Kim Smith, an American artist with a background as a visual effects professional, is well-known for her contributions to Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Tippett Studio. As a model maker and digital effects artist, she played a role in all three Star Wars prequel films. Since then, she has shifted her focus to painting, sculpture, printmaking, and graphic arts.
Smith grew up in a creatively inclined family with a strong artistic heritage. Her mother was of French descent, and many of her French relatives were involved in the arts and crafts. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Arts from Syracuse University and later took additional courses at institutions like Arizona State University, USC, UCLA, and the College of Marin.
Smith's career at ILM began in 1989, where she initially contributed to Body Wars, a film created for Epcot. Her experience in miniatures, painting, sculpting, and set construction, developed during her time at Landmark Entertainment, led to her hiring.
During her time at ILM, she worked as a model maker on The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. Her work involved building intricate physical models of ships and environments used in the films.
For Revenge of the Sith, Smith transitioned to digital effects, applying texture painting and look development techniques to CGI models. She described the shift from practical to digital effects as a significant change in the industry, noting that her experience with real materials helped her understand how to make digital models appear more realistic.
While at ILM, Smith also appeared as an extra in the Geonosis arena scene in Attack of the Clones. However, she mentioned in a 2021 interview that she had never attempted to locate herself in the finished film.
In addition to Star Wars, Smith contributed to several prominent ILM projects, including Starship Troopers and Star Trek: Generations. She collaborated with some of ILM's most respected model makers, including John Goodson, Lorne Peterson, Steve Gawley, Larry Tan, Bill George, Charlie Bailey, Barbara Affonso, and Randy Ottenberg.
Following her departure from ILM, she joined Tippett Studio, where she continued to develop her digital effects skills. She characterized Tippett Studio as a smaller, more personal environment compared to ILM, but one that was equally committed to producing high-quality visual effects.
In 2021, Smith retired from the visual effects industry to dedicate herself to her personal artistic endeavors. Currently, she primarily works as a painter, sculptor, printmaker, and graphic artist. Her artwork has been showcased internationally, including a solo exhibition at Green Collections Multiple in Tokyo, Japan. She has also participated in significant exhibitions such as the de Young Open 2023 and the Crocker Kingsley Annual 2022-2023.
- Modeling a Galaxy on StarWars.com (original site is defunct)
- " Industry, Laughter, & Magical Times " — Star Wars Insider 206
- Kim Smith at the Internet Movie Database
- Kim Smith Studio