Artist Profile: Kevin Stark
Kevin Stark in his studio
Meet Kevin Stark, an artist who doesn’t just create — he transforms. Through his playful use of multiple personas, he brings a wide range of styles to life. In this thought-provoking interview, Stark shares insights into his unique process, daily studio routine, and the creative force that keeps him constantly evolving.
Could you share a bit about who you are and what inspired you to pursue an art career?
First off, I must say, I never pursued an art career—it pursued me. My father, when he was alive, used to tell the story that even as a child, at four years of age, I would say I was going to be an artist. And for as long as I can remember, I’ve had the drive to create. Whether painting, drawing, sculpting, or making music, I’ve always been drawn to making things, as if the creative spirit drives me instead of me steering it. So, to share a bit of myself, my entire life has been spent being creative. Every day, I awaken with new ideas and new creative pursuits.
Your process involves embodying different 'art personas,' each leading to unique works of art. Could you describe this process for our readers?
I have always explored different techniques and mediums in art. Like most artists, I have an overabundance of art supplies, and I love trying new tools and techniques. In my explorations, I’ve created works in many different styles—many of which are completely contrary to each other. So much so that many of my one-man art shows have been perceived as "group" shows.
So, I hit upon the idea to give each different style of work a different artist name and persona. This makes it easier sometimes for the viewer to understand my work a bit better, as I hang the work of each “artist” together, as opposed to mixing them all, which is what I did before I created the different personas.
I feel there’s a strong lack of humor in the art world, and I just can’t survive without humor. I’ll admit that this multi-personality approach to my work came about originally as a joke. A fellow gallery owner wanted to feature me in an art walk. So on the spot, I made up an artist, his background, and the kind of work he created. Well, once I had done that, I had to deliver... and deliver I did. In under three weeks, I crafted an artist and a large enough body of work to fill my gallery for the art walk. I shaved off a goatee I’d had for years, donned a short hair wig and dark glasses, developed a different voice and way of standing, and hence, was born the artist, Red Kittens.
This also allowed me to delve into performance art, as each artist I created had to be different from the last. I’ve always loved theater, but I disliked learning lines. Each artist is given a backstory, personality traits, accents, and other distinguishing trademarks. If one of my artists has a solo show, I appear at the opening as that artist and stay in character the entire time. Each one can talk about their particular work in their own particular manner. It's quite a challenge to stay in character, but it’s also a lot of fun.
Can you describe a typical day or routine in your studio?
I generally awaken around 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning. Anyone with cats will understand why. I feed the cats and spend my early morning reading, relaxing, and oftentimes jotting down ideas for paintings or drawings, writing song lyrics, or practicing guitar.
After a large breakfast, I get to my downtown studio around 11:00 am. Generally, because of the amount of drying time that oil paintings require, I’m working on three to four paintings at a time. I work on acrylic paintings while waiting for the oils to reach a point where I can get back to them. My studio space is also my gallery space and where my band rehearses and performs, so I have a large area to work in. I’m surrounded by all my creative tools, and everything I need to create is always close at hand.
I usually break for lunch around 3:00 pm and get back to my studio around 4:30 or so. I tend to work until 7:00 or 8:00 pm and have dinner around 9:00. After dinner, I may go back to my studio to paint or play music. I’m usually in bed by midnight, and the whole cycle begins again at 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning... because of the cats, of course.
What materials and techniques do you prefer to work with, and why?
Like most artists who start young, pencil drawing was my first real medium, and I still enjoy it today. Every piece starts with a pencil, whether that’s a rough sketch of an idea or the drawing done on a canvas as the first step of a painting.
In painting, I love oil. I love the flow of the paint, the almost unlimited blending time, and even the smell of the painting medium. I started painting in oils while a senior in high school, and I’ve never stopped loving it. I prefer to paint on wood panels instead of canvas. I like the smoothness of the surface, as opposed to the weave of canvas. Many of my paintings require detailed work, and the wood panel surface provides the ability to achieve the detail I love.
I also enjoy working in acrylic paint, for the opposite reason I love oil—it dries really fast! Three of the artist personas I’ve developed paint in acrylic, though one has just "discovered" oil painting. I love a lot of color, and acrylic certainly delivers in that department.
What do you hope visitors will take away from your exhibition?
I hope visitors have fun with my exhibition. I have many interests and an array of different styles. I hope people can enjoy that about my work. I think people have many sides to their personalities, and I believe artists may have even more sides than the average person. The public, and especially the art world, expects an artist to do ONE THING, and that one thing is supposed to define that artist for a lifetime. Hopefully, my "one thing" is that I don’t have ONE thing—but that I have many!
I want to make something very clear, though. I don’t paint for visitors, the public, critics, or anybody. I create because I HAVE TO! I am compelled to paint and make music! This isn’t a hobby or a job—this is what makes me get up every morning. Certainly, most artists want to be appreciated, and they want their art to be liked by others, but that is never a concern of mine. When an idea pops into my head, I don’t think about whether viewers will like it or not. That thought never enters my mind. My artistic pursuits are my own. It’s my own personal satisfaction I’m concerned about when I’m trying to master a technique or complete a painting. I am the only viewer I’m working to please.
“Like most artists who start young, pencil drawing was my first real medium, and I still enjoy it today. Every piece starts with a pencil, whether that’s a rough sketch of an idea or the drawing done on a canvas as the first step of a painting.”
- Kevin Stark
Is there any advice you would give to aspiring artists based on your experiences?
My advice is to do the work. Paint, draw, sculpt—do whatever it is you want to do, but DO IT! I have young artists come to my studio and say they want to make a living at art, and I say, “Great! Show me some work.” They have none. Or they have no finished pieces. I say, “You can’t be an artist if you have no work.” You can’t just wish it so. GO MAKE ART!!!
What themes or subjects inspire your current artwork the most?
At times, I stop and think to myself, what is it in creating art that I might be avoiding? What am I not doing and why? For instance, I’ve always liked to draw or paint people, but I mostly drew or painted portraits of men because they were easier. Painting women was harder because of the subtle coloring in their skin tones. Men were craggy—a lot of reference points to go by. I decided I would try to break that habit of doing what was easy and dive into what was harder for me, and try to achieve a better result. So now, painting portraits of women is what I love to do.
That same concept of tackling subjects I’ve avoided in the past is what led to my current set of works, which are just now emerging from my easel. I’ve never painted landscapes, so I’m working on a series of landscape paintings. Of course, this has led to a possible sixth artist and his work, “suburban landscapes”.
Are there any particular artists or movements that have influenced your work?
Initially, I was influenced by the Old Masters, but I am influenced by everything around me. Anything and everything can become a spark for a painting or a lyric or something totally new to me. I believe the imagination is a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it gets.
How do you stay motivated and engaged in your work?
As I said earlier, I’m always motivated. This is something I HAVE to do! It’s not difficult to stay motivated, and my brain is always engaged. What’s difficult is staying uninterrupted. Life gets in the way of creating art. As an artist, most people think you don’t have a job—that somehow you’re free to pick up the dry cleaning or go to the grocery store, because you’re “just painting.” Unfortunately, we live in a country that considers art “playtime,” and artists as people who don’t have a REAL job.
How has this latest series contributed to your artistic growth or perspective?
I’m not sure what “latest series” you’re referring to, since every series I do is ongoing daily. My artistic growth is happening all the time. I’m always trying to stretch what I do and seek out new things to create, new paintings to paint, and new music to play. I don’t see my journey ending until I’ve breathed my last breath.
