Rhonda Hartis Smith

Fine Artist

Rhonda has always been interested in the arts.  Her formal art training began at Western Kentucky University where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business.  While taking business classes, she managed to work in a few drawing and design classes. Throughout the years, Rhonda has developed her interest in the arts by studying oil painting on a regular basis.  Beginning in 1999, Rhonda began studying with Bowling Green portrait artist, Angela Kuprion, weekly in a semi-private class painting still lifes.  Other area artists that Rhonda has studied with include Marian Pacsuta and Evelyn Law. In 2001, she began studying with nationally known artists Michael Shane Neal, Dawn Whitelaw, Joy Thomas, John de la Vega, Ralph Oberg, Skip Whitcomb and Jeanne Mackenzie. In February 2008 and in 2009, Rhonda went to New York City to study with America’s premier portrait artist, Master Painter Everett Raymond Kinstler, at the Art Student’s League of New York.  Recently Rhonda took a 6 week Intensive drawing class from Dawn Whitelaw and Erin Jones.

A dedicated student of the arts, Rhonda continues to evolve as an artist by studying with modern day Masters and by painting from life on a regular basis.  To develop her skills as a Portrait Artist, Rhonda travels to Southgate Gallery in Franklin, Tennessee every Monday night for a live model session with a small group of fellow artists.  Although there is not an instructor, the group does individual critiques of each painting.     Rhonda’s style is painterly and although she admires the work of many artists, she is particularly inspired by the works of Everett Raymond Kinstler, John Singer Sargent, Joaquin Sorolla, Dawn Whitelaw and Michael Shane Neal.

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