Alex Kuno drawings are the kaleidoscopic and multiform result of a mixed media technique in which ink is predominantly used. Kuno brings us into a world of “twisted organic beings that borrow elements of plant life, anatomy, and the natural world“; there is a taste of illuminated manuscripts and old Japanese ink art melted with a contemporary view with a result of a dichotomy dimension of style, that’s what keep us to watch and learn from Kuno’s artworks.
Where do you get your inspiration?
This is a boring answer, but I’m fascinated by the news and how quickly our world is changing, so my work has been a way to mentally and emotionally process those changes.
Which is the reletioship and influence beetween your cultural backgorund (country, studies, etc.) and your artworks?
As a white man in America I’m always confronted by how the things other white American men have impacted my country and the world throughout history. I don’t see my artwork as overtly political art, but I do feel like I approach my themes and style and narratives journalistically.
What are you much focused in?
Right now my work is becoming much more erotic and graphically sexual with heavy spiritual and science fiction elements. My early work during the ambush and Obama years was about my feelings about government secrets and ulterior motives and shifting political undercurrents in our daily lives we can perceive but can’t identify. Now however, since our world is in such a fragile place I’m looking for a utopian solution in my work, to explore possibilities in other dimensions and spiritual planes, hoping that after we’re gone the gods will procreate and raise a newer, more compassionate species.
Have you encountered any difficulties when you first started your art/freelance career?
I’m laughing because my career has been nothing but dumb mistakes and self-inflicted problems. In fact, much of my early artwork was about my anxieties over lost sales or exhibitions falling through, or my worries and hopes about the success of the exhibits I’m working toward at that moment. I jumped headlong into this work without a backup plan and I am still making it up as I go along. I’ve been very lucky to have had a lot of support starting out, but my career didn’t come without making serious sacrifices.
Over these years, what is the most important thing you have learnt from your profession?
I think I’m learning that as morbid or grotesque as my work and worldview can be sometimes it comes from a very hopeful and optimistic place. As the effects of climate change are exposing our impulse toward authoritarianism, things like hope and optimism and empathy can present themselves in unlikely ways.
Do you think that a creative job is just creativity or it’s discipline too?
Since I was a boy I knew that when I grew up I wanted to spend my life sitting in a room drawing from my imagination and now I find that I’m doing just that. But I think that old say “Success is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration” holds mainly true. Like many other working artists and illustrators, the vast majority of the daily work is promotion, research, maintaining contacts and haggling with clients.
Are you currently work on new projects?
I’m going to be opening my studio to the public from April 27-29th so I am producing new work for that as well as 4 small local shows in May. Later this year I’ll be having shows in Portland Oregon, New York City, Colorado and LA. In the meantime I’m always making new original work and prints and selling them through my online store.
“I’m learning that as morbid or grotesque as my work and worldview can be sometimes it comes from a very hopeful and optimistic place“
“I’m fascinated by the news and how quickly our world is changing, so my work has been a way to mentally and emotionally process those changes”
“Success is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration
[…] the vast majority of the daily work is
promotion, research, maintaining contacts and haggling with clients”
Artist Website > alexkunoartwork.com
Instagram > @alexkuno
Facebook > facebook.com/alexkuno.artwork
Patreon > patreon.com/alexkuno
Etsy > etsy.com/shop/alexkunoartwork