Janice Smyth
Maker Monday - May 2026
About the Artist
Name: Janice Smyth
Medium: textiles, painting
Years creating: decades
SCAA Member since: 2014
Based in: Newport, RI
Websites: www.mobymelville.com
https://janicewsmyth.com/
Click an image to view portfolio slideshow
This month we’re pleased to feature multidisciplinary artist Janice Smyth. Janice has been involved with SCAA since 2014, exhibiting and, recently, volunteering. She is a huge help in assisting Jason with hanging our exhibitions each month and is often willing to lend a hand with our mailings. Though originally working with textiles, specifically artful quilts, Janice’s new work is in acrylics.
Janice currently has many works on display at Cru Cafe in Newport. She also is showing three quilts in the Newport Art Museum’s newest exhibition. To watch a panel discussion related to this showing at NAM, click here. - SCAA
Where are you from, and what do you make?
I’m a little gal from Lexington, MA. I used to make modern quilts, but now I paint in acrylic.
How long have you been seriously pursuing art?
Well, since my teens I’ve always been somewhat of an art rat, but I’m not a career artist, didn’t go to art school, and have no professional training. Took a random class here and there. It was in 2009 or so that I started working full-time in the studio on textiles after I saw an exhibit of the Gee's Bend quilts in San Francisco. Like others, I made the fatal mistake of thinking: “I can do that.” And 20 years later I still can’t get it right.
What inspires you to create?
Well, I’m a deep thinker. I’m always fixing things and finding solutions to problems. I’m a workaholic. Maybe that’s what being creative is all about. I’m an autotelic.
Which artist outside of your chosen medium has had the most impact on your art? What do they do, and in what way do they influence you?
Quilts: Gee’s Bend, the Amish quilts, and Denise Schmidt.
Painting: My late husband, John Smyth, who was an extremely accomplished painter and architect. He was represented at SCAA and took all the prizes at every place else that he entered. It got kind of boring for me going to all those receptions.
Is there a work of art that has changed your life or how you view the world in some way?
There is art and design everywhere: in architecture, automobiles, cuisine, fashion, literature, music, vegetation. As Walker Evans said: “Stare. It is the way to educate your eye, and more. Stare, pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long.”
As a member of SCAA, what do you like most about us?
The people who participate and the people who organize the participation.
Tell us a joke.
I’ll leave that up to Ismo [the comedian].