2026 MAEA Art retreat with Elizabeth Smith
April 16th - 18th 2026
AN EXPLORATION OF PAPER AND BOOK ARTS
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BIOGRAPHY - Elizabeth A. Smith
Although she’s lived in a number of places, Elizabeth A. Smith is a native Montanan who chose to raise her two children in Terry. She received a BA in Fine Art with honors from Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD in 2001. Elizabeth appeared in Volumes 12 and 13 of NSU’s Shelterbelt, a bound publication intended to recognize exceptional work in the arts. She’s also run her own business since 2007, which underwent a marvelous transformation in 2016 as part of the Montana Artrepreneur Program. A “Jane” of all trades, Elizabeth is a studio painter, multi-media artist, book binder, photographer, and crafter. She’s hosted three gallery exhibitions of her own work and participated in several juried shows, as well as numerous local art events.
Elizabeth is mesmerized by the revealing light in Edward Hopper’s paintings and the turmoil in Edvard Munch’s work. She is equally captivated by the delicate beauty of traditional paper cutting. As an artist, she channels these influences when building projects and creating images. Paper provides a natural foundation for Elizabeth’s work. It looks fragile, but it can
easily survive the deft point of a blade and live to communicate so many marvelous stories. When exploring the boundary between direct representation and symbolism, she doesn’t shy away from vibrant colors and often utilizes reclaimed objects. She tries to strike a balance between the earthy reality of our human consciousness and the paths we wander in search of “home.”
Elizabeth trained as a gallery assistant, framing and hanging art for the public. She’s also been a grant writer, a K-12 school counselor, and a 7-12 art teacher. She currently works as the SBDC Regional Director and Workforce Development Coordinator at Miles Community College. She recognizes the immense value of art in creating pride of place and salving the human soul.
Although she’s lived in a number of places, Elizabeth A. Smith is a native Montanan who chose to raise her two children in Terry. She received a BA in Fine Art with honors from Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD in 2001. Elizabeth appeared in Volumes 12 and 13 of NSU’s Shelterbelt, a bound publication intended to recognize exceptional work in the arts. She’s also run her own business since 2007, which underwent a marvelous transformation in 2016 as part of the Montana Artrepreneur Program. A “Jane” of all trades, Elizabeth is a studio painter, multi-media artist, book binder, photographer, and crafter. She’s hosted three gallery exhibitions of her own work and participated in several juried shows, as well as numerous local art events.
Elizabeth is mesmerized by the revealing light in Edward Hopper’s paintings and the turmoil in Edvard Munch’s work. She is equally captivated by the delicate beauty of traditional paper cutting. As an artist, she channels these influences when building projects and creating images. Paper provides a natural foundation for Elizabeth’s work. It looks fragile, but it can
easily survive the deft point of a blade and live to communicate so many marvelous stories. When exploring the boundary between direct representation and symbolism, she doesn’t shy away from vibrant colors and often utilizes reclaimed objects. She tries to strike a balance between the earthy reality of our human consciousness and the paths we wander in search of “home.”
Elizabeth trained as a gallery assistant, framing and hanging art for the public. She’s also been a grant writer, a K-12 school counselor, and a 7-12 art teacher. She currently works as the SBDC Regional Director and Workforce Development Coordinator at Miles Community College. She recognizes the immense value of art in creating pride of place and salving the human soul.
ANALOG: AN EXPLORATION OF PAPER AND BOOK ARTS
Ready for a delightful digital break at the historic WaterWorks Art Museum in Miles City, MT? Reconnect with your creativity in a marvelously unique setting!
From papyrus to novels, paper has the ability to hold our collective history. It played a prominent role in our first love letters, our class notes, our accolades, and our resignations. It seems fitting to explore the ways in which paper can help us continue to express our emotions and track our ideas.
Workshop participants will spend over 18 hours recycling and using paper to create art that captures imaginations. Participants will devote their retreat time to learning a wide variety of binding techniques, in addition to mixed media tips and tricks, that will allow them to catalog their curiosity and make portable, shareable pieces.
Geared toward educators, but open to the public, this workshop will allow attendees to participate at their comfort level and walk away with at least 10 paper and book art projects.
Ready for a delightful digital break at the historic WaterWorks Art Museum in Miles City, MT? Reconnect with your creativity in a marvelously unique setting!
From papyrus to novels, paper has the ability to hold our collective history. It played a prominent role in our first love letters, our class notes, our accolades, and our resignations. It seems fitting to explore the ways in which paper can help us continue to express our emotions and track our ideas.
