women’s Use of Text in Visual Art, CKSpace, Kansas City, MO. May 7 - June 25.
Birdsandfish, A National All-media Invitational, City Arts, Wichita, KS. April 30 - May 27.
John Gary Brown- En Reve, with Annette Zobel, Anna Calluori Holcombe, Randy Regier, Heather Smith Jones, and Robert Sudlow, Strecker-Nelson Gallery, Manhattan, KS. March 5 - April 17.
2003 Introduction: Eight Emerging Artists, CKSpace, Kansas City, MO. November 7 - December 20.
Beauty Abundant, Signs of Life Gallery Artists, New Works, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS. November 1 - January 23.
Patterns in wondering and knowing, solo exhibition, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS. Catalog. August 22 - October 18.
Dimensions 2003, Associated Artists of Winston-Salem, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC. Juror: Stephen Phillips, Associate Curator at the Phillips Collection, Washington, DC. April 24 - May 24.
Midland Arts Association 2003 Spring Juried Art Exhibition, Museum of the Southwest, Midland, TX. March 6 - 30.
Midwest Winter Exhibition, The Center for the Visual Arts, Wausau, WI. January 15 - March 8.
Baker Arts Center’s Sixth National Juried Art Exhibition, Baker Arts Center, Liberal, KS. Catalog. Juror: Lyndel King, Director and Chief Curator of the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, University of Minnesota. January 11 - February 23.
2002 Small Works Holiday Show, Trish Higgins Fine Art, Wichita, KS. December 13 - January 24.
La Petite X, Alder Gallery, Coburg, OR. November 19 - January 2003.
Artists of Northwest Arkansas 8th Annual Regional Art Exhibition 2002, ACO Director’s Choice Award, Arts Center of the Ozarks, Springdale, AR. Catalog. November 11 - January 1, 2003.
Plain Arts IV International Juried Exhibition, University Gallery, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS. April 17 - May 8.
Installation view of Water Paper Paint exhibition at the Lawrence Arts Center and the book cover.
Professional Experience
2009-2010 Author, Water Paper Paint, Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media, Quarry Books, release date January 1, 2011.
2004-present Instructor, Arts-Based Preschool and workshops, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, Kansas.
2007 Instructor, One week painting workshop, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee. March 18 - 24.
2006 Admissions Advisory Panel for Residency Program, Hall Farm Center for Arts & Education, Townshend, Vermont.
2005 Curator, selections from gallery artists coinciding with Unfolding, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS.
2003 Resident Artist, Hall Farm Center for Arts & Education, Townshend, Vermont. June 10 - 25.
Fellowship, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Sweet Briar, Virginia. March 10 - 23.
2000- 2002 Drawing and Painting Tutor, Private instructor in drawing and painting. Lawrence, Kansas.
2001 Painting Lecturer, Painting I-II, The University of Kansas, Instructor of Record.
1999- 2001 Teaching Assistant, Drawing, The University of Kansas, Instructor of Record.
1999 Instructor, Elderhostel one week painting workshop, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
1997- 1998 Artist-in-Residence, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Publications and Contributions in Print
“MWM 2016 Featured Artist Heather Smith Jones.” MWM Vol. 5 No. 2 The Art Issue, 21 October 2016. mwmks.com pgs. 33 - 42.
White, Darin M., lm gallery/ team nature, lawrence magazine, summer 2016. p. 28, 29.
New American Paintings, No. 120, Western Issue. 2015
Art for All Seasons, by Susan Schwake, contributing artist, publish date January 2015, published by Two Little Birds Books.
The Paper Playhouse: Awesome Art Projects for Kids Using Paper, Boxes, and Books, by Katrina Rodabaugh, contributing artist, publish date January 2015, published by Quarry Books.
Gem and Stone: Jewels of the Earth: Sea and Sky, by Jen Altman, contributing illustrator, publish date Fall 2012.
Knot Thread Stitch, Exploring Creativity through Embroidery and Mixed Media, by Lisa Solomon, contributing artist, publish date July 2012.
Art Lab for Kids, 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media-For Budding Artists of All Ages, by Susan Schwake, contributing artist, publish date December 2011.
Creative Pilgrimage, An Exploration of Artful Gatherings and Discovery of Innovative Art Techniques, by Jenny Doh, contributing artist, publish date November 25, 2011.
