Hailing from Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island, BC, Randy Frederick Smith—better known in the art world as Randoid or just Doid—has been creating art for as long as he can remember. A proudly self-taught experimentalist, Randy has been pushing creative boundaries for 46 years and counting. Since June, he’s been soaking up the inspiration of the Alberni Valley, his home for the last three years.
Randy works out of his home studio but is often out and about, camera in hand, collecting visual sparks from the world around him. Whether it’s the curve of a car, the mood of a cloudy sky, or a fleeting expression on a stranger’s face, he’s always absorbing the colors, shapes, and feelings that later find their way into his art.
Since 2006, acrylic on canvas has been one of his main mediums, but his creative curiosity doesn’t stop there. Randy is currently teaching himself digital art and film, diving headfirst into new territory like only a true experimentalist can. “I love everything about being creative,” Randy says. “Getting into my own head and trying to mimic the colours and feelings I experience in the world—it’s my way of making sense of it all.”
Randy’s subject matter ranges widely, but some recurring themes include the human form, classic cars, rugged landscapes, and wildly imaginative characters straight from his mind. His work tends toward the lowbrow, blending gritty humor with bold visuals and raw emotion.
When it comes to inspiration, it’s simple: people, animals, and machines. They all fuel the fire.
A bit of backstory: Randy spent 25 years in the Whistler area, where he co-founded and hosted group art shows with a collective called Blind Mute Productions. He also worked for many years in the film industry, specifically in the art department, and guided backcountry expeditions using ATVs, snowcats, and snowmobiles. (He can even ride an ATV backwards—no joke.)
Want to connect or commission something from Randy? He’s open to it—just shoot him a DM:
Facebook: Doid
Instagram: @rowdy.roady.randy.randoid
