Bemis Smith is from Waycross, Ga. She will be graduating in December 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Art, and an emphasis in Graphic Design and illustration from Valdosta State University. Her 2D and illustrative works focus on complex and personal issues such as anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses in order to more easily understand herself and to possibly help others. Smith explores supernatural worlds and macabre stories, such as fairytales, voodoo curses and witches. Her graphic design work mixes her dark style with a modern design, in order to create something aesthetically pleasing.
When she is not creating she spends her free time collecting comic books and graphic novels, marathon-ing Tim Burton films, and trying to convince herself, and her argumentative cat, that her Hogwarts letter was indeed lost in the mail. After graduation, she plans to pursue a graphic design job, and to do freelance illustration on the side, and one day write and illustrate her own book, comic book and/or graphic novel.
I’ve had two loves during my life time; art and literature. Stories have always had an importance in my life. Growing up with severe social anxiety and depression, I turned to comic books and graphic novels instead of spending time with other people. Burying myself in those pictures and the stories eased my anxiety, and helped me deal with issues that came with it.
With my painting and illustrations, I aspire to give people a better understanding of certain mental illnesses, and to help those who also suffer from anxiety and depression. My subject matter consists of female figures or fictional monsters in various difficult and symbolic situations. Tim Burton influences all of my works, with his use of dark and muted colors, and his love of big eyes and thin body figures. I blend my influences and my own style to tell stories of the supernatural.
My interest in telling stories has ventured into my graphic design works. With the computer, I use both illustration and type to focus on communicating other’s narratives, whether it be by informational poster series’ or with package design and company branding. I use these types of graphic design to both convey acknowledgment of important issues such as animal cruelty, and to create the identity (or story) of a client or a company.