orn August 18, 1981 in La Mirada, California, Kevin Alan Smola II has been artistically inclined since childhood. After his parents divorced when he was three, Kevin’s mother Caryn took her family (which included younger brother Christopher) to Indianapolis. Kevin didn’t take the situation well, and although acted out his frustrations at school, he always found art to be his vessel of anger, sadness, joy and humor, but most importantly imagination.

Kevin prided himself as the only six-year-old to color inside the lines. Art was more than a hobby. He knew he had expression to release. Not that it was ever a problem. His primary education was dominated by art classes, perhaps not by number, but certainly by significance. He was drawn to the color, to the light, the dark, the feeling, the unspoken, the mystery. Often Kevin would draw portraits from magazines and other publications while he honed his eye for composition and form.

By the time Kevin attended high school in the fall of 1995, he had already determined his curriculum. It was to be art, naturally. He absorbed all that he could, befriending his teachers in order to gain a more personal attachment to his found love. Up until this time his work was very technical. His intense focus and attention to detail impressed his teachers. Kevin was accutely aware of abstract art and found it to be curiously interesting. Never experimenting with it before this point left him eager to open the creative floodgates repressing his need to expand his artistic horizons.

After graduating from high school in 1999, he spent his first year of college at a community college where his mother was working. She worked three jobs while he was in school to support Kevin and his brother. He concentrated on his core curriculum and then transferred to the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville a year later for a degree in graphic design. Mostly because he wanted to carry over his knowledge into the professional world, Kevin was always indifferent toward art schools and felt his work may be compromised by subjective opinions that would only discourage him from continuing on the path he was on. As this talent’s experience comes mostly from a self-taught education in fine art, he remained pensive. His inspiration came from the likes of the American and European Abstract Expressionists who in their day, were the epitome of a unique creativity and freedom that passed through them, to the canvas, then to the onlooker in the most natural way.

Smola’s inspiration was to wield that kind of arresting power within his work. He wanted people to see the emotion, to draw from it, perhaps recollecting on their own experiences, but nonetheless realizing the emotion. He knew in order to achieve this he would have to be bold, figuratively and literally. He put down the brush and picked up putty knives, scrapers and window washers. Kevin wanted to be innovative in a way where people would view his work as the real thing and not a two-bit attempt at pouring his heart out. He was aware of the consequences long before then.

He grew more aggressive with the paint, but completely in tune with what played out before him. It was a beautiful chemistry between the creator and the created. By the time he had graduated college in the spring of 2003, he was confident his work was going to do something, and go somewhere.

He spent almost a year out of school before two of his good friends decided to get married. Being the best man, Smola was compelled to give them a gift they would remember always. Without a full-time job he didn’t have much to spend on a wedding gift. Then he had the idea of creating three large pieces to commemorate their marriage and their lives together. The excitement was overwhelming for Kevin. He knew it would be perfect. He spent approximately three months working on the pieces before completing them by the July 3rd wedding date.

During the reception where the pieces were displayed, Kevin never anticipated the amount of surprise and gratitude from the bride and groom, much less the praise and admiration from the guests. These were a gift to the couple, but apparently all who viewed them took away something special, which took the artist aback, making him realize the full impact of his abilities.

Coincidentally, someone else thought the same thing.

Midway through the evening, Smola was approached by a family friend of the groom’s by the name of Leo Spaans. Leo, the president of a prominent local engineering firm, was building a new office and was very interested in what he saw. “How much for the paintings?” he said in a mild Dutch accent. “I’m sorry, they’re a gift and not for sale,” said Kevin in an I-can’t-believe-my-ears tone. “Not even for $1,000 each?” he persisted. Smola again declined his offer once more chuckling to himself. Several more offers were made that night but the evening was still overshadowed by the display of love that the artist still remembers today.

Upon completing work for Leo four months later, his new office opened the following January and the Open House was a great success. Kevin’s work was noticed by many. Smola recalled a man who was viewing one of the pieces (Unconscious) while standing next to him, and hearing the man say, “Bet you wish you painted it.” Smola had to pause for a second to cherish the moment before responding with, “I did paint it.” The man’s embarrassment was followed by a prompt handshake as they stood discussing the piece. Kevin loved to hear what others thought. As his work progressed, his confidence became unshaken. He lost his fear of the critic.

Just like Kevin was approached at the wedding, he was approached by another fan of his work, a landscape architect by the name of Joann Green. Joann is the president of Claire Bennett Associates also known as Cba, located in downtown Indianapolis. She informed him that she has an exhibition twice a year for artists like him and would like to make something happen. After discussing details Smola got started with a four month deadline. He completed nine pieces. Little did he know it would be the most emotional journey of his life.

Smola had planned on proposing to Kate Moore, (his girlfriend of two and a half years) the very evening of the show, with everyone in attendance, family included. Each piece had a corresponding statement as well as the piece he painted for Kate. The proposal was a success and emotions were abundant. Kevin had succeeded in driving home the emotion in his pieces.

While between shows, Kevin was looking for alternative ways to get his work out there. He became aware of non-profit fundraisers where he put his work up for auction to raise money for worthy causes such as Diabetes and Cystic Fibrosis. This made Smola feel good knowing that not only was his work gaining appreciation in other venues, but he was contributing to causes of a greater importance.

Kevin continues to paint what inspires him. However, he doesn’t just paint for himself, he paints for those who gain a better understanding of what he is trying to accomplish. “Art is a transferrence of inspiration. Without it, you have nothing. Whether it is a bird, a tree, mountainside or your most meaningful moment, paint it and you will find it. I never paint without being inspired, it just doesn’t make sense.”

Kevin was awarded the 2005-2006 Stutz Artist Association's Studio Residency Grant. This year Kevin is still working in the Stutz building in studio D480.