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I was born in Natchez, MS and grew up on a farm in Concordia Parish, LA. I have a degree in agronomy from Northeast Louisiana University (now it is the University of Louisiana at Monroe) and had a career as a soil scientist for the Southern Research Station, U. S. Forest Service for over 32 years. The camera was introduced to me early in my career as a tool to document research studies which began my journey into the world of photography.
For many years, I photographed landscapes using a Mamiya medium format camera usually loaded with Konica 750 Infrared film. I printed these images in my darkroom on Kodak and Forte' 16" x 20" papers. In 2005, I came to a crossroads, digital photography was having such a huge impact on the photography market that the film and the black and white darkroom papers I used were no longer produced. I had been resisting the move into digital for the medium format had served me well but medium format, as I used it, was over. That same year, I received the Louisiana Division of the Arts Visual Arts Fellowship which allowed me to transition into digital.
Once I understood the power of the digital darkroom, it opened up a new world to explore and this has taken me into the surreal. I began to combine images to construct places that only exist in my imagination fueled by personal experiences, dreams and emotions. Whether my prints consists of a number of combined images or just one, I simply present my vision of the world. My images have shown in more than 230 art venues (178 have been juried exhibitions).
For many years, I photographed landscapes using a Mamiya medium format camera usually loaded with Konica 750 Infrared film. I printed these images in my darkroom on Kodak and Forte' 16" x 20" papers. In 2005, I came to a crossroads, digital photography was having such a huge impact on the photography market that the film and the black and white darkroom papers I used were no longer produced. I had been resisting the move into digital for the medium format had served me well but medium format, as I used it, was over. That same year, I received the Louisiana Division of the Arts Visual Arts Fellowship which allowed me to transition into digital.
Once I understood the power of the digital darkroom, it opened up a new world to explore and this has taken me into the surreal. I began to combine images to construct places that only exist in my imagination fueled by personal experiences, dreams and emotions. Whether my prints consists of a number of combined images or just one, I simply present my vision of the world. My images have shown in more than 230 art venues (178 have been juried exhibitions).
Abbreviated Resume'
Awards:
7/18 Honorable Mention, September Competition, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
9/17 Benefactors Award, Northern National Art Competition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
4/17 Purchase Award, Southworks 2017, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, Watkinsville, GA
6/16 Honorable Mention, 58th Annual Delta Exhibition, Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR
2/16 3rd Place, 21st Arts in Harmony International Show, Elk River, MN
9/14 Merit Award, 5th Annual Competition Exhibition, Gallery One Eleven, Leesville, LA
9/13 1st Place Award "People", Louisiana Dragon Boat Races Photo Contest, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
9/13 Juror's Choice Award, 2013 National Juried Photography Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Lynchburg, VA
7/13 1st Place Award, Art Melt 2013, Capitol Park Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
5/13 5th Place Award, 45th Annual Visual Arts Exhibition, Visual Arts Society of Texas, Denton, TX
3/13 Merit Award, 47th Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
3/13 3rd Place Award, 35th Annual Spring Juried Art Exhibition 2013, Midland Arts Association, Midland, TX
2/13 Purchase Award, 28th Annual International Exhibition, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
9/12 Juror's Choice Award, 2012 National Juried Photography Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Lynchburg, VA
4/12 3rd Place Award, 44th Annual Visual Arts Exhibition, Visual Arts Society of Texas, Denton, TX
4/12 Merit Award, 46th Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
3/12 Honorable Mention, 25th International Exhibition on Animals in Art, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
2/12 Purchase Award, Lagrange National XXVII, Lagrange College, Lagrange, GA
2/12 Merit Award, Lagrange National XXVII, Lagrange College, Lagrange, GA
