My name is Kinley Smith, and I am a senior majoring in Art and Design with a concentration in Art Education.

As an artist and educator, I am driven by a passion for nurturing creativity and self-expression in others. I find inspiration in my life experiences, drawing from the areas and people that have shaped and defined me. My creative process is a fluid exploration of different mediums, such as white charcoal, clay, and paint, which allows me to express myself in various ways.Through my artwork, I aim to inspire others to embrace their creativity and explore new forms of expression. My passion for art education drives me to constantly learn and grow, incorporating new ideas.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself?

If I could give myself advice, I  would tell myself to slow down and enjoy each moment, as these past four years at Anderson have gone by fast.

My favorite A+D memory is the time spent with friends working late nights in the studio.

Painting 3 was my favorite A+D class at Anderson because I was challenged to create art on a much bigger scale than I have ever done before. One of the projects that stood out to me the most was the 10-layer narrative painting. This painting challenged me to reflect on a significant journey in my life, which was my relationship with my papa and his illness in 2020. 

What moment, project, and/or critique in your Art + Design career at AU has been pivotal to who you are as an artist or creator?

The clay project in Sculpture 1 was pivotal for me because, throughout the project, I discovered that I really liked working with clay. This past fall, I had the opportunity to explore clay further and take ceramics 1. I really enjoyed the hands-on process of sculpting 3D pieces, and I wish I could have taken it sooner to explore more techniques and create more pieces. 

After graduating and obtaining my teaching degree, I plan to pursue my passion for teaching art and would like to teach either elementary or middle school art.

 I hope my work serves as an educational tool, especially for my students, demonstrating diverse artistic techniques and approaches. By showcasing a variety of mediums and themes, I aim to inspire curiosity and creativity in viewers, encouraging them to explore different forms of artistic expression.

For my Senior Show, you can expect to see a culmination of my artistic journey throughout my studio courses. I have collected pieces that showcase my exploration of different mediums and techniques, reflecting on my growth and development as an artist and educator. One aspect of my work is using white charcoal in drawings to depict a non-objective and still-life drawing. These pieces are a great learning experience for me to teach my students. I've also included deeply personal paintings inspired by pivotal moments, places, and people in my life. Overall, my Senior Show is a celebration of my diverse artistic interests and reflects the experiences and inspirations that have shaped me as an artist and an educator.