Kirstyn Harris Smart works on a 3D illustration of a skull.
Sydney Leyerle
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
Ten years after graduating from Bowling Green High School, a former Bobcat is enjoying life as a medical illustrator and mom.
Since high school, Kirstyn Harris Smart has had a passion for art and has been able to turn that passion into a career.
Smart graduated from Augusta University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in integrated sciences and in 2022 she finished her master’s degree in medical illustration. She now works for the American Association of Ophthalmology where she said she creates 3D models to help students better understand science.
Despite her passion for art, Smart said at first she didn’t plan on going into an art-related career. She said she wanted to study physical therapy and after high school originally attended Slippery Rock University.
“That’s why I was at Slippery Rock at first. I was actually going for PT at the time because I thought I’ll just do art on the side of physical therapy, but after a year and a half I was bored,” Smart said. “It just was not right so I chose, I’m like, I’m going to Augusta so I can learn properly and get better at the art and be able to succeed with medical illustration because it’s very hard, very competitive to get into.”
Medical illustration allows Smart to express her creativity and work in the sciences, which is something she said she loves about her job.
Smart’s creativity helps her figure out ways to help others learn science, primarily anatomy. She said through her job she must find ways for others to better learn and study anatomy.
“Because anatomy is a very hard subject, you have to think of ways for people to make it easier on those residents, because the better they learn, the better they can help the people around them,” Smart said. “So that’s why I like doing the art, especially mixed with the science.”
Mixing art and science wasn’t something Smart said she had thought about until she was encouraged by two of her art teachers at BGHS.
Nikki Myers said she could tell Smart had a talent for art right away and wanted to make sure she knew that art and science could be a combined career for her.
“I think for her, the medical field and the illustrations just is a nice combination where she can still explore that science side, but yet she’s using her illustration skills and her skills in drawing to capture that,” Myers said.
In high school, Myers said Smart was always challenging herself and wanted to go above and beyond expectations.
Lloyd Triggs, another of Smart’s former art teachers, said Smart was often doing work outside of class and would often ask questions to better understand the material.
“She was definitely a standout student from the start, very driven, and she was very open to different types of media,” Triggs said. “Drawing was definitely her strength, but she was interested in technique and would run with suggestions.”
BGHS has a four-year art program that allows students to gain experience creating art through a variety of different mediums. Smart said the experience she gained through the art program is something she will always be grateful for.
Smart recently moved back to Bowling Green with her husband and four children. Her job allows her to work from home a lot and she said she loves being able to be support her family while also getting to spend time with her kids.
“I love seeing them grow and getting to see how they develop each day,” Smart said.
Both Triggs and Myers said it is encouraging to see former students pursue careers in the arts.
“Kids change their minds, but it’s neat to see that she’s kind of stayed on that path, still enjoys it,” Myers said. “I know she’s got a big family now, with four kids, but she’s still going strong with it and so that’s what’s really cool to see that she still enjoys what she does.”
