M E L I N D A    S M I T H    H A Y M O N S

“The French easel, the tubes of paint, mixing the incredible colors outside; I was fascinated. I realized I could travel and not even have to take a camera. I can paint.” -

Energetic and passionate about her love for expression on canvas of the outdoors, Melinda Smith Haymons is a plein air painter of great integrity. She’s inspired by color, by the simple but complex act of transposing paint onto the palette, and is fascinated by light and shadow. With strong focus and devoted study, Haymons’ enthusiasm and unfailing interest in fine paintings has been constant for as long as she can remember. She seeks destinations worldwide to capture unique painting opportunities and manifests high standards and honesty in her work. She finds that drawing surely is the substance of painting and uses her thumbnail sketches as preliminary studies for every painting. Since 1995, Haymons has managed a series of sell-out studio shows. . Smith continues to exhibit out of her studio in Denver, Colorado and shows with galleries in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Haymons was selected by Great Outdoors Colorado Trust to paint the group’s most important legacy projects across Colorado. This collection consists of more than twenty-five paintings, each capturing miles of protected outdoor space. She was also selected to capture on canvas one of the largest avocado ranches in California and has completed a series of paintings for The University of Denver’s permanent collection. Haymons also enjoys teaching elementary through high school aged painters oils on canvas outdoors.