5/11 Award of Recognition, 3rd Regional Art Juried Exhibition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
4/11 Merit Award, 45th Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
4/10 Merit Award, 44th Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
3/10 1st Place Award in Photography, Art Show at the Dog Show, American Kennel Club Show, Wichita, KS
8/09 Patron Award, 2009 Northern National Art Competition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
4/09 Merit Award, 43rd Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
7/08 Merit Award, 43rd Annual Juried Artist Exhibition, St.Tammany Art Association, Covington, LA
5/08 Curator's Choice Award, Southern Open 2008, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA
4/08 Merit Award, 42nd Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
11/07 1st Place Award, Masters of Miniature, River Oaks Square Art Center, Alexandria, LA
3/07 Purchase Award, Twin City Arts Foundation, Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA
3/07 Honorable Mention, 44th Annual Juried Competition, Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA
3/07 Merit Award, 41st Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
3/06 Honorable Mention, 43rd Annual Juried Competition, Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA
3/06 Merit Award, 40th Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
8/03 Honorable Mention, Louisiana Artists 2003: An All Media Show, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
12/02 Purchase Award, Claiborne Building Collection, Louisiana Division of the Arts, Baton Rouge, LA
2/99 Purchase Award, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
2/97 Juror's Choice Award, Annual National Works on Paper, University of Texas, Tyler, TX
2/93 2nd Place Award, Art Show at the Dog Show, AKC Show, Wichita, KS
3/89 2nd Place Award, Animals in Art, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
11/87 3rd Place, U. S. Forest Service Southern Region Photo Contest, Atlanta, GA
8/87 Honorable Mention, Landscape Photography Exhibition, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
Fellowship
Louisiana Division of the Arts, 2005 Visual Arts Fellowship ($5,000.00)
Grants
Louisiana Division of the Arts Mini-Grant ($500.00)
Gallery Affiliation: Natchez Architectural and Art Discoveries, Natchez, MS
Solo Exhibitions
1/07 Michael Elliott-Smith: Recent Photographs, Northwestern State University
1/05 Retrospective of Time: Michael Elliott-Smith, Alexandria Museum of Art
7/04 Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital
Two Person Exhibition
11/14 Two Points of View, Michael and Leslie Elliott-Smith, Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center, Lake Charles, LA
Permanent Collections
Alexandria Museum of Art (LA)
The University of Texas at Tyler
LaGrange College
University of South Florida
Masur Museum of Art
State of Louisiana, Claiborne Building Collection (2 prints)
Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation
Juried Exhibitions since 2008 (career total of 178 juried exhibitions)
5/19 53rd Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FMUC, Alexandria, LA
11/18 2018 5x5x5 Exhibition, River Oaks Square Art Center, Alexandria, LA
9/18 Creativity Takes Courage, Gainesville Fine Art Association, Gainesville, FL
9/18 2018 Northern National Art Competition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
9/18 Gallery One Eleven Competition Exhibit, Leesville, LA
8/18 And Now For Something New, LeMieux Galleries, New Orleans, LA
7/18 Art Melt, Capitol Park Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
7/18 53rd Annual National Juried Exhibition, St. Tammany Art Association, Covington, LA
7/18 31st September Competition, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
5/18 Fine Art Exhibition 2018, Decatur Arts Alliance, Decatur, GA
4/18 52nd Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
3/18 PhotoSpivia 2018, Spivia Center for the Arts, Joplin, MO
3/18 Brush With Burden, Burden Botanical Gardens, LSU, Baton Rouge
2/18 52nd Founders Juried Awards Exhibition, Naples Art Association, Naples, FL
11/17 2017 5x5x5 Exhibition, River Oaks Square Arts Center, Alexandria, LA
9/17 Irene Rosenzweig 2017 Juried Biennial Exhibition, The Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas,
Pine Bluff, AR
9/17 30th Northern National Exhibition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
9/17 2017 National Juried Photography Exhibition, Academy of the Arts, Lynchburg, VA
6/17 59th Delta Exhibition, Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR
4/17 51st Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
4/17 Allegany National Photography Competition & Exhibition, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, MD
