Background
Smith, William Arthur was born on April 19, 1918 in Toledo. Son of Bert Arthur and Catherine Jane (Doan) Smith.
Smith, William Arthur was born on April 19, 1918 in Toledo. Son of Bert Arthur and Catherine Jane (Doan) Smith.
He studied at the Theodore Keane School of Art in Toledo from 1932 to 1936 and at the University of Toledo from 1936 to 1937, receiving an honorary master of arts degree in 1954.
Smith"s second marriage in 1949 to Ferol Yvonne Stratton produced two girls, Kim and Kathlin Alexandra. After working a year for newspapers, Smith moved to New York City in 1937 and established his first studio there. He was an instructor at the Grand Central School of Art (1942-1943) before joining the Office of Strategic Services in China in 1944 and 1945.
He lectured abroad at the Academy of Fine Arts, Athens (1954).
The University of Santo Tomas, Manila (1955). And the Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw (1958).
In 1954 he was an official delegate to the International Association of Plastic Arts in Venice, and in 1958 he became a member and official delegate to the Soviet Union under a cultural exchange agreement. Smith"s work is represented in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, District of Columbia, the Library of Congress, Washington, District of Columbia, and the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and was the subject of solo exhibitions at the Toledo Museum of Art (1942 and 1952), at Bucknell University (1952) and in foreign cities in the 1960s and 1970s.
He executed an historical mural for the State of Maryland in 1968.
Illustrated United States postage stamps on historical subjects. Authored a book about the sculptor Gerd Utescher. And produced illustrations for American magazines.
From 1968 to 1973, he served a vice president on the board of directors of Pearl Buck"s Welcome House.
Represented in Metropolitan Museum New York City, Library of Congress, Washington, one-man shows Toledo Museum Art, 1942, 52, Bucknell University, 1952, others, also many foreign cities. Artist mural Maryland House, 1968. Portrait of Carl Sandburg hanging in permanent collection National Portrait Gallery, Washington.
Designed numerous United States postage stamps. Illustrator five books John Day Public Company and others. Author: Gerd Utescher.
Author, illustrator articles for various magazines.
Board directors Welcome House, vice president, 1966-1973. Member International Association Art (United States delegate 1963, 66, 69, 73, executive committee 1963-1969, vice president 1966-1969, president 1973-1976, honorary president since 1976, president United States national committee 1970-1977, honorary president 1977-1989), National Academy of Design (secretary 1954-1955, council 1953-1956, 75-78, Watercolor award 1949, 51), American Watercolor Society (trustee 1949, president 1956-1957, honorary president 1957-1989, Silver medal 1948, 52, 73, Stuart Watercolor prize 1954, Gold medal 1957, 65, Bronze medal 1972), California Watercolor Society, Audubon Artists, Philadelphia Watercolor Club, National Society Mural Painters, Dutch Treat Club.
Married Mary France Nixon, September 30, 1939 (divorced 1946). 1 son, Richard Keane. Married Ferol Yvonne Stratton, October 10, 1949.
Children: Kim, Kathlin Alexandra.