For art, putting on a happy face

You may not recognize Bren Bataclan's name right off the top, but by now perhaps you've heard his story: a Philippines-born computer animator lured here from Ohio by the dot-com boom, then left jobless by its bust, he returned in 2003 to his childhood love -- painting.

But the fledgling artist did so with a twist: He chose to leave many of his quirky, cartoonlike characters on canvas in public places all around the city for passersby to take for free. The only catch was found in an attached note that said, "This painting is yours for free if you promise to smile at random people."

Artist for his times or marketing genius?

Evidently, a bit of both: Bataclan's freebie art pieces generated buzz and press coverage -- there have been eight mentions in the last 2 1/2 years, including several longer articles, in this paper alone -- and he found himself with an ever-growing circle of fans.

Amy LeBrun of Watertown is among that number. The 28-year-old ticket sales associate in Cambridge was particularly smitten by a Bataclan painting depicting a bride and groom, which she saw hanging in Christopher's Restaurant and Bar in Porter Square two years ago. Its asking price was $195.

LeBrun had a special reason for her attraction.

"I got engaged in August," she said. "My fiance and I have been thinking of getting it for our wedding."

Then, two weeks ago, serendipity struck.

"I had an appointment and walked across to Peet's and saw the painting on a bench next to a gentleman. He said, 'It's not mine. It's yours if you want it.' I started to cry. I looked at it for a second and said, this is the painting."

Shaking and crying, she called her fiance, Tom Stepsis.

While LeBrun's story did not make the next phase of Bataclan's oeuvre, scores of other tales from those who found his paintings are incorporated into it. "The Smile Project," a book scheduled for February release by Gingko Press, will tell the tale not only of his unusual artistic journey, but also the responses of many recipients of his creative largesse.

Among them is Mary Hansen, 78, of Cambridge, who was one of the first 30 to find a Bataclan painting, that of a purple character with a red bow, in 2003. "I took it seriously and thought it was charming and fun," she said. She has a few Bataclan paintings, but one of her favorites is the painting of a gray-and-white-striped cat that hangs on the door to her living room, as a sort of welcome to her broad collection of modern and abstract works. It, and she, will be featured in the book.

Bataclan is working on his next project, "Smile America," a plan to leave 15 paintings each in 15 New England and Midwest states, then eventually cover all 50 states. Once he's done that, he says, his next project will be "Smile World."

"I absolutely love what I do," said Bataclan. "This is my first pain-free work. It's just pure joy."