Rainbow Mountain Art Program Staff

Richmond Smith, Art Teacher

Richmond Smith has been teaching art privately, and in public schools, since 2003. He holds a B.F.A in Studio Art (painting, sculpture) from Western Carolina University and a degree in Art Education from University of North Carolina, Asheville. He currently splits his time teaching between RMCS, the non-profit organization Open Hearts Art Center, and his studio in the River Arts District where he runs educational programs.

Richmond’s students are extremely enthusiastic about his discipline-based program which includes art history, aesthetics, studio art, and art criticism. For his part, Richmond believes that his students’ enthusiasm lends itself towards more freedom of expression and creativity in the classroom. He feels that RMCS has “some of the most creative kids” he’s taught, and that he’s fortunate – as a teacher – to work with such inspiring learners. He is very interested in building relationships with both his students, and their parents.

Having traveled quite a bit, Richmond often draws from personal experience; sharing stories about other cultures, and art history, with his students. He nurtures the spiritual domain in his classroom by using ancient mystical symbols as subject matter in his curriculum. Richmond is a Christian, and a naturalist, who finds his God in church, nature, and the greater world surrounding us – especially its inhabitants. Community is important to Richmond; he not only volunteers locally teaching developmentally disabled adults, but also contributes through his mission work. Richmond believes that instilling a strong sense of community in children is fundamental. Both towards debunking stereotypes and prejudices and – ultimately – towards making the world a more fulfilling place.

When he’s not teaching art classes, Richmond is busy creating his own visionary, textured-oil and mixed-media paintings and sculpture. He loves spending time with his family and girlfriend and being outdoors – hiking, mountain biking, and playing basketball and tennis.