Amy Carson Smith, 44, of Glenside for the past three years (Elkins Park before that), had an almost idyllic existence until 2016 with a wonderful husband, David, son and daughter and a rewarding career that enabled her to work at home as an artist turning out lifelike pet portraits on commission.

Then fate intervened by means of a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord that often causes vision loss, pain, fatigue and impaired coordination.

It seems to get in the news only when it strikes a celebrity such as Michael J. Fox, Richard Pryor or Christopher Reeve. “I feel quite fortunate that my MS is rather mild,” Amy said last week. “Other than general fatigue, I feel very well on a daily basis.

“Occasionally my speech slurs a bit, and I experience brain fog. I will have numbness and pain in my toes, arm and hand. It serves as a reminder to make the most of every day because there is no guarantee I’ll be able to do this tomorrow. I take an injectable drug called Copaxone.

“I have found that a diet very heavy in fruits and vegetables and omitting all refined sugars helps me, but the biggest help with MS is movement, even when it’s difficult. Yoga, yoga and more yoga!” 

A Detroit native, Smith studied Fine Art at Wayne State University. She met David in Michigan, and they moved to the Philly area, where her husband was from.

After moving here, Amy designed home goods for Urban Outfitters and Anthropolgie, which she thoroughly enjoyed, but in 2007 she left to start a family while still working as a freelance artist for a while.

She began painting the dogs in her own life on small canvases to hang in her powder room, but so many people complimented the work that it quickly evolved into the successful business Smith operates today.

“It seemed like every family member suddenly wanted a portrait of their dog, and I was never able to complete my vision for my powder room. I began an Instagram page of the portraits in February of 2019 and was quickly discovered.

“I have always felt that painting what you love results in stronger work. I am simply crazy about my English Lab, so I combined that with my passion for interiors by incorporating a wallpaper background and hit on something that resonated.”

Needless to say, the pandemic has affected Smith's work, as it has almost every other artist, musician, performer, etc. Until this month, her work was sold at Michigan Artists Gallery in Traverse City, MI, but after 23 years in business, they recently closed their doors due to Covid.

So most of Smith's work now consists of commissions of people's pets. “I have taken time on the side to try my hand with bees and bunnies, which have been well received,” she said.

“I had a few clients inquire about children’s portraits. Before taking that on, I wanted to practice with my own children first. I’m very pleased with the outcome and intend to start on children’s portraits this fall. Due to Covid and having to oversee my children’s remote learning, I am pushing that off until we find our groove at home.”

After her children were born, Smith took an oil painting course at Abington Art Center with “an incredibly talented instructor and stuck with her for years. By a coincidence, she was diagnosed with MS a couple years before me and lightened her teaching load due to health reasons.”

Smith more recently took an oil painting class at Cheltenham Art Center with an instructor whose classes were instrumental in Amy's dog portraits. “In fact, my commission work load became so heavy that I no longer have time for the classes.”

Which talent that Smith does not have would she most like to have? “If only I could sing! There seems to be so much joy and release experienced in singing, but I can’t carry a tune to save my life. My children's greatest embarrassments come from my singing to them.”

Smith wanted to take this opportunity to publicly thank her sister, Missy. “She has been such an amazing cheerleader in recent years regarding my art. Her positivity and genuine pride in my work have bolstered my confidence and been instrumental in getting me to where I am today.”

For more information: amycarsonsmith.com Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com