Interview
Kevin Donnelly
Kevin has drawn most of his life and went to college looking to get into the Newspapers doing satirical cartoons. He had some illustrations published in the Warwick Beacon, and Kent County Times. Being a typical starving artist with student loans piling up, his dad convinced him to come to work at AMGEN. By 2016, he had all but given up on art, when they discovered his father had developed a brain tumor. The day he went for his biopsy, Kevin brought a drawing pad with him for some reason, and while they waited to find out what was going on, he started the first drawing in about 5 years. It was sort of like therapy for dealing with the stress of his father getting diagnosed with cancer, going through treatment, and unfortunately passing in 2017. He would grab his pencil and drawing pad and go to coffee shops, or beer bars and dive into a drawing as a way of trying to deal with the horrible situation. He continued to draw ever since then. He entered the 2020 Gallery Night show and was informed that his drawing of the “Superman Building” in Providence had the most comments from the guests so they would do a “Peoples Choice” award in 2021 and he won that very award with his “I-way Bridge” drawing! Kevin has done commissions and sold some work. He’d like it to turn into a full time job but even if it doesn’t, he still enjoys it and it reminds him of his father!
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I've basically drawn my whole life, and wanted my career to be a political cartoonist, but after graduating college and not really having any luck getting my art career going other than having some of my cartoons published in the Kent County Times and Warwick Beacon. My dad told me I had to get a real job. He got me into AMGEN and I have been there 19 years, it is a great job and company but art has always been my passion. By 2016, I had all but given up on art, and hadn't really drawn anything in about 5 years when out of nowhere my dad developed a brain tumor. The day my mother and I went to RI Hospital for his biopsy, I brought along a drawing pad I had left over from my college years and started working on a Ramones drawing to take my mind of this awful situation. Drawing became my therapy, and I would go to a coffee shop or a local bar and do some ‘drinking and drawing.’ Unfortunately, my Dad passed away in 2017, but him getting cancer was the catalyst that got me back into art and I have not stopped drawing since March 3, 2016. I would like it to turn into a full time career, but even it does not pan out it always reminds me of my father and I truly love to create art and share that connection with people through my art.”
What inspires you?
“I love when I see scenery or buildings that give you a certain positive feeling, and of course I am a movie buff so I love to draw my favorite movies/TV shows and give that nostalgic feeling by drawing memorable scenes/characters.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“As I had stated earlier, in my original art career I wanted to be a political artist. I am down the center and can make fun of both sides equally, but how divisive politics has become I decided to draw universal things that aim to make you feel good when viewing them.”
How would you describe your work?
“I would describe it as detail obsessed, with trying to cram in as much as possible to impress the fan as well as myself. Artists are always their own worst critic, but I try to impress myself more than anyone and outdo myself on each piece.”
Which artists influence you most?
“There is no artist in particular that I ever felt I needed to be like, I always just wanted to be Kevin Donnelly the artist and not be Kevin Donnelly the artist emulating another artist. I've always loved comic book art, the Sunday comics, even the drawings that used to be in the old BLDG 19 advertisements, I would see that stuff and it would inspire me to create my own art in my own style.”
“Artists are always their own worst critic, but I try to impress myself more than anyone and outdo myself on each piece.”
What is your creative process like?
“When it is a location or particular interesting building, I will take pictures of it that is interesting to me, then I will draw that picture and change colors as I see fit to enhance the location. With movies and TV shows, I will look for scenes/interesting facial expressions from the actors that fans will remember (Arnold, Stallone, Jim Carrey etc.) and duplicate them in my drawing to elicit that connection being a fan of that movie would recognize.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Art is very important because it can be a very useful tool in changing public views through political commentary, or on any issues throughout the world, and it is also a positive way to connect humanity and bring everyone together. Art will always be art and the one thing that threatens that is all this AI garbage, which is being designed by people that have no artistic, musical, acting talent to cut out the real artists in the world by having a stupid computer just make it for them. Leave art to the real artists and have AI concentrate on the chores people have to do that keeps them from making art.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I had recent exhibitions 2020 : Gallery Night Providence - #1 fan voted drawing of the event "Superman Building -Providence", and they said because of this they would be adding a fan voted event in 2021 2021: Gallery Night Providence - Won the fan voted event that I inspired with my previous years submission with my "I-Way Bridge - Providence" drawing 2021-2023 : I have been part of "Windows on Pawtucket" art shows 2023: Art Show held at AS220.”
Website: artportable.com
Instagram: @mickowino
