Art for art’s sake, and more August 30, 2022 in News By Jennifer Stultz Editor Creativity seems to flourish under the hand of Kiowa County artist Jayci Smitherman. Not only do her changing and colorful windows decorate the front of Haviland Broadband offices on Main Street in Haviland where she is a marketing manager and customer service representative, but she and her husband, Dwight Smitherman, have completely gutted and creatively remodeled their Kiowa County home. Now she is using her artistic talents to make and sell resin boards that have a variety of uses, with proceeds to go towards a special fine-arts trip she plans to take with her daughter in winter. “The possibilities are endless for what I can do,” Jayce said. “I love to replicate what I see, and add my own creativity to that.  Dwight is very much the same. That’s how we have done everything together.” At Haviland Broadband, positive message gleam from front glass windows, with scenes changing with the seasons. Right now, a Blues Clues character smiles happily at children as they get started with a new school season, asking the question, “What is Blue excited about?” School supplies circle the centerpiece. “I get a print or design I like and put a black and white sketch inside the window,” Smitherman said. “Then I take craft paint and trace it from the outside. It’s just fun to share positive messages with the community this way.” At their home, the Smithermans discovered that making their own countertops and desk tops was fun, and easy, and creative, when they used an apoxy pour method to apply resin to wood surfaces. “I have these ideas and Dwight makes them happen,” Smitherman said. In the process of applying layers of resin to different sizes of MDF board, and then adding mica powder of varying colors, Smitherman found that the mystery of the final creative effort was intriguing. “Sometimes I have a general idea of what I want to make, but really we have no control over the finished product and it is always interesting to see what how it will level out. No two are the same,” she said. When Smitherman’s daughter Jaucilyn, also an artist, awakened an interest in Caravaggio paintings, and good friend, Misty Beck at Pratt Community College invited the mother, daughter, and Jayci’s mother to go along on a trip to New York, art took on a deeper purpose – something to make and sell to raise money. While in New York City, mother, daughter and grandmother plan to tour the Smithsonian Metropolitan Museum of Art to see, in person, four special Caravaggio paintings. In order to make that a possibility, Smitherman is now selling specialized resin boards that can be used as decorative bases for a variety of needs, including charcuterie boards or special detailed gift signs. Prices vary according to the size and details, or result of the apoxy pour. “We start with the 4 X 8 board and can cut that in a variety of sizes,” Smitherman said. “I have made table tops, wall decor, you name it. We can do as many as eight different colors to make something special.” Night skies, sunsets and mythical mists are just some of the resulting resin projects so far. Examples of Smitherman’s art-resin boards may been seen on her Facebook page Jayci Smitherman, while her whimsical window art may be viewed at Haviland Broadband, also on Facebook. Art at her home that is part of the remodel, well that is still art for art’s sake and private. Latest Stories Hokanson expects many contributors as Kiowa County looks forward to new football season September 6, 2022 Abortion is back on the ballot in Kansas this November September 6, 2022 Gates naming project still open for public input September 6, 2022 Fall season brings new merchandise to incubator craft and antique business in Mullinville September 6, 2022 Monarch butterflies facing battle royal for survival September 6, 2022 Beaver soccer opens season 1-1-1 September 6, 2022 SportsSpeak: Sports gambling comes to Kansas September 6, 2022 K-State takes on South Dakota in season opener September 6, 2022 Not just a boys’ game anymore, football officiating adding more female officials September 6, 2022 Beavers competitive against Butler September 6, 2022

Creativity seems to flourish under the hand of Kiowa County artist Jayci Smitherman. Not only do her changing and colorful windows decorate the front of Haviland Broadband offices on Main Street in Haviland where she is a marketing manager and customer service representative, but she and her husband, Dwight Smitherman, have completely gutted and creatively remodeled their Kiowa County home. Now she is using her artistic talents to make and sell resin boards that have a variety of uses, with proceeds to go towards a special fine-arts trip she plans to take with her daughter in winter.

“The possibilities are endless for what I can do,” Jayce said. “I love to replicate what I see, and add my own creativity to that.

 Dwight is very much the same. That’s how we have done everything together.”

At Haviland Broadband, positive message gleam from front glass windows, with scenes changing with the seasons. Right now, a Blues Clues character smiles happily at children as they get started with a new school season, asking the question, “What is Blue excited about?” School supplies circle the centerpiece.

“I get a print or design I like and put a black and white sketch inside the window,” Smitherman said. “Then I take craft paint and trace it from the outside. It’s just fun to share positive messages with the community this way.”

At their home, the Smithermans discovered that making their own countertops and desk tops was fun, and easy, and creative, when they used an apoxy pour method to apply resin to wood surfaces.

“I have these ideas and Dwight makes them happen,” Smitherman said.

In the process of applying layers of resin to different sizes of MDF board, and then adding mica powder of varying colors, Smitherman found that the mystery of the final creative effort was intriguing.

“Sometimes I have a general idea of what I want to make, but really we have no control over the finished product and it is always interesting to see what how it will level out. No two are the same,” she said.

When Smitherman’s daughter Jaucilyn, also an artist, awakened an interest in Caravaggio paintings, and good friend, Misty Beck at Pratt Community College invited the mother, daughter, and Jayci’s mother to go along on a trip to New York, art took on a deeper purpose – something to make and sell to raise money. While in New York City, mother, daughter and grandmother plan to tour the Smithsonian Metropolitan Museum of Art to see, in person, four special Caravaggio paintings.

In order to make that a possibility, Smitherman is now selling specialized resin boards that can be used as decorative bases for a variety of needs, including charcuterie boards or special detailed gift signs. Prices vary according to the size and details, or result of the apoxy pour.

“We start with the 4 X 8 board and can cut that in a variety of sizes,” Smitherman said. “I have made table tops, wall decor, you name it. We can do as many as eight different colors to make something special.”

Night skies, sunsets and mythical mists are just some of the resulting resin projects so far. Examples of Smitherman’s art-resin boards may been seen on her Facebook page Jayci Smitherman, while her whimsical window art may be viewed at Haviland Broadband, also on Facebook. Art at her home that is part of the remodel, well that is still art for art’s sake and private.