The Hat #85 Painting

Since beginning her $100 USD daily painting project in 2016, Jean Smith has set aside funds to open the Free Artist Residency for Progressive Social Change where musicians, writers and other artists will work on projects that intend to change the world. In 2021, a New York Times Magazine article about her paintings put her sales through the roof. - "I reveal or impose emotional nuances in my portraits that aren't captured by the camera. Viewers have an active role in finalizing interpretations." - Jean Smith is the lyricist and singer in the literary rock duo Mecca Normal. The band has released 13 CDs on independent record labels in the US , including K Records, Kill Rock Stars and Matador. The author of two published novels, Jean Smith is a two-time recipient of Canada Council for the Arts awards as a professional writer of creative fiction.