Commissioned Residencies and Cherry Trees

Sunday, 3.29.26

Dear Art Lover,

The past few weeks have been full of new art, long painting days, travel, and wonderful, nourishing interactions and conversations with friends old and new - especially all of you who have stopped to talk while I’ve worked outside. I love the public-facing aspect of my art, love to answer questions, love to demystify and share my art as it is being made outside from life.

This update will cover only essential details - including what is going on right now (right… meow!) as I work on two simultaneous projects depicting the Seattle Cherry Blossom Bloom.

This past week and at least this coming week as well you can find me most days most of the day into the evening at the University of Washington Quad, painting my butt off, working on many concurrent paintings at scale from tiny to giant, of views various and weather whatever, putting down my cherry blossom observations while they are still here! As ever, the invitation is open to find me, watch me work, have a chat, or even get free art lessons. Text or call (206) 992 - 1230 if you’d like to coordinate.

All the cherry blossom work, once finished, will be for sale on my website. If you are looking for original artwork you love, I recommend signing up for the paid subscription on my substack - you get 50% off my art, forever!* *(for as long as you are subscribed!)

Speaking of new work for sale, if you dig Hawai’i, sunsets, wild chickens, waves, whales, palms and the like, I’ve just completed my first commissioned residency. What is a commissioned residency? Last year around this time I had an abstract idea to be hired to go somewhere and make art for a client who wanted work from me of a specific place. I did no conscious work moving this forward - but thanks to the Glanz Family (thank you!) We just completed such a project, two weeks in Maui, where the residency commissioners pre-paid for artwork, I went and made a ton (114 new works in twelve days), and they selected their favorites.

I have not had the luxury to slow down production to list that unsold work yet, as with the cherries in bloom, I started work on the current blossom paintings the day I returned. Even getting this update out was a stretch - the morning sunlight is soaking my eyes and the blossoms are calling!

If you or anyone you know is interested in a commissioned residency with me, reach out via email to david@DavidOSmithArtist.com, or use the contact form on my website. This goes for any commissions or other artwork thoughts you may have - I’m always open to hearing ideas!

See you under the cherry trees,

David Orrin Smith