My name is Brian Smith and I'm a self-taught artist born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. As a kid growing up in the '70s, I was always intrigued by the psychedelic shapes, sounds and colors that were a distinctive part of this era. In the '80s I started reading about art and artists and was inspired to start drawing after seeing the amazing work of HR Giger. I enjoyed looking at the dark, old paintings of Bosch, Bruegel, Goya, El Greco and William Blake, but it wasn't until I discovered the early work of Roberto Matta that I knew I would be an artist myself one day.

In the early '90s I started drawing with pencils on large pieces of paper and then on even larger matboards. I eventually drew pieces that were over 4 by 6 feet, and took several months to finish.

I ended up spending several years working in the film industry, but never found the time or energy to create any artwork. 5 months ago I quit my job and started painting. It took me a while to get comfortable with painting, but having a clear vision of what I wanted to create helped me to learn quickly. Now, I'm learning to paint faster, and wanting to make up for lost time, I've been able to finish almost 30 pieces and start 15 others in this relatively short time.

There are many reasons why I like to paint. I especially like the idea of being able to be the creator of my own unique universe. I like articulating abstract thoughts and ideas, and with every painting I seem to learn a little about myself. I also enjoy the challenge of creating something unlike anything I’ve seen before. I either like to paint my interpretation of the world around me, or introspective "mindscapes”, and I try to incorporate many things in my work, . . . enormous size, heavy metal, infinite depth, mystery, and just an altogether alternate reality. I've always wanted to create a jeweled, crystalline and chrome-metallic, organic universe, and I believe I’m getting closer to making this a reality.

I've already mentioned some of my influences, others would include: Francis Bacon, Jimi Hendrix, "The Good the Bad and the Ugly", "Repo Man", Stanley Kubrick, Buckethead, Clint Eastwood, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Eazy-E, Rod Serling, Pink Floyd, Marc Edward Adams, "The Outer Limits", Roger Maris, Robert Williams, Barry Sanders, very tall buildings, giant structures and machinery (especially hydraulic), Vincent Bugliosi, Howard Hughes, Disneyland's "Adventure Thru Inner Space", Evel Knievel, David Lynch, Muhammad Ali, and my family and friends.

I've never shown my work or been a part of a gallery exhibit, I’ve never won any awards, and I'm not affiliated with any organizations, but I believe that I have something very different to offer. I’m also determined to sell my work so that I may continue to have the time to create new pieces.
 

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