If you had everything you needed in life and all of your necessities were taken care of, what would you be doing with your life? Would you still be working the job that you currently have? When “God-taught” artist Billy Smith paints, his brush connects the Divine to the canvas.
Born and raised just north of Brevard, NC in Pisgah Forest, Smith was the youngest of six children and spent a good amount of his childhood in the woods exploring colors, textures and shapes. Instead of an instructional art book, the flowers, trees, dirt, sky and everything in between inspired him.
After a traditional school education, Billy realized he was an artist, as it was innately planted in him. What started as sketching local musicians, Billy's art grew to include commissions for large city murals and into a full blown art studio instructing Brevard’s youth.
In 2018, Smith learned that he had Type 1 Diabetes. While in a coma, clarification came about being a cinematographer and film-maker, leading to multiple shoots for clients across the board.
Billy is Fine Arts Director at Destiny Church and President of the Transylvania Community Arts Council. billysmithart.com This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx