Maryland painter Yvonne Hartmann Smith has been painting in oil since she was 12 years old. Occasionally she will work in pen and ink or watercolor. However, Yvonne says, "nothing seems to flow for me the way oils do." A graduate of the Maryland Institute, Yvonne is known for her wonderful sense of color and refined palette. She also uses an Italian medium to create glazes that accentuate her color contrasts.

Yvonne is well known for her still life compositions using antique lace as a foundation subject of her paintings. A class Yvonne had taken in color and light at the Maryland Institute sparked an interest in painting still life. Subsequently, Yvonne began painting collectibles that she found at antique shows, flea markets and yard sales: copper pots, old Wedgewood, silver coffee pots, utensils and antique dolls. Objects that bring back special memories particularly catch her attention knowing her collectors will have similar memories.

Although many of her paintings consist of intricate lace patterns and other complicated subject matter, she finds the most satisfying pieces have been those of simple compositions. Some of her favorites are the ones of antique children’s shoes or paintings of fruit. Yvonne says, "There is nothing like the beauty of an array of bartlett pears gleaming against a dark background."

Yvonne has been in numerous juried art exhibitions and is a member of several artist’s groups in the Baltimore area. She recently won a York Art Association award in an open juried show and an "Honorable Mention" in the Havre de Grace International Juried Art Show.

McBride Gallery is pleased to feature Yvonne Hartmann Smith’s collection of fine still lifes.