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Smith Banfield

@smithbanfield.art

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Recovering perfectionist rediscovering oil and watercolor on the Brooklyn waterfront✨

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On Sept. 17 and 18, 2025, a five-alarm fire tore through a warehouse on 481 Van Brunt St. in one of Red Hook’s worst disasters since Superstorm Sandy.

In the months after the fire, the Star-Revue interviewed several artists about the recovery, grief, and their future as artists.

A year later, as the anniversary came and went, we followed up with three of them: Justin Neely, Smith Banfield, and Bettina Magi. Read about how they recovered and found their way back to their art, via the link in our bio.

✍️: Eric Newstrom
📸: Eric Newstrom by @smithbanfield.art

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What Holds
Watercolor 22” × 30”

I made this yesterday, and I’m really loving where it landed.

This will be displayed along with my other new work during Sunset Park Open Studios in Brooklyn on October 17–18.

More soon. taken in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, N.Y by @smithbanfield.art

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10 days ago

Summer inspo 2026 by @smithbanfield.art

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25 days ago

Summer studio life taken in Sunset Park, Brookyn by @smithbanfield.art

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2 months ago

June helped me find inspiration. And sometimes the right deadline helps too @fairplayartfair taken in Sunset Park, Brookyn by @smithbanfield.art

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4 months ago

I finally updated my website.
Grateful to @diannevbags for the invitation to be part of the @bychorus Brooklyn Stories Spring Gala this Thursday, supporting artists affected by the Red Hook fire.
This gave me the push to update my website—sharing my new studio and a selection of paintings that were lost and never previously posted.
Website link in bio (or go directly to smithbanfield.com) by @smithbanfield.art

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5 months ago

So grateful to have overcome the obstacles to complete this today. I learned a whole lot and I'm excited to take the time to really look at these pieces over the next few days. Thank you for the love and support❤️‍🩹✨ taken in Sunset Park, Brooklyn by @smithbanfield.art

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9 months ago

Day two of the 100 painting challenge complete. Only 33 more to go🤩 taken in Sunset Park, Brooklyn by @smithbanfield.art

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Day one of the @milanartinstitute 100 painting challenge. Such a great way to restart after a long break. Each painting is done in less than three minutes. This 30 second clip took two hours to produce. I enjoyed every minute of it. Looking forward to day two tomorrow. Took me forever to figure out the thing in the bottom left that appears is a drawer I opened to get a palette knife 😂 taken in Sunset Park, Brooklyn by @smithbanfield.art

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9 months ago

I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since my last post. And if you’re wondering, I didn’t forget to add you to my email list - I haven’t been able to sit down and write about all of this just yet.

The new studio is like a dream. Amid all of the loss that I’m still having trouble fully comprehending, this new space is both comforting and inspiring.

This week I was finally able to create some normalcy in my life and I’m grateful for being able to at least start some paintings before 2025 comes to a close.

Today I played with my new paint colors and my new brushes on my new canvases, all gifted by toniam and @novacolorpaint ✨Unfortunately the session was cut short because I don’t have a bucket yet🤷‍♀️Trying to remember “all the things” is the biggest challenge.

It’s overwhelming to think of all of the people I still have to thank. I thank you for your patience. I’m humbled and excited that some of you really believe this is the path for me and keep cheering me on.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and finally putting 2025 to rest. Here’s to all great things in 2026! taken in Sunset Park, Brookyn by @smithbanfield.art

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10 months ago

Onward and upward. 50% bigger 100% brighter 1000% emptier. In Red Hook I just brought all my stuff Is been saving and storing for 30+ years. Now I have a blank canvas and I'm so curious to see what I'll fill it with. taken in Sunset Park, Brooklyn by @smithbanfield.art

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I signed a lease for my new studio in Sunset Park on October 30. Six days later -six weeks after the fire- I got access to my old studio.

I needed to quickly document as soon as I got in, but it wasn’t until after I left that I could see how “normal” everything looked in this photo. It’s like I just stepped away from my desk.

It may sound weird, but this photo makes me smile, because even after this disaster, my space was inviting and cozy.

I’m ready to move forward with my social media focusing on getting settled in my new space and posting new work.

There has been and still is a lot for me to process. I’ve had some valuable insights and breakdowns along the way.

If you are interested in hearing and seeing more details about my experience inside my studio and making the difficult decision to leave 97% of my stuff behind, please DM me your email address if you’re not already on my mailing list.

I was hoping to get an email out before Thanksgiving, but my brain moves much faster than my body these days. We’ll see.

Wishing you all a beautiful holiday!
xx taken in Red Hook Waterfront, Brooklyn by @smithbanfield.art

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