4/17 Texas National 2017, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX
4/17 Southworks 2017, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, Watkinsville, GA
4/17 Walker Open Exhibition, Walker Gallery, Garnett, KS
3/17 Brush with Burden, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
2/17 Conroe Art League 2nd Invitational Show, Conroe, TX
1/17 22nd Annual Arts in Harmony, Elk River Arts Alliance, Blaine, MN
11/16 River Oaks Square Miniature Juired Exhibition, Alexandria, LA
10/16 American Art Today: What is American Art?, Bascom Center for the Visual Art, Highland, NC
9/16 National Juried Exhibition, Gallery 111, Leesville, La
9/16 28th Northern National Art Competition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
8/16 Art through the Lens, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY
7/15 2016 Art Melt, Capitol Park Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
7/16 51st Juried Artists Exhibition, St. Tammany Art Association, Covington, LA
6/16 58th Annual Delta Exhibition, Arkansa Art Center, Little Rock, AR
4/16 Allegany Naational Photography Competition, Allegany Arst Council, Cumberland, MD
4/16 50th Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, Alexandria, LA
4/16 Brush with Burden, LSU, Baton Rouge,LA
4/16 Southworks 2016, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, Watkinsville, GA
2/16 PhotoSpiva, Spiva Center for the Arts, Joplin, MO
2/16 Arts in Harmony International Show, Elk River, MN
1/16 31st Annual International Exhibition, University of Texas, Tyler, TX
8/15 Louisiana Contemporary, Ogden Museum for Southern Art, New Orleans, LA
7/15 Art Melt, Capitol Park Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
7/15 57th Annual Delta Exhibition, Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR
4/15 2015 International Juried Photography Show, North Valley Art League, Redding, CA
4/15 49th Tom Peyton Memorial Art Festival, FMUC, Alexandria, LA
4/15 Texas National 2015, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX
4/15 Soutworks 2015, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, Watkinsville, GA
2/15 20th Annual Arts in Harmony, Elk River, MN
9/14 5th Annual Competition Exhibition, Gallery One Eleven, Leesville, LA
8/14 2014 National Juried Photography Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Lynchburg, Va
7/14 Northern National Art Competition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
7/14 Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival, Greenburg, PA
6/14 Paducah Photo 2014, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY
5/14 Westmoreland Art Nationals, Westmoreland Comm. College, Youngwood, PA
5/14 2014 International Juried Photography Show, North Valley Art League, Redding, CA
5/14 52nd Annual National Juried Exhibition, Beaumont Art League, Beaumont, TX
4/14 15th National Juried Art Exhibition, Baker Arts Center, Liberal, KS
4/14 2014 20" x 20" x20" A National Compact Competition, LSU Union Art Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
3/14 27th International Exhibition on Animals in Art, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA
2/14 28th Annual Art Sow at the Dog Show, Wichita Kennel Club AKC Dog Show, Wichita, KS
2/14 19th Annual Arts in Harmony 2014, Elk River Arts Alliance, Elk River, MN
9/13 Gallery One Eleven Juried Exhibition, Leesville, LA
9/13 Louisiana Dragon Boat Races Photo Contest, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
9/13 2013 National Juried Photography Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Lynchburg, VA
7/13 Art Melt 2013, Capitol Park Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
7/13 48th National Juried Exhibition, St. Tammany Art Association, Covington, LA
7/13 Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival, Twin Lakes, PA
6/13 Westmoreland Art Nationals, Westmoreland Community College, Youngwood, PA
5/13 51st National Annual Juried Exhibition, Beaumont Art League, Beaumont, TX
4/13 45th Annual Visual Arts Exhibition, Visual Arts Society of Texas, Denton, TX
4/13 47th Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
4/13 Southworks 2013, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, Watkinsville, GA
3/13 35th Annual Spring Juried Art Exhibition 2013, Midland Arts Association, Midland, TX
3/13 26th International Exhibition on Animals in Art, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA
2/13 Arts in Harmony 2013 International Juried Art Show, Elk River Arts Alliance, Elk River, MN
1/13 28th Annual International Exhibition, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
11/12 2012 National Juried Photography Exhibit, Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, Frederick, MD
