Smith, Eugene: - Eugene Smith was born in San Francisco, California and spent his formative years in the small city of Pasadena just outside of Los Angeles. Growing up in a suburb allowed Eugene to cultivate his imagination at a young age, and he began to read voraciously as well as illustrate the countless characters and stories that he conjured up in his mind. When he didn't spend his time drawing he consumed comic books, literature, and countless genre films that catapulted him into new and exciting worlds. Eugene studied painting and drawing at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.