WES SMITH, AIRBRUSH SURVIVOR
by Mike Ryan
“From the time I was a young boy I enjoyed things that were imagined as much as what was real . . . a total day-
dreamer you might say.” – Wes Smith
Wes’ first foray into art was when he painted a PEPSI sign on “a poor man’s airbrush”. Fascinated, he immediately went out
his bedroom wall. Wes remembers the logo came out great . and bought a real airbrush.
. .”real edgy letters”. His step-father was furious because they While still a High School student in the central California valley
had just repainted the whole room. town of Bakersfield he landed a part time job as a painter’s
helper. There he received a special gift: a box of old paints.
Fortunately for Wes one of his teachers had a better eye for From then on he taught himself to airbrush by painting any-
talent. One day in Junior High School Wes drew a hot rod on thing that was flat and not nailed down including walls, card-
his school desk - his teacher saw it but instead of scolding him board boxes and even his mom’s station wagon tailgate. Be-
he was so impressed that he told Wes to leave it there. That fore long he was making money by paining his friend’s cars and
positive school experience encouraged Wes to pursue art as vans and yes their bedroom walls too.
a career. In 1976 after graduating, Wes’ step-dad “strongly encour-
Wes realized he had talent when: “when somebody liked what I aged” him to get a real job like his, working in the Bakersfield Oil
drew that made me feel good, making something from a blank Fields. Instead Wes followed one of his brothers south to San
‘canvas’. I drew because I had a passion to create.” Diego where his love of art found an appreciative home in the
Wes also discovered the airbrush in school. A teacher was famous Pacific Beach Air Brush Shop. There he met owners
demonstrating how cavemen painted walls on caves. Students Robbie Adkins and Andy Anderson who immediately hired the
blew paint through straw reeds onto a canvas. Wes called it oil field refugee. All three are still best friends today.
L to R Janice Crawfton, Di-
ane Gerard, Catherine Bai-
ley (R.I.P.), Andy Anderson,
Rhonda Pettit Anderson,
Robbie Adkins, Wes (at 18
years old)
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