We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kyle McCullough a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kyle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

Every time my wife and I walked past the Apple store I found myself inside drawing with an ipad. Never once did I think I would own one. Solely a traditional artist I was very intimated by digital art at the time. I had not made any digital art and wrote it off, out of fear. But that year when I opened my Christmas present there it was. A brand new iPad with an apple pencil. Overwhelmed not by its price but by the gesture alone. The amount of faith she has in my abilities as an artist is unparalleled. On the back she had a custom laser engraving that read “To my loving husband and the most the talented person I know”.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Kyle McCullough and I am obsessed with art. Growing up in the northeast, the changing seasons greatly shaped me – providing an evolving light that deeply affected my suburban landscape. The only thing that affected me more then my environment is family.

Having a supportive family means everything. My Mom showing me anything is possible. My Dad taught me true life perspective and grit. I have a musical older brother who pushed me out of every comfort zone possible and an identical twin brother with an immensely critical love for fine art.

My work has deep roots in film and comics from 80’s and 90’s pop culture (as well as my favorite time period of art, the Golden Age of Illustration). Man, when Edward Scissor hands walks down that hallway, gripping the walls with his blades knowing his world just turned upside down, it still gives me chills. Or Andy Dufresne shaking bits of his prison walls out of his pockets. Marty McFly running through the Delorean’s tracks of fire. Seeing Predator take off his mask for the first time with my brothers while eating peanut m&m’s in our basement. Those nuggets of creativity (and the memories they created for me) are what inspire me to make art. So many of these things seem to bubble through into my work. Ultimately the key is to know yourself inside and out. Because when you do, your work is inevitably more honest.

Oil and digital painting are my two favorite mediums to work in. Oil painting is a rollercoaster of emotions for me. One second you can be like “I am amazing.” and seconds later your blood is boiling. As far as my approach to painting, I am definitely a “shapes” person. Ha. I ask myself this every day, “Are you a shapes person or line person?” My ideas and compositions are always lead by shapes. and their values. Ultimately my obsession in understanding light, form, mood and style are what keep me going though. I really am in love with the creative process and everything that comes with it.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I once saw a facebook posting from the Art Director of VICE magazine that said “Looking for interesting new artists”. PLEASE SEND LINK. So I posted my link in the comments section with absolutely no hope in getting noticed. It was the 79th comment buried among all the artist links.

Later on that night I asked my girlfriend to be my wife! I had completely forgotten about the long shot website link I posted. But then checked my inbox and VICE wanted to work together on a project that felt like it was made for me. But the art director saw my facebook status and new the engagement just happened. He said “Congrats, I guess your a little busy at the moment”. Despite wanting to do nothing but celebrate with my wife I spent the next two days chugging energy drinks and creating three full color illustrations with a insanely tight deadline. About a year later my wife surprised me with a copy of the VICE magazine I was published in.

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

I think the number one thing our society needs to do is believe in real people making real honest work. To support A.i. (Artificial Intelligence) software is to support plagiarism at scale. The only reason these softwares are leveling the playing field is because they are standing on the backs of creative greatness and destroying it from the inside out. We live in a time where for the first time ever we cannot predict the creative future of the Art or Design world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kylemcculloughart.com
• Instagram: @kylemcculloughart
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kylemcculloughart

Image Credits
Picture of Kyle McCullough in studio shot by Jasmin Mora