About

Hello, I’m Kayley.

I paint realism in oils and pastels, mostly from my home studio in Alaska, though sometimes you'll find me painting at live events, with people watching over my shoulder. I love interacting with people while I work, sharing the creative process as a painting comes to life.

I was born in Wyoming, and I've been creating art for as long as I can remember. When my family moved to Alaska, I began taking lessons with a local artist, and oil painting felt like home almost immediately. Pastels came later, becoming a good friend to my oils.

We live in a world full of stories, and art is simply another form of storytelling. Through a painting, we can experience light, emotions, thoughts, adventures, and so much more. Every piece has something to say, and I love that art allows us to experience those stories in ways words sometimes cannot.

I believe there is still beauty in a dark world, and I paint to remind people of that. My faith is at the heart of why I create, and I try to bring a little of that hope into every piece.

Art changes over time, but so does the artist. It's a journey we're all invited to experience, and one that continues to shape both my work and the person I'm becoming.

Kayley Smith

Along the way

  1. WyomingWhere it startedA teacher chose one of my early drawings for the state art display.
  2. AlaskaLearning to paintLessons with a local artist, and my first oil paintings.
  3. Portraits and studentsFirst portrait, first studentsI finished my first portrait and started teaching other students.
  4. PastelsA second mediumI picked up pastels and never put them down.
  5. TodayStudio and live paintingPainting in my home studio in Palmer and at live events, and teaching.