1xRun Thru Interview
Terminal Velocity by Dave Kinsey
1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this original painting, what materials were used? Is the original sold? If so how much was it?
Dave Kinsey: My work is a layering process composed of acrylic, spray paint, collage (old books, discarded junk mail, old bills and other paper I find laying around) and ink on canvas. I primarily use brushes but also have some other techniques that are non-brush related, but those are studio secrets. The original was created in 2010 and was sold for $25,000.
1xRun: Anything immediate you would like us to highlight about this piece?
Dave Kinsey: Creating art is like writing a book in a sense and if there’s an audience out there that enjoys reading it, that’s inspiring to me. I’d like people to see what I’m trying to convey and let those ideas come together as they contemplate the work. But all-in-all, every piece, including this one, has it’s own narrative depending on a person’s life and experience filter.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about? How long did the piece take?
Dave Kinsey: This piece came to me one day when I saw an image of a man falling from the sky with a suit on—a kind of eery, yet poignant statement regarding the current state of things in the world. At that point I worked to complete a narrative & what I was seeing in my mind. I put a lot of hours into it, let’s just say that.
1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
Dave Kinsey: I consider this to be one of my more significant pieces and it’s a transition piece to where I’m heading as a painter.
1xRun: Why should people buy this print?
Dave Kinsey: I’d like to think it’s because they fk’ng love it!
1xRun: Describe the print in one gut reaction word.
Dave Kinsey: Nucleus.
Terminal Velocity by Dave Kinsey
1xRun: When did you first start making art? What was your first piece?
Dave Kinsey: I’ve been making art my entire life, but it wasn’t until art school that I realized its full potential for changing my life. My first piece was called #1. True story.
1xRun: What artists inspired you early on? What artists inspire you now?
Dave Kinsey: Mark Gonzales, Jim Phillips, Pushead, and V.C. Johnson were some of the first artists that really caught my attention from all skate graphics I saw growing up, along with some OG Atlanta writers I used to hang with. Currently Alexander Calder, Franz Kline, Tibor Kalman, Tim Hawkinson, Mark Grotjahn, Caravaggio & Lee Bontecou’s work really resonates with me. I also like Ahmed Alsoudani‘s work. I first discovered it back in ’07. I find his style of figurative painting rare in contemporary art culture, so its refreshing to see.
Ahmed Alsoudani
Lee Bontecou (L) + Mark Grotjahn
1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work?
Dave Kinsey: Yes, it’s probably one of the most indispensable components of my creative process. Currently in the mix: Roots Manuva, Raekwon, Stereolab, Tommy Guerrero, Boards of Canada, Cal Tjader, Grant Green, Echo & The Bunnymen, Mulatu Astatq.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why? Any deceased artists who would it be and why?
Dave Kinsey: I’d love to do something with Jasper Johns. The design elements in his work fascinate me. It’s a combo that rarely works well in my opinion. (For the latter) That’s nearly an impossible question to answer, but off the top of my head, Alexander Calder comes to mind. I love his ability to communicate simply but effectively, so it would be an interesting mash-up.
Three Flags by Jasper Johns – 1958
Alexander Calder
Lee Bontecou(L) Mark Grotjahn
1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it? The last?
Dave Kinsey: The first piece was a set of five saki bottles that Evan Hecox painted on orange paper. I purchased them from a group show we were both involved in back in the late ’90s. They’ve been hanging in the house ever since. I have to say collecting art is very addicting and I still do it. I just bought a Phil Frost paper piece from 2008.
1xRun: What else do you have in the works?
Dave Kinsey: I’m currently working on a new piece for Joshua Liner for his gallery relocation group show opening in March in NYC. I just wrapped up a signature bottle design for Absolut Vodka (set to be released in March) and Tommy Guerrero’s new album cover/packaging which drops soon in the states. Other than that, I’m painting for some upcoming group shows and two solo exhibitions in Zurich and Berlin along with planning a project with my company BLK/MRKT.
1xRun: Where else can people find you?
Dave Kinsey: kinseyvisual.com | Facebook
–1xRun