Larry A. Smail's Blog

Recently I was asked to paint a picture of a dear pet dog named Bella. The dog as often happened, had become old and ill and died. I gave the person a price and we both accepted the task at hand. He was going to give the painting to his wife for her upcoming birthday. He believed she would be very happy with a painting of her beloved Bella.

The painting is a 10 X 8 acrylic.

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I was asked by an artist friend if I was entering this year’s Armstrong County Folk Festival Art Show. My reply was I hadn’t thought much about entering. The very last day to submit the entry form found my form and entree fee in the mailbox. I entered four wildlife paintings for the show. (By the way, she won an award, also.)

I received an e-mail stating the above painting won the Best in Animal Award. I was surprised for wildlife art if often not accepted as other kinds of art.

I didn’t make it to the Folk Festival at all and only made it to show after it was completed to pick up the art. Another surprise! I immediately noticed the People’s Choice Award Ribbon on the painting. I told Laurie and we were both surprised.

An interesting part of this painting is I painted it way back in 1990 and in oil paints. I use water-based, acrylic paints almost inclusively today whenever I paint.

I was contacted from a fellow south of my home near Ligonier, Pennsylvania and he came to the house to obtain the art.

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The Fawn

The year of 2024 was not a good year for me. The month of May had severe asthma issues plaguing me followed by fatigue. I didn’t know at the time things would be getting much worse.

In mid-June my mother Ruth Smail Miller had a very bad stroke. I had doubts she would survive the night. She did and is still with us but dealing with dementia issues at 96.

The painting above had been begun in late May. Of course, the stroke and doctor appointments, hospital stays and living at times with my mother when my sister had knee replacement surgeries found any inspiration to paint gone.

Last year, however, in 2025 I did paint a couple pieces of slate and a painting of a dog for a client. I did paint on The Fawn a few hours but was far from completion.

Today, Groundhog Day, the art was finally completed. The very cold weather kept me indoors a lot and I reached some desire to paint.

Rough pencil sketch made prior to painting.

The painting is 16 X 20 inches and painted on a gessoed covered Masonite panel. I included some springtime wildflowers one might find while discovering a newborn fawn in the forest. The flowers are the Mayapple and our native Wild Geranium. As I type this entry, I have no thoughts on another painting. Time will tell.

I hope you enjoy!

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The painting called, “DEFENDING THE CATCH-SNOWY OWL” was completed in 2017. I painted this art with acrylic paints which are a water-based paint rather than oil paints. The size of the painting is 16 X 20.

The thought-process with this particular painting featured a Snowy Owl with a mouse in the bird’s talons. The owl has dropped the wings and spread the tail in an attempt to defend the catch thus the name. This posturing is done to hide the catch and look bigger to hopefully fend off whatever the owl sees that may threaten to take the food.

The Snowy Owl sometimes is viewed in my area of Pennsylvania. Normally they are more of a northern bird but sometimes migrates south in times of low food supplies. So, anyone seeing a Snowy owl in southwestern Pennsylvania should consider their observation of the ow to be a special sight!

I hope you enjoy the painting.

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I just completed my latest painting of a client’s Chocolate Labrador. The dog was trained to locate elk and deer sheds. Another result from this project was I gained a new friend. Thanks Ryan.

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Recently, I became inspired to paint a couple of pieces of slate. The person requesting, thus inspiring me suggested a buck on one and one of his dogs on another, either a beagle or coonhound. Below are the results.

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I had not painted for almost a year when I suddenly became inspired to do some art. (I placed another painting of three gobblers earlier on this site.) The painting, “the Resting Post-Barn Owl” came to be because I received a notice from the Pennsylvania Game Commission of a contest for a Barn Owl. At first I let it pass for I knew my skills are professional enough with many artists, but through some encouragement from a couple of friends I decided to work on a composition.

Early sketch idea

Since I have never knowingly seen a Barn Owl, I needed to study from photos. For myself I do not use photos only for colors and patterns. I will not copy another’s work and claim the idea was mine. That is a problem for me for seeing live or even mounts of the owl would have helped my planning. During the thought process I decided to allow the wing to hang down to indicate a relaxed and resting owl. With hindsight that decision may not had been the best for Imany may not understand the resting wing.

The above two sketches were refining of the original concept.

The slapping of paint began in earnest soon and the final painting above was completed and sent via email. Unfortunately, I failed to be selected but never expecting to place makes it earlier to accept my place in the art world.

Early stage of paint slapping.

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I recently completed this acrylic painting of three gobblers I the springtime woodlands. It is 16 by 24 inches in size. This is the first painting I have done since my mother had a stroke last June of 2024. I have a fawn painting I had started just prior to her issue and will be working on it soon along with another painting I have started.

Detail of the above painting.

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Last year I painted very little. I did some art on turkey tail feathers early and began a painting of a fawn. And then it happened…mom had a stroke. With the exceptions of some ink art while I stayed with her I had not painted.

The small painting above is on a Canada Lily. I did the art for my wife at her request. The art has been framed. I am hoping to become more inspired.

NOTE: The Canada Lily is a native wildflower of our area in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, it is not very common.

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