"A True Renaissance Man"
Donald Smith
A Man of Many Talents
Meet the Artist
Donald Smith, a native of Danville, Virginia, developed a passion for the arts and many other pursuits. He wears many hats: husband, father, pastor, teacher, coach, mentor, and artist. He was also a professional football player who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 1990. In 1991, he spent one season with the Dallas Cowboys and then eight seasons (from 1992-2000) in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
He has been involved with the arts all his life, drawing events and topics from wherever his life has taken him. From elementary school to high school to college to his professional life, his art has covered and will continue to cover the events of his life.
Inspired by his junior high school teacher, Sylvia Foster, and his high school teacher, Christine Still, he was encouraged to study different artists. He studied and mimicked Ernie Barnes, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, African paintings, Cubism, and Norman Rockwell’s artwork. In college, artists such as Henry Tanner and Ernie Barnes influenced his work. He mimicked these artists to create detailed images while expressing an inner glow (from Rembrandt) with his art, but this drawing style was challenged.
At Liberty University, his art professors, Mrs. Eva Barbour and Dr. Lovelace, were major influences on his artistic style today. They influenced him to use colors, shapes, and forms to create designs (no detailed artwork). After constant arguments with Dr. Lovelace, who only wanted shapes, colors, and forms, Donald combined his professors' demands (mainly Dr. Lovelace's) with his earlier high school style to create the styles we see today.
Inspired by the people and events in his life, Donald illustrates his viewers' thoughts. It’s not what he draws that piques his interest but rather how the audience sees his artwork. He draws and paints to evoke a mood and/or feeling within his audience. Can the viewer see the artwork from the artist’s perspective, or does the artwork evoke a different emotion or interpretation?
Learning to implement these different styles, from realism to cubism to abstraction, is his playground. His joy has been through shapes and forms highlighted by bright colors and deep contrast, framed within space and contour lines. His artwork is filled with emotion. By chance, if you happen to ask him what he was thinking about when he created a certain piece of art, he will return your question with, “What do you think it means?” Your response creates a new view, a deeper concept, another vision. Donald continues to pull from his wealth of life experiences and creates images inspired from deep within.
a heart for more
than just football
Donald was a natural athlete from early on. His mother got him involved in many sports and extracurricular activities to "keep him out of trouble" in her wise words. Donald excelled in many sports and by high school he was a multi-sport athlete playing basketball, football, and running track. At the end of high school, Donald was invited to attend Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA on a football scholarship. There he became an integral part of the Liberty Flames football team and by his senior year was the defensive captain.
Sports was a good way to go to college, but Donald was always quick to remember there is more to life than just sports. He continued to pursue and prefect his artistic talents throughout his college education maintaining interests in both sports and art. Even after being drafted into the NFL, Donald kept creating art. Art became a place to to escape the pressures and frustrations of football and just express his feelings. Whenever he was tired of football, he could turn to his art and it took his mind away from the stress of being a professional athlete.
Donald went on to play in the Canadian football league for 9 years, which he found to be more relaxed, more fun, and very different from the NFL. As his success and popularity on the football field as #19 increased, so did his reach off the field as an artist. Donald began to use his influence as a way to give back to his communities and connect with young people. Whenever he could, Donald went into schools to talk with students, and he didn't just talk about football, he showed his artwork and encouraged students to express themselves through creative means. One thing Donald has always believed is that if he gives back to his community, it will give back to itself. He firmly believes that teachers have more lasting impacts on people than any celebrity. True to this value, Donald stepped into an educator role after retiring from football. He has returned to his hometown of Danville, VA, where he is now a pastor, coach, educator, and as always, an artist.
Donald Smith's work has been featured in media publications across the US and Canada.
The Journey of an Artist
Explore the inspiring transition from NFL & CFL player to fine artist, pastor, & educator. Discover how passion, creativity, and lived experience shape Donald Smith's unique artistic vision and style.
Donald is a current feature on the Legends page of danriversports.com, and also the subject of one of their recent podcasts.
What other's are saying
"Donald's enthusiasm and dedication to his work and to the art department gained him recognition at GW High School and in the community."
Christine Still
-Donald's high school art teacher
"He creates art on and off the field."
Scott Michaux
-Liberty University student
"I like the way his colors all flow into each other."
Tyler Richard
-student, age 14
"His art is impressively interesting, very enjoyable, His portraits are lovely and memorable."
Jane Faber
-gallery attendee
Captivating!
Laura Meade
-gallery attendee
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