Bren Bataclan's cheerful cartoon creatures have been exhibited in some high places: at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, in Logan International Airport and even on a Girl Scout patch. But lately he's been leaving his artwork outside unemployment offices and closed-down retail stores across the country. For free. It all started when Bataclan moved to Boston from the Midwest to teach computer graphics. After he lost his job, he started painting what are now his signature characters. He sold 49 in two days and wanted to show his gratitude somehow. It finally came to him: He would give away his artwork and ask just one thing in return. He attached this note and his website address, bataclan.com to each canvas: "This painting is yours if you promise to smile at random people more often." It was the beginning of his Smile Project.
