Brian Head is the prominence that gives this resort its name. Soaring up to 11,312 feet high, it's the tallest peak on the distinctive Markagunt Plateau.

While it's technically Montana that is Big Sky Country, I've got desert skies on the mind. Here is a look at one of the more unusual ski areas I've had the pleasure of painting.

Now I'm working on something expansive. If you get my [snow] drift ❄️

There is a chill in the evening air and the possibility of skiing some runs doesn’t seem so far off these days…

Working on the details is definitely building anticipation for the ski season ahead. Anyone making big travel plans? #Skiing #Snowboarding #CardronaNZ

One of the biggest challenges in this career is to subtly manipulate 2D images to make them comprehensible to the skier on the snow. Every mountain will be defined by its various aspects.

Zoom out just a little bit…nearing completion on this major terrain expansion for Cardrona NZ. Their winter is coming to a close but I’m excited to pivot over to another resort with an exciting expansion on the horizon... #Skiing #Snowboarding #CardronaNZ

It may look like a maze now, but soon it will all start to make sense… #WinterIsComing #Skiing #Snowboarding

I typically work from top to bottom when painting a map for a ski resort. That’s because the expanse of the sky is more easily applied with an even hand and an airbrush. Once complete I’ll then head for the slopes and begin applying the darkest shadows. #SkiUtah #WinterIsComing

The final sketch from a backside expansion that is now in the painting phase. It’s been a busy fall in the studio and I’m looking forward to escaping for some turns in the coming months. #CardronaNZ #Soho2025 #CardronaParks #WinterIsComing

Once the sky is applied with an airbrush, it’s time to tackle a few shadows and lay the groundwork for what will become the mapped ski slopes. At this point, my client has approved an initial graphite sketch, any corrections or tweaks have been executed and it’s time to paint!

Progress continues on this new map for another Utah resort. This isn’t the only Utah resort I’m currently working on. It’ll be an exciting season for new maps in the Beehive State, home of the “Greatest Snow on Earth.” #WinterIsComing #Skiing #Snowboarding #SkiUtah

The iconic silhouette of this sky scraping peak will surely reveal the identity of this boutique ski area tucked away in the “North Fork” of a cozy canyon. #WinterIsComing #Skiing #Snowboarding #SkiUtah

Hey! I know that map...

.Deer Valley Resort dropped their new terrain map for 2025-26. It was a challenge to paint 100 new ski runs + 10 new chairlifts into a seamless landscape with their already impressive terrain footprint. It was the honor of a lifetime to paint Deer Valley’s bright future. #SkiUtah

How does an artist fit 2,300 more acres of lifts and runs - and thousands of trees - onto a ski map? Ask Rad Smith, who painted the newest one for Deer Valley Resort. sltrib.com/news/environme… The Salt Lake Tribune SkiUtah #deervalley #expandedexcellence

It took Rad Smith 70 hours to paint all those happy little trees – and everything else. buff.ly/Q5pSodF

Thanks to the The Salt Lake Tribune and reporter Julie Jag for this piece about the new Deer Valley Resort map. I’m sure many of you are more than ready to go ski that new terrain! #Skiing #SkiUtah #SkiTheDifference #DeerValley sltrib.com/news/environme…

After 70 hours of painting and countless hours of research, Rad Smith will soon get the well-earned pleasure of skiing the slopes that he painted. buff.ly/Q5pSodF

Thanks to Utah’s local KUER 90.1 station for the chat about my Deer Valley Resort terrain map. Seventy hours was well worth the effort to participate in this historic ski resort expansion in some small way. #Skiing #SkiUtah #SkiTheDifference #DeerValley kuer.org/arts-culture-e…