Allison Leigh Smith intimately connects viewers with wildlife July 20 2025, 0 Comments

By Kimberly Nicoletti

Wildlife profoundly affects our wellbeing, whether we encounter them walking in the woods, through glimpses out our window or through art. They remind us of our own true nature; full of resilience, adaptability, wonder, humility and present-moment awareness.

Allison Leigh Smith has been intimately connected to animals since she was young, and her realistic paintings reflect how integral they are in living a full and satisfying life.

Her family believes pets and wildlife are “neighbors,” and the best relationships with neighbors stem from an open-hearted attitude of empathy and respect. As a sensitive introvert, she instinctively develops close bonds with them.

Amidst the Mist by Allison Leigh Smith

“I find animals easier to understand, and better company, than most people — and I like people, as a rule, so that’s saying a lot,” she says. “It’s a lifetime of cumulative, emotional experiences. Animals are woven into every good, joyful, meaningful, worthwhile experience of my life. They are deeply connected to all of my hardest experiences, as well. Most of my life's lessons on love, loss and meaning are connected to animals.” 

Through her paintings, she hopes to personally connect viewers with wildlife. She imbues abundance, beauty and belonging — as well as sense of protection and vulnerability — within her pieces, partially by surrounding the subjects among native plants. Many of her oil paintings on metal canvases are circular, representing the lifecycle and natural connection we all share. 

Elysian Fields by Allison Leigh Smith

Textile design, printmaking, digital manipulation and photography have all informed her nuanced interpretations. Before launching her fine art career, she worked in textile design, a stark contrast to her realistic oil paintings, which can take many weeks to complete. 

“There was a long period of time where I was the stereotypical ‘starving artist,’ working three jobs and painting at night,” she says, adding that she began introducing textile design into her paintings once she left the industry because she missed it. “Done on the computer; it was immediate, it was graphic and amazing to see how a piece changed by one click of a color-fill or moving the scale and repeat around.”

Plenty of artists’ qualities have influenced her work, whether or not any trace shows up in her paintings. Within them, she includes: Richard Avedon’s compositions, Alexander McQueen’s grit, Jim Henson’s vision, Norman Rockwell’s empathy, John Singer Sargent’s brushstrokes and Maxfield Parish’s pallete. She finds much inspiration in every-day experiences as well, like conversations over coffee, walks in the woods and music. 

“Everything is an influence if you’re paying attention,” she says.

She says the animals themselves usually decide whether or not she paints them.

Jackpot by Allison Leigh Smith

“If they engaged with me and I captured reference that I think will do them justice, that is who will show up in the finished pieces,” she says. “Ideally, I spend time with them in person and then even more time with them in memory and reference, but ultimately, the best I can do is paint my feelings about them. I hope that feeling transfers to the viewer.” 

In addition to focusing on rich and personal depictions of bears, bison, fox, deer, rabbits, birds and other glorious creatures for galleries, public displays, museums, schools, hospitals and corporations, Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences just chose to showcase her work in its Fort Collins location. She feels honored to contribute to the school’s legacy, which also dedicates itself to improving the lives of animals.

From July 25 to Aug. 24, Raitman Art Galleries features her paintings in a special exhibition. You can meet the Durango-based artist July 25-26 at the Breckenridge South location.

Rocket by Allison Leigh Smith

“Art and animals. That’s life for me,” she says, adding that she likes talking about what new music, podcasts, poets or audiobooks she has discovered. “All of those things play into my life with wildlife art. It’s rich and deeply rewarding. I feel very fortunate and have not been bored in decades.”

Indeed, as Richard Louv, author of “Our Wild Calling,” points out in his book: In our modern, technological world, relationships with wildlife and nature positively impact our health, spirit and sense of belonging. 

Allison’s perceptive paintings bring that home in a visceral and masterful manner.