#59 - Barrett Smith - Inside the Mind of a Painter

Ever wonder what goes on inside the mind of a painter after a lifetime of working quietly on a canvas? Barrett Smith gives voice to his life and his work.In February, Barrett was told he didn't have years left. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he's been, in many ways, catapulted into reflecting on his life, and while in good conscience, mind, body, and spirit, he wants to pass on what he's learned.Across this conversation, Barrett speaks with a rare kind of honesty: about the marriage he once damaged before deconstructing and rebuilding himself into somebody he actually liked, about the hurt he's come to believe sits underneath most cruelty, and about learning, later in life than he wishes, to feel real joy in another as joy in oneself, knowing that this is real loving.He talks about his hope for others to know they are accepted for who they are, exactly as they are, and that hope itself is a discipline he's chosen to practice, even now. All of these things being a message he didn't necessarily receive when he was younger, and one he wants others to truly come to know.This is a painter thinking out loud about the raw material of a life, what to pass on, what to let go of, and what it means to try to leave people, and the world, a little more whole than he found them.His work can be viewed at the link below.Welcome to episode 59.Check Out:Barrett N SmithLee BontecouElevate the ExperienceHelp bring better audio, video, and filmed episodes to life: Venmo. I tithe 10% of all contributions—half to the All Secure Foundation (supporting soldiers’ transition home) and half to the Academy of the New Church High School.Stay ConnectedContact: https://ethanclewin.com/A Note from MeI’m inspired by the stories people carry, the power of honest feedback, and the magic that happens when creative minds connect. If you’re a brand interested in partnering, let’s talk: LinkedIn.Thanks for being part of this journey—PEACE!