Painted Pages, Fueling Creativity with Sketchbook and Mixed Media, by Sarah Ahearn Bellemare, contributing artist, publish date May 1, 2011.
Water Paper Paint, Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media, author, Quarry Books, publish date January 1, 2011.
From Orchards, Fields, and Gardens: Art and rememberings celebrating sustainable agriculture and good food, contributing artist to the book curated and edited by Kerstin Svendsen. publish date August 2010.
Blog Beautiful article, author, UPPERCASE Magazine, Issue 3, Autumn 2009. p. 14.
Blog Beautiful, Kathryn Carnegie and Julie Doan, UPPERCASE Magazine, Issue 2, Summer 2009. p. 16, 17.
Paget, Mindie. The faraway nearby, Artists take fresh look at familiar Lawrence neighborhood, Lawrence Journal-World Pulse, February 6, 2007. Sect. D, p. 1,2. (image and quote)
Ryan, Amy. In living color, CVA’s new space and exhibit are nothing short of ‘wow’, Wausau Herald City Pages art review, July 22-29, 2004. p. 18.
Herrman, Tony. Strecker-Nelson displays artists with colorful landscapes, creative sculptures, Kansas State Collegian, online media source, March 10, 2004.
New Space Features Emerging Artists, Review, November 2003. p. 43.
Paget, Mindie. Patterns in wondering and knowing; Lawrence painter explores dichotomies, faith in Signs of Life show, Lawrence Journal-World, August 24, 2003. Sect. D, p. 1,4. (Reproduction and audio clip)
Reddick, Thomas. Life through a paintbrush, a three-minute documentary film screened at Every Picture Tells a Story Film Festival, Fahrenheit Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri, August 23, 2003.
Patterson, Tom. Back to Business As Usual, Winston-Salem Journal, May 18, 2003.
Psalm 19: 19 birds, one of two pinhole pieces commissioned by Sprint Corporation.
Awards and Public Collections
Emprise Bank, Wichita, Kansas. multiple acquisitions.
The Piper Assisted Living, Kansas City, KS. multiple acquisitions
Sprint Corporation, Overland Park, Kansas. commission of two pinhole works; separate purchase of two paintings.
2006 Lawrence Arts Center Imagination and Place Environmental Award, Chosen as the artist to make an original piece of art for the environmental award. The art is given to the recipient chosen for the Imagination and Place Environmental Award.
2005 Kansas Artist Mini Fellowship, Kansas Arts Commission.
2002 Arts Center of the Ozarks Director’s Choice Award, Artists of Northwest Arkansas 8th Annual Regional Art Exhibition 2002, Arts Center of the Ozarks, Springdale, AR. November 11 - January 1, 2003.
2001 Fulbright Grant to study Aboriginal Art in Australia, National Finalist.
2000-2001 Daniel MacMorris Scholarship, The University of Kansas. Fall 2000 - Spring 2001 Joyce Wentz
Scholarship, The University of Kansas. Fall 2000 - Spring 2001.
Special Recognition, Miniature III An International Juried Art Exhibition, Period Gallery, Omaha, NE. October 2 - 23, 2000.
1999-2000 Daniel MacMorris Scholarship, The University of Kansas. Fall 1999 - Spring 2000.
Ada Heuser Scholarhip, The University of Kansas. Fall 1999 - Spring 2000.
1997-1998 Trabue Professional Arts Program for Women Scholarship, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.
1996 Collegiate All-American Scholar Liquitex Student Paint Exchange Award.
Outstanding Senior Award, East Carolina University School of Art.
Betty L. West Scholarship, East Carolina University School of Art.
Non-Resident Special Talent Tuition Waiver, East Carolina University School of Art.
Taeylor Award for Art, East Carolina University School of Art.
Painting and letterpress in my studio.
Education
2014 - 2015 The Lawrence Arts Center, multiple clay classes, including hand building and wheel throwing methods.
2010 The Lawrence Arts Center, Metal casting workshop, including lost wax method.
2008 The Lawrence Arts Center, Letterpress workshop.
2007 The Lawrence Arts Center, Silkscreen workshop.
2001 The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, M.F.A., Painting. Departmental Honors
1997-1998 Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Participated in workshops in the following areas: landscape drawing, photography, metals, torch enameling, surface design in textiles, and bookmaking.
1996 East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, B.F.A., Painting and Drawing. Outstanding Senior Award
1992-1994 Winthrop University, Rock Hill, South Carolina.
