For the last week of the semester we'd like to feature one more student before the break. Here is Senior Colin Kettler!
1. Tell us about yourself! What’s your name, where are you from?
My name is Colin Kettler and I am from Kansas City.
2. Why illustration? What brought you to KCAI?
I came to KCAI to study film with little drawing experience. I fell in love with drawing in my foundations year and I ended up going into the painting department. I loved the creative process and the experience of the artwork that was being made around me. I started to crave commercial knowledge and a new point of view so I came to the Illustration department.
3. What medium do you prefer?
I prefer paint of any kind. I started with oil paint, then I moved into watercolor, and now I am exploring digital painting. I have recently started painting murals. I also love drawing with charcoal and ballpoint pen.
4. Favorite project thus far and why?
My favorite project was the layered narrative image project in my narrative class my Junior year. I had a great time painting it and I think it was an important piece for my development.
5. Who and or what is an inspiration for you in art making?
I am inspired by my friends and family and also by my faith in Jesus Christ. My favorite painters are J.M.W Turner, John Singer Sargent, and Wayne Thiebaud, and my favorite digital painters are Atey Ghailan, and Pascal Campion.
6. Go to tool for sketching and idea making?
My sketchbook and my journal are the idea generating tools for me. I find that I need to write out my thoughts and make a list, and then after that make thumbnail sketches. The list puts my mind at ease and then I am free to create sketches and visual solutions. Lately I have been doing sketches in Photoshop and painting over them. I also work from personal photography.
7. What is your favorite go to meal?
My go-to meal is Chipotle because it’s delicious and good for 2 meals, but if I want to treat myself I get a big ol’ BBQ sandwich and fries from Gates or Joe’s KC.
8. If you were not doing art, what do you think you would be studying or doing instead?
I think I would be studying business or accounting, because I like math and I am very interested in small businesses. Or I would be learning some kind of manual labor trade.
9. What other types of work interest you?
I am also interested in photography and design, and I wish I had time to learn sculpture and ceramics.
