yawA:
Hi Alloyius Mcilwaine aka Cultures Clothing! Thank you so much for chatting with us today. Let's start from the beginning. How did you get started painting?
Alloyius:
Although I've been painting and creating since I was two or three years old, I'd say that I began my professional career as an artist, hand-painting clothing items in college for my clothing line, Cultures Clothing. That was when I first started making money with my art. I'd hand-paint t-shirts, shoes, hats, jackets and more as a way to earn an income while in college, and turned it into a brand with a particular style and aesthetic over time. Shortly after, I got my first few paying jobs painting murals for a salon in New Jersey and for a company that creates learning software in Salt Lake City, Utah. Things kind of just snowballed from there, and the rest is history!
yawA:
Can you tell us a little bit about what work are you most proud of and why?
Alloyius:
That's a tricky question because I've done thousands of paintings and hundreds of murals throughout my career. I'd say that the swimming pool that I painted for the Renaissance Hotel is one of the most incredible things that I've ever done. But I'd say, as a whole, I'd say that I'm pretty proud of the murals that I've been able to create overseas. I've always wanted my art to touch every corner of the globe...and I'm well on my way to making that happen.
yawA:
We know you have painted all over the world. What place in the world inspires you most?
Alloyius:
I don't know if there's one place in the world that inspires me the most... because the things that inspire me are constantly changing. It could be a vibe, a sound, a color pattern, a phrase, a place, or any number of things that inspire me, depending on my headspace. Because of this, I've gained different perspectives from each different place that I've traveled to...from Japan to Morocco to Puerto Rico. I will say that I always seem to feel comfortable and inspired when I'm near a body of water. There's something about the water that calms my soul.
yawA:
What is your biggest professional goal or dream?
Alloyius:
One of my biggest professional goals is to do a project for Marvel Comics/Marvel Studios. Comic books taught me how to draw, so doing a project for Marvel would be a full-circle moment. Overall, it would be to turn my art and clothing brands into globally recognized brands.
yawA:
What other businesses or creators inspire you?
Alloyius:
The creation process and the thought behind it are just fascinating to me in general...so I gain inspiration from outside sources as much as I do from the visual arts. I can gain inspiration from just watching people build things or create new and exciting food concepts, for example. All of it stimulates my creativity!
Inside the art world, though, I'm inspired by artists who also use bold, colorful palettes...from comic book artists to street artists to graffiti writers. Helio Bray and Tristan Eaton are two of my favorite street artists and graffiti writers. But I also still draw so much inspiration from comic book artists like Jack Kirby and Jim Lee...who helped to form the foundation of my style.
yawA:
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Alloyius:
I see myself growing and expanding my art and clothing brands globally. I want my art to touch every corner of this Earth. So that means doing more murals and projects overseas...as well as creating more marketing campaigns to grow my visibility for Cultures Clothing in overseas markets.