Smith Ornament On Renwick Gallery Christmas Tree

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Carol Smith of Newtown is one of 500 members of the Society of Decorative Painters (SDP) whose handpainted ornaments are decorating a holiday tree this season in the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C. Each ornament on the tree is inspired by one of the paintings in the Renwick Permanent Collection, as chosen by the decorative artist member.

The tree went on display in the Renwick Gallery’s Grand Salon last week, on December 3, and will remain on view through the month of December. The Renwick Gallery is located steps from the White House in the heart of historic federal Washington at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. It is the home of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s craft and decorative arts program.

For her ornament, Mrs Smith chose to replicate Abbott Handerson Thayer’s “Tiger’s Head,” an oil on canvas from 1874.

SDP is a membership organization with members throughout the United States, Canada, Japan and 42 other countries. It has more than 291 affiliated chapters that actively promote the art form through community service projects and other painting-related activities.

Mrs Smith is a painter who has participated in a number of interesting projects recently, including CHAIRish the Arts, an event hosted by The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council that featured the work of nearly 100 artists from across the state. Mrs Smith contributed “A Chair for Graciella,” a six-inch tall creation made of brass strips and beads and placed on a wooden base, intended as a “fairy chair,” she told The Bee in October, and “Draco’s Perch,” a rectangular stoop with a wood-burned image of a dragon, enhanced with a wash of acrylic paint.

Two years ago Mrs Smith participated in NCAC’s “Bear Affair,” which had visitors to the northwestern part of the state seeking out artistically rendered fiberglass and resin bear sculptures placed in various businesses. Mrs Smith contributed “Bare Bear,” a 5½ -foot tall hand painted grizzly bear. It was the perfect contribution for the wife of Wayne “Grizzly Woodsmith” Smith, known for his realistic carvings and other wildlife subjects (many of which Mrs Smith in turn brings further to life with her hand painted details).