Kim aka SouLe

http://urbansoule.com/

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by Joyce Manalo, Brooklyn Art Project Blog Editor and founder of ArtForward.

Kim McCarthy a.k.a. SOULE is one of the most prolific artists I've met. She is based in Seattle, WA and has exhibited her work at the early age of 16.  This past year, this artist executed over 100 paintings!   Originally her canvas were facades of buildings on the streets of  the Pacific Northwest, her medium ranged from stencils, wheat pastes, stickers and spray paint.  She currently focuses her hand to create work on stretched canvas and wood panels, as well as legal walls. She has an affinity for photography and paper cutouts. This dual process enables her to design her stencils. From designing apparel, buttons/pins, shoes, skateboards to home decor. She is indeed doing what she loves.

Soule is praised for her stencil work, and she applies the medium or the process itself to all her oeuvres.  The series that she has worked on include famous people, friend portraits, animals and architecture. Stencils spray painted on canvas and wood panels; porcelain white characters adorned in black and white stripes or Dark images on very colorful backgrounds that are spray paint on canvas; skull and skeleton stencils with army green, rich coppers, and reds; and Japanese inspired characters spay painted with bright colors.

Kim "SOULE" McCarthy completed her Fine Art and Design in Spokane, WA and Printmaking in Astoria, OR.  Due to her renegade self-promotion, over 70 galleries have represented her work in the United States and in various other Countries.  Her work is also featured in various books and magazines such as Prebles Artforms, Stencil Nation, Food & amp; Wine, Everyday with Rachael Ray magazines and many more...she even had a painting featured on Episode 10 of  "Glee" on Fox TV.

Fearless self-promotion is paying off, she is an inspiration to us all.

 

S~ “What is your most dominate characteristic?”

SouLe- "I would have to say it's being prolific and self-sufficient."

S~ "Describe your work, process"

SouLe- "As a full time artist I have to set a daily schedule for myself, like a regular work schedule, I start out in the morning by checking emails, various web pages and the daily news. Then I move onto cutting stencils, painting backgrounds on canvas then adding the actual images. I normally am working on multiple paintings or stencils at once, usually two-six at a time. It helps me not to get "burnt out" on one piece."

S~ “Who would you say are your heroes and inspirations?”

SouLe- "There are way to many to mention but to try to narrow it down...

Heroes: Anybody who can take the trials of life as it's given to them. The people who have original and creative ideas and put them to good use. People who are self-sufficient and don't rely on others for their actions."

 

 

"Inspirations:

My family and friends, I'm blessed with a melting pot of people around me.

Hundreds of other artists,celebrities and musicians, famous, non famous, deceased and living...

Nature and lots of animals!"

S~ “What do you hope to accomplish as an artist?”

SouLe- "When I was a kid I always wanted to grow up to be an artist and that has happened already....so lately I've been thinking about what direction I want to take it.... which I would have to say I'm happy with how life is playing out right now, but I would like to be able to buy some land with a house, build my dream studio, get some furry and feathered friends to add to our family and continue painting all day."

 

S~ “What do you consider your greatest achievement to date?”

SouLe- "Being able to quit my job and survive off the sales of my artwork."

 

S~ ”How does collaborative and live painting affect your work?”

SouLe- "I get really nervous painting in front of people so I don't really do it, that also includes my my friends and family.... I've only collaborated with a couple people in the past, but if anybody is up for it let me know!"

S~ “Do you prefer collaboration, painting for an audience over studio painting?”

SouLe- "No, I love being in my studio by myself in the quite, it calms all the noise in my head."

S~ “Who are some of your favorite Artists to paint with?”

SouLe- "I love to paint with kids, I teach teen and youth Art Classes every Wed at the Boys & Girls Club and the kids are amazing, they bring back the free and innocence of thinking during art projects."

S~ “Do you have any shows currently and/or coming up that you would like to mention?”

SouLe- "On my website I have a page with all the upcoming shows I'm having."

This month (October) I will be having a solo show at

Victrola (on Pike)

Artist Reception October 14th 5-8pm

(during the Capital Hill Art walk)

310 East Pike St,Seattle,WA

 S~ “Where in Seattle’s current art scene do you picture yourself?”

 SouLe- "Not sure... but I do enjoy being involved with all the other great local artists."

 S~ “Where do you hope to be in 5 years?”

 SouLe- "I would like everyone to know my art and name but more importantly I want to have a house (and Studio) to call home, be surrounded by family,friends, plants,trees, furry creatures and be painting all day."