The First Day of School

The first day of school does not always begin with big smiles and backpacks. Sometimes it begins half asleep at the bathroom sink. Inspired by a candid moment from a child's first morning back at school, The First Day of School captures the tender mix of routine, sleepiness, and gentle humor that parents know so well. Through soft watercolor washes and white space, I wanted to preserve an ordinary childhood moment that becomes memorable precisely because it is so real.

Youngju Smith is a contemporary artist working in watercolor, acrylic, photography, and mixed media. Inspired by nature, memory, music, and everyday life, she explores beauty, light, hope, and the relationship between the visible and unseen, creating visual stories that invite imagination and discovery. Born in South Korea, Smith spent many years as an educator in South Korea, Germany, and the United States before returning to her lifelong passion for art in 2017. She earned her B.F.A. in Drawing and Painting from the University of North Texas in 2025. Smith’s practice moves between representational and abstract approaches. Nature is a recurring inspiration and teacher, offering a sense of wonder, peace, and connection to something greater. Through color, light, atmosphere, expressive marks, and small figures within expansive landscapes, she explores stories of memory, connection, hope, and possibility. At the heart of Smith’s work is the belief that beauty is not only something we encounter, but something we choose to see. She leaves room for viewers to bring their own memories and emotions to each painting and to discover their own meaning within it. Smith’s work has been exhibited in juried and group exhibitions throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has received First Place, Second Place, Honorable Mentions, and the Art That Speaks to Me Award. Her work is held in private collections. She lives and works in Flower Mound, Texas, and also creates commissioned portraits of people and pets.