Anastasia Smith Arts
  • About
  • Visual Art
  • Belly Dance Classes
  • Pet Portraits
  • Contact
  • Animal workshops
Anastasia Smith Arts
dedicated to developing and sharing the skills of awareness
​ that allow conscious beings to thrive.
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The ultimate work of art is myself. Every year new skills and creative outlets are discovered, but the key concept of all of them is development of consciousness.  Visual art, dance, learning theory, teaching animals and humans of all life stages and abilities, physical development through exercise, gardening, community building, and observation are all practices used to refine understanding and ability.

Every day brings new connections, every new person and animal teaches me more about how the world works. Every sensation and sight reminds me to be present and learn. 

Visual Art is my home base, using my eyes and skill as a fine artist to record the world through drawing, painting, and sculpture.  A successful work of art is one that catches your attention, whether through beauty, apparent skill, or implied meaning. If the art makes you think about one extra thing, then it has done its job.  The process of creating each piece is a constant stream of learning and exploring, getting just a bit more skill with each moment

Balance and expressive movement through dance, horseback riding, martial arts, and fitness give me the resources i need to keep moving forward.  They teach me what it is to be embodied, to consciously experience the physicality of my existence.

Connections to other humans, animal personalities, and the expression and energy of the natural world keep me connected when entropy, exhaustion, and listlessness threaten.  Teaching and speaking gives me reason to learn and organize my thoughts. You are a vital part of this art.

Anastasia “Asia” Smith is an artist and animal trainer with a strong interest in using art to benefit others.  She grew up with an odd collection of small farm animals and siblings near Rapid City, South Dakota. She attended the University of South Dakota and studied Theater Design, then spent a few decades working as Las Vegas stagehand and scenic artist.  
Life in the Mojave desert allowed her to train horses and dogs, co-found a training and rescue facility that offered programs for foster children, did rehab work with difficult animals, and used creative exercise like Ballet and Yoga to develop multispecies communication.  
In 2014 personal upheavals brought her back to Rapid City where she began to focus on fine art and work as a teaching artist.  Participating in the development of the Horses Healing Humans programs at eaglesrisingllc.weebly.com/ allowed her to keep developing understanding of how animals and humans work together.
The big lesson of the year 2020 has been that it is ok to rest and that even when you take time for yourself you can still get other things done.


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