We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brian Kostar a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Brian, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
, I navigate through the real world’s via sarcasm and puns as a personal coping mechanism, however that often translates over into my work. Thankfully I have a hyperactive brain, it doesn’t seem to want to shut off at times lol . But seriously, It can be a double edged sword at times…it is truly a blessing and a curse. The abundance of ideas sometimes makes settling on the main ones to focus on challenging. I feel like it leads me down the path to burnout too because I’m always wanting to create and not take the necessary time to recharge. That being said, I wouldn’t have it any other way, my humor and perspective on life has gotten myself and others through some rough times
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m an artist who likes to dabble in a little bit of everything, but my main medium of choice is acrylic paint. I’m known for bold lines & illustrative surreal designs. I like to incorporate weird mash-ups, puns/wordplay, & ironic imagery at times….I call my work “Art for the beautifully weird”.
Most of my subject matter is animals, oftentimes alligators & other FL wildlife. But my signature trademark to every piece I create is having a skull be present somewhere in the piece….sometimes it’s out in the forefront in the open, other times hidden in the details. Whatever the case, there will always be a skull present. Now, why is this?
I never really painted or used color until I was introduced to the Mexican holiday of “Day of the Dead” . Their bold use of color and patterns that they used to adorn these sugar skull was so beautiful and inspiring. I wanted to celebrate life with color and show honor to the culture that inspired me without appropriating it. The skulls are always there as a reminder of what inspired my journey into painting. Another part of my response is it’s part of my beliefs that no matter who or where you are from, your age, race, religion, sexuality, or gender….we are all the same building blocks underneath & we will eventually return to that form at some time in our life. In that way, we are all connected.
Sustainably is a huge aspect of my work as well, so I’ve been diving into the world of 3D printing and modeling to further develop my craft and ability to transform recycled materials into new art to live on. By introducing a few new ideas to things that already exist, I can create something new and exciting
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I’d have to start off by putting yourself in the right environment to grow. If you put yourself in a place or surround yourself with people that have low ambitions or negative mindsets, you’re always going to be battling uphill. Having a strong support system is key, whether that be via friends , family, or a community you are try to be a part of. Those support systems are out there in the community, however you gotta put the work in and go find them.
I’d say secondly, be resilient . I think this applies to many people, there are gonna be a lot of “no’s” and “sorry we’re looking to go another direction “ in life ….thats inevitable. Being resilient and being an to get back up and dust yourself off is what will get you to that place you want and need to be. I used to be my biggest critic and own worst enemy at times reading into these rejections, however now I know it’s all about being consistent and keep doing what you do.
And lastly, and actually piggybacking off of the last part , is consistency….and the consistency to keep growing. Growing includes making mistakes, because with those mistakes you see what does and doesn’t work. The key takeaway in the times where it doesn’t, is just to grow and not repeat it. Mistakes allow us a chance for reflection at times and can sometimes make us better. It’s all about how we get back up from those falls
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
I think the toughest challenge at the moment is the economic climate we’re currently living in, people are having to really weigh their choices now more than ever. Justifying buying art over groceries and basic needs seems like more of a luxury than a necessity, and I get it…I’ve been working class and living paycheck to paycheck for 90% of my life since age 16. People gotta live & I don’t blame them for that. We’re all out here just trying to navigate this crazy thing we call life. Everything happens in cycles though, & I truly believe eventually things will get easier for all of us. Ironically, In these crazy times it always feels like we need art just a little bit more to make it through
The only thing I can ask of people, is if you want something fun and different, hit up your local art scene instead of places like Temu, SHEIN, or even Amazon. You’d be shocked as to what you can get from artists in your area for relatively the same price and so much more unique
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.kostarkustoms.com/
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- Other: Wholesale purchase options via Faire https://faire.com/direct/kostarkustoms
