See things in a new way.
It’s magic.
Est. 2025
| Minneapolis, MN
Sun Rain is the independent creative studio of Minneapolis-based visual artist and designer Adam Paxton Smith. Adam holds a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and has served numerous industries in various creative roles including production artist, graphic designer, and digital marketing specialist. He has also maintained a freelance design practice since 2017, creating imaginative brand identities and collateral for clients of varying sizes and fields.
Artist Statement
Magic happens when we see things in a new way. Like the feeling of standing in a sunshower, facilitating the moment of openness to the wonders of existing is the pursuit of my creative practice. With an approach wandering somewhere between scientific study and raw emotional expression, I take in my mental and physical surroundings and highlight what stands out as unexpected, visceral, or mysterious. Raised on science books, fantasy stories, and counterculture music, I process these inspirations and create work that blends folk and mythic aesthetics with the precision of an encyclopedia and the voice of a garage punk band. Steered by big ideas and grounded in a dedication to craft, my art aims to instill wonder and shift perspectives.
Whether working on a personal piece, a commissioned artwork, or a freelance design gig, I bring the same level of thoughtfulness and exploratory spirit to each practice. All of my projects start with an idea, sparked by observation of a fact, emotion, or problem. Then, with a designer’s knack for visual problem-solving and an artist’s need to find and express a point of view, I identify what needs to be made and make it. I take my time with projects, exploring concepts thoroughly and learning from clients attentively. However, my small size as a independent practice allows me to nimbly flex with shifting timelines, budgets, and creative goals.
Principles
My creative pursuits are held up by six main pillars:
Observe -- Pay attention. Slow down. Be quiet in the face of beauty. Be focused in the face of pain.
Reflect -- Think deeply. Notice feelings. Consider connections, consequences, and context.
Interpret -- Attempt to answer: what does it all mean? Bridge gaps in understanding. Speak to others’ experience.
Imagine -- See the world as it could be. Embrace fantasy. Dive into the unknown and describe possible futures.
Educate -- Tell the truth. Respect the audience.
Celebrate -- Find the joy. Absorb the goodness of the universe and point it out to others.
While I lean on all of these principles to do my work, certain ones are expressed more clearly in certain projects. I call this out on the individual project pages, so please explore the work and discover the thought I put into each piece.