B I O G R A P H Y
.jpeg)
Jewley Smith, or Jewls, is a multi-media artist who paints primarily in oils. She lives and works in Haiku, on the North facing shores of Maui. Jewls focuses mainly on natural landscapes and still life. She strives to express the culture of Hawaii and its stories through her paintings.
​
The beauty of Maui’s diverse flora and fauna inspires her work which in turn she hopes will inspire others. She creates many of her paintings from photographs - some of which come with location pins, which allow her audience to go on a "treasure hunt" and experience where that specific artwork was conceived. Jewls says
"I paint not to recreate something but to really see it. I stop to look at the dewdrops on the moss. When I have to understand something to paint, it makes me really look at the subject and it expands the world around me infinitely"
​
Jewls creativity extends beyond painting, as she has also written and illustrated story books, and short stories — even a beautiful coffee table book — that allow her audience to experience the places and subjects expressed in her work. She says " I wanted to create a painting that someone could enjoy on the wall, with words to match. The idea is to expand the viewers’ experience with the painting: to enjoy the expression of the subject and the meaning behind the work. For a brief moment immerse yourself in a piece of the Hawaiian culture."
​
For example, "The story of Naupaka" is a painting available as a print or book. It tells the Hawaiian Mythology of the half flower, Naupaka, and how it was created; A princess and a fisherman that longed to be together, their journey, and.. well we can't ruin the ending!
Jewls seeks to connect people to the world she is impassioned by and the culture of Hawaii, through all of her immersive artwork and inspiring writing.
​
​