About The Artist. . . Although born and raised on a small farm on the edge of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Kenneth Lorell Smith’s roots (if a Smith can have roots) are deep in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. This is where, as a child, many trips were made to visit the farms and relatives of both parents - visits that set the stage and influenced his life and paintings even though he has resided in Oregon and California for over 30 years. By the time he reached high school, he was winning awards for his works, which even then, were noted for their unique realism. His finely tuned sense of color and use of high detail mark his work as truly distinctive. Though trained as an Electrical Engineer, he has sketched, painted and studied art all his life -- including under the Chilean Artist, Luis Busta at the Luis Busta Art Studios in San Mateo, California. A versatile artist, his paintings are often photo-realist but may range from representational through to the surrealistic. In every mode one is aware of his great love of nature and his sensitivity to mankind’s role in the world. Although there have been many awards in various shows in the San Francisco Bay Area over the years, his most rewarding work is experienced when Life’s special moments and places are captured in his paintings that that bring joy and hope to those who experience and cherish them. The Source of My Art. . . Today my work comes from my deep appreciation of those who have worked, lived and loved many years in experiencing life’s light and special moments. I work from personal experience, photographs, trips, and perhaps most importantly, feelings and emotions that are gathered through visits and conversations with those who have special moments or places they wish to capture on canvas. Most of these subjects contain old places, buildings, items, events that usually represent the often hard work and efforts of people who have gone before to provide the present with rich and cherished memories. Current work is often taken from old, black and white, sometimes-damaged photographs of building and places that only exist in the minds of those who experienced and appreciate them. My goal in each painting is to bring out and show the true life, feelings and emotions associated with these special places or events.