Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bree Smith. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Bree, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

In April of 2022 I was selected to participate in a public mural arts project. This was a meaningful project for many reasons, personal and professional. It can be extremely challenging to break into the mural scene in an area with many established muralists, and I had been trying to get my first public mural opportunity for almost 5 years.

In addition to being persistent in pursuing these opportunities over several years, I also overcame difficult physical challenges. I suffered a back injury at age 14, and since then have been suffering from chronic nerve and joint pain as a result of degenerative disc disease and arthritis. In 2021, I decided (after much procrastination) to undergo a 3-level 360-degree lumbar fusion. Three of my vertebrae are now fused together with titanium rods and screws, and my 3 deteriorated discs have been replaced with titanium ones.

The recovery was long and painful, so I was skeptical if I would ever physically be able to do a mural without causing myself much physical stress. I decided to do a “test” mural in my home to see how my new metal back held up once I was almost a year into my recovery. I was able to do several painting days almost completely pain-free, so I knew I was ready. A week after I shared this mural on Instagram, I got a call notifying me of my acceptance to a mural project I had applied for months earlier. I was shocked and incredibly excited to participate.

The experience of painting a mural in public was also very meaningful. Seeing people watch me paint, and getting to talk to them about my art was an incredibly special experience for me. Now, after the mural has been completed, it’s amazing to see people sharing photos of my mural and how it enhances their experience. I love public art because it truly is accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Bree, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a multidisciplinary visual fine artist work in Dallas, Texas. I create art in a variety of mediums and disciplines including, painting, mixed media, sculpture, digital art, and murals. The subject matter of my art is influenced by science fiction, space, and futuristic themes. I often include pop culture references and use bright, saturated color palettes to evoke feelings of hopefulness and joy. I use my work to subvert negative assumptions and expectations towards the future, and hope to inspire positivity and imagination in my clients’ homes or walls.

Last year I started a new slow fashion business called Planet Joy. I am creating and printing my digital artwork on clothes and accessories that are made with sustainable materials manufacturing processes. I have also recently begun a journey as a public muralist, and look forward to creating more public works to inspire thoughts of a hopeful future.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

After graduating from college with an art degree, I felt almost paralyzed by all of the “rules” I had been taught about the “right way” to paint or make art. There wasn’t a big emphasis on experimentation in art school–which is understandable because they are trying to teach you how to do things at that point in your journey as an artist. However, because of this, I wasn’t used to incorporating experimentation into my practice, and actually found that I didn’t enjoy a lot of the processes and methods I was taught in school. Learning how to let go of and ignore the rules and experiment with new processes, surfaces, and mediums was challenging, but it has been the biggest driver of growth and development of my work.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

When I see a photo from a client of one of my pieces hanging in their home, or someone sharing a photo of my mural, those are the most rewarding moments for me as an artist. Buying art is a luxury, and there are a lot of amazing artists in this world, so when someone parts with their hard-earned money to collect one of my pieces, it is a wonderful feeling of validation. It means that something I created from within my soul resonated with someone else’s soul. It’s incredibly rewarding!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.breesmith,com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breesmithart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breesmithart
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/breesmithart
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/breesmithart https://www.visitplanetjoy.com