Aidan Smith

Mother of the cosmos

This was an experimental piece intended to explore my interest in outer space while incorporating a medium and subject I am familiar with, charcoal and portraiture. It is also one of the first pieces I have ever made in which I challenged myself to truly understand how to use paint by incorporating coloured elements through acrylics. The idea of fragmenting the piece into various coloured areas is intended to give the impression of looking in on the universe and comparing its vastness to what we perceive as reality.

Atrtist’s statement

Aidan Smith is a multimedia artist based in Calgary who works within both the physical and digital realms to portray dynamic and immersive works relating to pop culture. He is skilled in bringing images to life through various mediums, such as charcoal and graphite; however, he is always willing to expand his horizons by experimenting with different mediums, such as paint and sculpture. He also uses digital programs such as Photoshop and Clip Studio Paint to create works of art that cater to his interests, such as sci-fi and fantasy.

There was never a set moment when I decided to be an artist; I began by drawing characters such as Harry Potter and Spider-Man during my childhood. Eventually, I realized I was naturally talented in art, and so I chose to start focusing on it. I primarily make art because it is something I love to do. I do not make connections to any specific subject; instead, I draw what comes to me at the moment. I work under the motto of "if it ain't perfect, it ain't worth it," which means that if my work doesn't live up to my own standards and vision, then I will do everything in my power to change it. The most gratifying part of art for me is seeing people happy with my work without needing to debate it, with the greatest possible compliment being "I like it."