Smart Studio at Old Theatre
Smart Studio began back in 1982 on the west side of Park Avenue, and now they are back, with a shop at 321 Park Ave. in the Old Theatre Building. Founder Wini Smart’s granddaughter Rebecca is now in charge.
“We are a bit smaller now, but still offer everything we did before: fine original art by three generations, prints in many sizes, custom framing, gifts and jewelry,” said Gail Cleveland.
Wini Smart painted Boca Grande back when it was still wild, and the shop offers many images of wide open beaches and sand dunes from the north end, both lighthouses, and of course Whidden’s, to name a few. Wini was a plein air artist, trained by her uncle Edgar Pierce, who painted the Jersey Shore back in the 1940s, when it was rural. Wini received over 30 awards during her career. She was also an author, publishing numerous books, her most popular one being “Whidden’s and Old Boca Grande,” which is now in its second printing.
Wini’s daughter Gail and her husband Terry have run the gallery for the past 15 years. Gail is also a plein air painter, capturing the daily hustle and bustle of Boca in her fun pen-and-ink watercolors. Gail paints large-scale acrylics as well, featuring sunsets, palm trees and pelicans. She has been experimenting with a new delivery system, acrylics in squeezable bags, creating large-scale canvases of people enjoying the Florida lifestyle.
Terry is still custom framing, and he has a new workshop off island.
Rebecca has been working on her “Icons of Boca” series: fine, detailed watercolors of our favorite places, and expanding the studio’s print offerings in the process. She has also been experimenting with acrylics, trying her hand at large-scale birds and palm trees with her palette knife.
The gallery is open from Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., year ‘round. They are also on ETSY at Smart Studio. Call 908-892-4719.
