We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kevin Herdeman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kevin below.

Kevin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Everything I do starts with an idea of how I want something to look and then through trial and error making it happen. I don’t think I needed to speed up my process, I’m ok with how long it took. Seeing things/stuff for more than it is has been an essential skill.
Time is the only obstacle I can think of.

Kevin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I make mixed media art in the form of “sculptures” which I call MeltMonsters and make mixed media “paintings” on glass in between working my day job as a pipe fitter, making and releasing music (currently -Ancient Radiations (“solo”), HUVR (guitar), Murder (bass) and an “internet band” called UGLYHUMAN (drums, samples, noise) and being a husband and father of 2. Ive made art in one way or another for as long as I can remember. In the early 2000’s I started painted on glass using mostly other materials than paint. I have a “system” of making those paintings and it works. For years this was my primary media but in 2010 with the arrival of my first daughter and moving to a new house that no longer had a large studio space, I switched to making my “MeltMonsters” which started out as my version of Japanese kaiju especially with Hedorah in mind. They started as strategically melted soft plastic but over time started to have fur added to resemble “big foot”. Being a fan of old Sci-Fi, aliens, cryptids, pop art, graffiti, heavy metal, low-brow art and so on has clearly made its “inspiration” known when seeing my art. Over the years, I’ve made my “melt” version of characters from cartoons/shows and real life people like myself, friends, The Elephant Man, DEVO, The AquaBats and many others. Ive shown my work across the US in bars, tattoo shops, coffee shops, galleries and conventions and there are collectors all over the globe that have my art. Although as of late I’ve slowed down on the amount of art/music I make, I still make time to create something to see and or hear. At this point I don’t feel there’s anything new or original out there but my stuff is just created in a different way which in turn makes it stand out as “original”. I’ve tried to create as many different pieces of art over the years that would in some way, make whoever sees them laugh or just feel a little joy about it. I make art because I enjoy it but ultimately I want it in the hands of others. Usually there’s no “deep meaning” as I feel it can put limitations on a piece. I’ve found some collectors do not like my approach in that aspect, but I want the viewer to feeI whatever the piece makes them feel. I keep it simple and fun and make what I’d like to see on a wall or shelf. In doing that, I hope the viewer digs it as much as I do. I feel making art that you think “everyone wants to see” is counterproductive.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Now a days the simplest way, that also takes little to no effort would be to share the stuff you like/see on social media with your friends/followers. Buy art, commission art, make art, look at art, listen to art…

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I just want to make fun stuff that people enjoy. I want people to smile when they see stuff I make.

Contact Info:

• Website: Kevinherdeman.com
• Instagram: @staticfromspace