We were lucky to catch up with Kevin Winger recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kevin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?
It can be challenging to always channel creativity or “be in the zone” I think about the past two years and the public health crisis and all the time at home that most of us had all of the sudden. One would think that this would be a boon for artists, being able to really concentrate and be prolific with all this new-found time. It was quite the opposite for me, I focused more on process and conceptualization of new art projects during this time and less on actual painting. This felt bittersweet to me because the real moment of achievement and validation comes from completing or resolving a new work. So, to assume that artists having additional time to create, automatically translates into increased production, is not always true. It’s more about the emotional environment and freedom to channel the creative flow. For me it isn’t just a faucet that can be turned at will, its a more like a river whose flow one must submit to, but sometimes there are rapids or the water is just too damn cold to jump into!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a fine artist or painter working in oil on panel. My works are highly textured and chromatic, rendered in a contemporary style. My subject matter ranges from nautical, figural, landscapes with emphasis on trees and more recently on abstract conceptions influenced by spiritual explorations. I came to painting early in life as my parents enrolled me in private lessons for a number of years during childhood. I subsequently dabbled in photography and music but eventually came back to painting. I discarded all brushes and embraced the use of palette knives as my primary tool of creation in 2007 and have since completed over 800 works. In 2010 I opened Mod-Est Studio Gallery in Liberty Station. In 2020 due to pandemic related issues, I closed the studio gallery and ported my business to an online model which included art festivals participation as well. I have been especially fond of the relationships with collectors and enthusiasts that have sprung from my work as well as the commission process. It is a welcome challenge to create the perfect work for a client that enhances their space and still leaves me ample latitude for pure expression.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
I love NFTs! NFTs are the future alongside traditional, physical art. I create one of a kind paintings that are highly textured, they cannot be reproduced accurately as prints etc. NFTs give a whole new audience access to my work who would otherwise have missed out on the singular piece. I currently have a selection of my work as very limited NFTs on the WAX blockchain, available to digital collectors.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Submission to the process. Letting go of preconceived outcomes or expectations. Painting to me is an exploration, it is a playful discovery. Yes, there is room for editing, but being overly critical during the creative process can hamper serendipity and stifle innovation. I wish I had learned to let go earlier and submit to the flow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kevinwinger.com/#/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krwinger/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mod.Est.Gallery
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-winger-581b4122/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModEstGallery
Image Credits
These are all my photos.