Today we’d like to introduce you to Killian Tuipala.
Hi Killian, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I lived in an unstable environment. I never lived in the same place for too long and sometimes I lived with people I wasn’t entirely familiar with. I think because of this I was always in my head. I was and still am, a massive daydreamer, always creating stories and living out different realities in my mind. I spent a lot of time as a child trying to make the world in my head come to life by drawing characters, making up stories, writing terrible songs, whatever I could do to manifest my own imagined reality. I’ve always loved the creative process and finding out ways to make something new, especially if it was a little messy. When I was young, I always knew that whatever career I pursued as an adult would need to involve creating some form of art. I had phases as a musician, an author, a poet, and even a film director, but the one thing I was always consistent with was drawing and painting. I decided late in high school that I wanted to become a painter. At the time I was almost entirely self-taught, and it stayed that way until I was 25 years old when I finally decided to take one charcoal drawing class, which opened my eyes to so many new ways to revitalize my craft. Post high school, I shared my art mainly through my Instagram, and zines until I finally moved up to bringing my art to markets and showcases. It’s been a very slow process, as I learn how to navigate art as a business and build my confidence up enough to present my art as a professional. I do plan to go back to school to pick up new skills as well, as there are so many different things to learn and so many different ways to make art.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It took me a long while to consider myself a serious artist. Pressure from others made me feel like I was supposed to commit myself to a more profitable career, and I struggled with that for a while even though I knew that I would never be able to commit truly commit to something I wouldn’t enjoy. Despite that, I still needed to make enough money to support myself while I kept that art wheel turning. At times, the stress of working a job you need in order to support the job you want can be too much and result in burnout or periods of time where you don’t finish a piece. Art blocks happen all the time, but whenever I return to a piece I feel as if I learned something new and I come back stronger. Keeping up my motivation is key here because while rest is necessary, never allowing the wheel to stop turning is crucial. I also struggle deeply with considering a lot of my pieces worthy enough to show. For every piece I’ve made public, there are about 5 more I’ve decided to keep hidden. This includes sketches I’ve never done anything with or whole paintings I had decided were missing something. This feeling of doubt is a confidence hurdle I’ve yet to overcome.
I also don’t have a driver’s license, which is a little silly, but it has been my biggest struggle recently. When I started bringing art to markets and showcases I realized I needed one if I were to transport a hefty amount of canvases and prints around. If you’re a public transit kind of person, keep that in mind if you’re an artist, or else you’ll have to ask for help, which I am eternally grateful to have received thus far.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work mainly with acrylic paint and molding paste for my paintings but have been known to use watercolor, ink, charcoal, recycled material, and sculptures made of polymer clay. I have a lot of work I’ve also done digitally, but I prefer a traditional method. For the recycled materials I use, I pick up anything I think is interesting and put it in a drawer until the fated day when I realize it’d be perfect for what I’m making. One of my favorite paintings features holographic gift-wrapping tissue I got from a birthday present years ago. Another one has safety pins I stuck through a combination of hard gel and molding paste, as well as various other objects that complimented the piece. These are some of the paintings I’m most proud of because of the 3-dimensional aspect. I make a lot of 2-dimensional images as well, but I feel like when a viewer is looking at an object that’s practically coming out towards them, it compels them to stop and examine. My art style can be scattered, as my driving force to create can change daily. Sometimes, I paint from my fears and anxieties, while other times, I paint something playful that latched itself onto my mind. I feel as if my art cannot be limited in any way, as I’m always trying to gain new skills and find ways to manipulate them into my craft.
What matters most to you? Why?
I think my mind is what matters most to me. I enjoy learning new things, utilizing them, and playing games to exercise my brain. I think it’s essential if you’re an artist with another job on the side to keep your creative gears working, or else you risk getting caught in an artistic rut. On the other hand, it’s also good to take a break and think about something else for a while. When I’m not thinking about my next piece or stressing out about what I’m going to do next, I like to take the time to introduce myself to something new or go on a walk and let my thoughts run their course. A long walk without listening to music is meditative for me, while a long walk while listening to music helps fuel my creativity. I listen to podcasts or read while on public transportation, and I use my 30-minute lunch breaks at my job, sketching or watching a YouTube video on something that piques my interest. These things are important because it’s hard to get myself moving again when I start letting myself become idle.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milkylump/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Milkylump/
Image Credits
Brandon Self & Betty Gezahegne
