Haile Selassie by Darren Smith

Drawing the Reggae People, Beat and Spiritual Message

Darren Smith is an artist who grew up in Bedford England and who graduated with a degree in Fine Art Painting from the then Polytechnic Wolverhampton in 1989.
Although he has no preferred category of painting (or even media) whether it be Landscape, buildings, nature or people.
The work that he is doing at the moment is mostly portraiture based with the use of acrylic paint.
The images that dominate are from Darren’s childhood growing up in the late 1970’s early 80’s.
Bedford being a very multi-cultural society at that time exposed Darren at a very impressional age to reggae music and Black culture. During this period an incredible out-pouring of talented musicians and singers were coming out of Jamaica.
The people, the beat, the spiritual message, all had a profound influence on Darren’s life from a very young age. This continues to this day.
Though Darren has taken on different projects during his art career, his love and passion still remains firmly anchored in those old mostly black and white images of his heroes of that time.
His love and passion is to keep these images alive.
Connect with Darren Smith on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darrensmithartist

Drawing by Darren Smith

Drawing by Darren Smith

Drawing by Darren Smith

Drawing by Darren Smith

Drawing by Darren Smith

Drawing by Darren Smith

Drawing by Darren Smith

Drawing by Darren Smith

Drawing by Darren Smith

Drawing by Darren Smith

Drawing by Darren Smith

Drawing by Darren Smith

Drawing by Darren Smith

Drawing by Darren Smith

Drawing by Darren Smith

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Maria Papaefstathiou

VISUAL DESIGNER since 1996 and blogger since 2010. Living in Athens, Greece. She has been focusing her research on poster design and particularly on social poster design and portrait design. Her main poster project is a series of posters celebrating great personalities of traditional and popular culture in Greece and Jamaica. These include actors, singers, musicians, poets etc. This is an ongoing project. “I believe that design is a powerful tool that we designers can use to spark enthusiasm, change mindsets and bring positive actions to our world and our culture”. FOUNDER AND EDITOR OF GRAPHICART-NEWS.COM BLOG. She carefully curates high-quality designs, illustrations, and art, from all over the world that will teach and provoke other designers. Many consider her blog to be an exceptional educational tool. CO-FOUNDER OF THE INTERNATIONAL REGGAE POSTER CONTEST which was launched on December 2011, partnering, the creative activist Michael Thompson aka Freestylee. (www.reggaepostercontest.com)