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Cartoonist Smith makes state-wide impact

By Megan Van Meter
[email protected]
Staff Writer

Smith, Impact Award Winner, works on a painting in the Floyd campus art lab. She is a cartoonist for the ''Six Mile Post'' as well as assistant art editor for the ''Old Red Kimono'' literary magazine. Georgia Highlands� own Jenn Smith has received the Impact Award for her editorial cartoons.

Every year the �Atlanta Journal-Constitution� judges submissions from both two and four-year college students to distinguish the state�s finest editorial cartoonist. Smith was presented the award at the Georgia College Press Association awards luncheon on Feb. 4 in Macon, GA.

Around campus, Smith has been recognized for the past two years as the creative force behind many of the editorial cartoons in the �Six Mile Post.� Her art has also appeared in �FC Bytes� as well as the �Old Red Kimono.� She is currently assistant art editor for the �Old Red Kimono.�

On any given day, one can find this 22-year-old art major lounging around the student center on the Floyd campus or traversing the campus in a bandana, black leather jacket, boots to match and an abundance of jewelry.

Brian Barr, assistant professor of art, whom Smith credits for her marked improvement in artistic skill, gave Smith her first formal art training. Though drawing had always been an interest, she did not become serious about painting until college. Through Barr�s guidance, Smith was able to mature and hone her creative talents.

�Jenn recognizes that while the most important tool in art is the human heart, the brain is a close second. She works as hard at developing her skill as she does her awareness,� Barr said.

He said that this, as well as her fierce desire to be worldly, is what distinguishes her from her peers.
He predicts a successful future for her in the art world so long as she maintains focus.

�He brought me out of my shell,� Smith says of Barr.

�Jenn is an excellent artist. It is impressive that she was chosen for the Impact Award over all other two- and four-year Georgia college cartoonists,� said Dr. Kristie Kemper, �Six Mile Post� adviser.

Smith hopes to transfer to Savannah College of Art and Design and then pursue a lucrative career in animation with a major company after completing her studies. Disney�s animation, she feels, is too simplistic. She hopes to obtain employment with Pixar or Dreamworks, whose animation she finds more realistic. Eventually, she would like to open her own gallery, possibly overseas.

Since she also has experience designing tattoos, Smith says she would like to learn how to work the gun and open her own parlor sometime in the future.