Workshop participants will spend over 18 hours recycling and using paper to create art that captures imaginations. Participants will devote their retreat time to learning a wide variety of binding techniques, in addition to mixed media tips and tricks, that will allow them to catalog their curiosity and make portable, shareable pieces.
Geared toward educators, but open to the public, this workshop will allow attendees to participate at their comfort level and walk away with at least 10 paper and book art projects.
One college credit from UM Western or OPI Renewal Units will be available.
Attendance will be taken in-order to receive credit or units.
Attendance will be taken in-order to receive credit or units.
SCHEDULE PAPER AND BOOK ARTS
ANALOG: AN EXPLORATION OF PAPER AND BOOK ARTS
April 16
4:30-5:00 Check-in @ WAM
5:00-5:30 Welcome and artist intro - *Elizabeth will deliver a slide presentation
5:30- 9:00 Paper basics - a discussion of paper qualities, mining for materials, uses, and history, including notes about adhesives and techniques.
Create a “starter project” that allows students to practice finding paper grain, integrating pockets, using different materials and adhesives
Prep pages with gesso or watercolor ground for use on Day 2
**Students will share some materials in a designated area for communal use. They will get to keep things that are precious to them.
(Perhaps charcuterie-style dinner, bring something to add or bring your own)
April 17
9:00-12:00
More informal books (no pointy tools required):
12:00-1:30 Lunch on your own
1:30-5:30 Outdoor time - harvesting sticks and plein air (or still life, if the weather won’t cooperate) work on prepped pages
Stabbed and sown books:
5:30-7:00 Strategies and learning objectives…round robin fun! (Dinner potluck)
7:00-9:00 Critique (feedback for the classroom)
April 18
9:00-12:00
12:00 Checkout
12:15 Workshop ends
ANALOG: AN EXPLORATION OF PAPER AND BOOK ARTS
April 16
4:30-5:00 Check-in @ WAM
5:00-5:30 Welcome and artist intro - *Elizabeth will deliver a slide presentation
5:30- 9:00 Paper basics - a discussion of paper qualities, mining for materials, uses, and history, including notes about adhesives and techniques.
Create a “starter project” that allows students to practice finding paper grain, integrating pockets, using different materials and adhesives
Prep pages with gesso or watercolor ground for use on Day 2
**Students will share some materials in a designated area for communal use. They will get to keep things that are precious to them.
(Perhaps charcuterie-style dinner, bring something to add or bring your own)
April 17
9:00-12:00
More informal books (no pointy tools required):
- Glue binding
- Strip binding
- Blizzard binding
12:00-1:30 Lunch on your own
1:30-5:30 Outdoor time - harvesting sticks and plein air (or still life, if the weather won’t cooperate) work on prepped pages
Stabbed and sown books:
- Stick-bound
- Thread bound with signatures and covers
5:30-7:00 Strategies and learning objectives…round robin fun! (Dinner potluck)
7:00-9:00 Critique (feedback for the classroom)
April 18
9:00-12:00
- Making mixed media collages with scraps
- Decorating and using books
- Trial and error Q&A
- Trade collages (with names and info on the back) to make a ring-bound resource stack
12:00 Checkout
12:15 Workshop ends
Materials to bring to retreat
MATERIALS LIST
General needs: (If you have any of these and would like to bring to share during class)
rulers, butter knives/scoring tools, pencils, scissors, a variety of paper, water, paint and paste brushes, bulldog clips, misc. art materials (colored pencils, paints, watercolors, pens, markers)
Students can bring:
junk mail material, envelopes, discarded books, leftover printer paper, notebooks, printed photos, calendar pages, scrapbook paper…anything paper related that you want to upcycle and/or transform! Bring some to share!
Also, please bring your favorite (or new) pens, pencils, markers, inks, etc. to try! All those fun things you’ve been hoarding!
General needs: (If you have any of these and would like to bring to share during class)
rulers, butter knives/scoring tools, pencils, scissors, a variety of paper, water, paint and paste brushes, bulldog clips, misc. art materials (colored pencils, paints, watercolors, pens, markers)
Students can bring:
junk mail material, envelopes, discarded books, leftover printer paper, notebooks, printed photos, calendar pages, scrapbook paper…anything paper related that you want to upcycle and/or transform! Bring some to share!
Also, please bring your favorite (or new) pens, pencils, markers, inks, etc. to try! All those fun things you’ve been hoarding!
85 Water Plant Rd, Miles City, MT 59301
