Brett James Smith was born on March 19, 1958 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Brett James Smith received his early introduction to sporting art from his father who worked professionally as an illustrator and moonlighted as a fine artist contributing paintings for covers of the early outdoor and western magazines. In college as a fine art major, Brett realized that the contemporary art curriculum would not equip him with the background needed to pursue the area that interested him most which was commercial illustration. It was at that time that he enrolled in the Famous Artist School that stressed painting and drawing of the human figure and designing pictures that tell stories. Unhappy with the direction of his college experience, Brett left school and began a career on his own as a commercial illustrator. Realizing that the majority of work in this field originated out of New York City, he acquired an artist representative and began working for a wide variety of corporate and editorial clients. After a few years, he decided to try his hand at "easel" painting for the fine art market. As he puts it, "What is important in these outdoor paintings is mood, a feeling of how things were and still can be. The idea is to convey the natural ruggedness of the sport without missing the subtle nuances that make the experience personal." Brett Smith's preferred medium is transparent watercolor or oil painting. He uses oils for large complex scenes. Watercolors are used when more spontaneous results are desired. He now employs the timeless art of etching to create the luster of an ageless sporting scene. Brett's paintings hang in some of the most prestigious collections throughout the country. His work has been featured in such publications as Gray's Sporting Journal, Ducks Unlimited magazine, Sporting Classics. Shooting Sportsman, and Double Gun Journal.