9/12 2012 National Juried Photography Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Lynchburg, VA
7/12 47th National Juried Artists Exhibition, St. Tammany Art Association, Covington, LA
7/12 6th Annual Louisiana Fine Art Showcase, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA
6/12 Westmorland Art Nationals 2012, Westmoreland Community College, Youngwood, PA
5/12 29th Juried Open Exhibition, Visual Arts Alliance, Houston, TX
5/12 49th Annual Juried Competition, Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA
4/12 44th Annual Visual Arts Exhibition, Visual Arts Society of Texas, Denton, TX
4/12 46th Annual Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
4/12 4th Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
4/12 Southworks Juried Art Exhibition 2012, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, Watkinsville, GA
4/12 14th National Juried Art Exhibition, Baker Arts Center, Liberal, KS
3/12 25th International Exhibition on Animals in Art, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA
2/12 LaGrange National XXVII, LaGrange College, LaGrange, GA
2/12 Arts in Harmony 2012 International Juried Art Show, Elk River Area Arts Alliance, Elk River, MN
1/12 27th Annual International Exhibition, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler TX
10/11 15th Annual Rio Brazos Art Exhibition, Tarleton State University, Granbury, TX
10/11 2011 20" x 20" x 20" National Compact Competition, LSU Union Art Gallery, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
9/11 2011 National Juried Photography Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Lynchburg, VA
8 /11 September Competition, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
7/11 24th Annual Northern National Art Competition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
7/11 46th National Juried Artists Exhibition, St. Tammany Art Association, Covington, LA
5/11 Southern Open 2011, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA
5/11 3rd Regional Art Juried Exhibition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
4/11 Texas National 2011, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX
4/11 43rd Annual Visual Arts Exhibition, Visual Arts Society of Texas, Denton , TX
4/11 13th National Juried Art Exhibition, Baker Arts Center, Liberal, KS
4/11 45th Annual Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
3/11 25th Annual Art Show at the Dog Show, American Kennel Club Show, Wichita, KS
3/11 24th International Exhibition on Animals in Art, LSU Veterinary School, Baton Rouge, LA
11/10 2nd Annual National Photography & Digital Imagery Competition, Palm Beach State College, FL
7/10 2010 Art Melt, Louisiana State Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
7/10 2010 Northern National Art Competition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
5/10 47th Annual Juried Competition, Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA
4/10 44th Annual Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
4/10 2nd Regional Art Juried Exhibition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
3/10 24th Annual Art Show at the Dog Show, Wichita, KS
2/10 LaGrange National XXVI Exhibition, LaGrange College, LaGrange, GA
9/09 22nd September Competition, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
7/09 2009 Northern National Art Competition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
7/09 Westmorland Arts and Heritage Festival, Youngwood, PA
6/09 Westmorland Art Nationals, Westmoreland Community College, Youngwood, PA
5/09 Southern Open2009, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA
4/09 43rd Annual Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
3/09 22nd McNeese National Works on Paper, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA
9/08 21st September Competition, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
8/08 Tallahassee International, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
7/08 2010 Northern National Art Competition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
7/08 43rd Annual Juried Artist Exhibition, St. Tammany Art Association, Covington, LA
7/08 Art Melt 2008, Shaw Center for the Arts, Baton Rouge, LA
5/08 Southern Open2008, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA
4/08 42nd Annual Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, FUMC, Alexandria, LA
4/08 40th Annual visual Arts Exhibition, Visual Arts Society of Texas, Denton, TX
3/08 2008 20"x20"x20": A Compact Competition, LSU Union Art Gallery, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
2/08 12"x12" Exhibition of Small Works, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN