Art Professor and Working Artist Leading by Example

Published: 05/25/2021

Brian Smith started teaching part time at St. Charles Community College when the doors to the main campus first opened in 1992. In 1998, he started teaching full time.

“Over the years I’ve taught visual art, painting, drawing, 2D design, color theory and art history,” Smith explained.

While a lot has changed over the years, his passion has never wavered.

“I believe in the importance of teaching art to individuals who wish to pursue a career in it,” he said, “and I believe in the essential function that art and design play in our society as a whole.”

When you’ve been at it as long as Smith has, you learn what works and what doesn’t when it comes to connecting with students.

“To be successful requires so many different things,” he admitted, “like a dance where all the moves must come together at the right moment for it to work well. I believe effective communication is probably the most important aspect of developing a successful teaching environment, and I see it as a constant challenge. Patience, humility, humor, trying new methods and taking students seriously helps in the classroom as well.” 

Not only a professor, Smith also oversees the SCC Art Gallery in the Fine Arts Building.

“I always enjoy the annual student art exhibits,” he said. “Not only do I curate them, but the receptions are a time of celebration. I revel in the growth and accomplishments of our art students.”

When he’s not engaging with students on campus, he’s a working artist. He admits it takes a lot of dedication to do both.

“I spend as much as I can in my own art studio in Soulard,” Smith added. “The paintings I create are abstract, which I would describe as large, colorful, bold, textural and dynamic. The imagery has a strong reference to the landscape.”

His work has been displayed locally and as far away as Florida. He’s exhibited in commercial and non-profit galleries, as well as colleges and universities across the country. One of his proudest accomplishments was being accepted into an artist residency program on the East Coast.

“It was at the Vermont Studio Center, and it was such a rewarding experience,” Smith explained. “Artist residency programs give visual artists (and writers) the opportunity to live and work outside of their usual environments, providing time to reflect, meet new people and produce new work. During my session, there were about 45 artists and 20 writers from different parts of the U.S. and abroad.”

Smith’s work can be seen in The Learning Center on the SCC main campus, as well as on display in the Plaza Frontenac and Macy’s in West County.