In the Spotlight :: Artist Mike Kungl

Best known for his moderne and nostalgic images, M Kungl’s vintage style is filled with a radiant color palette and a stylish streamlined twist.  I came across Mike Kungl’s work through the Chuck Jones Gallery in Orange County.  I really like his modern take on many of our favorite cartoon and movie characters!  One of my favorite places to visit in Downtown Disney is the Wonderground Art Gallery that has a huge selection of artwork by various artists in many styles.  Mike Kungl works with Disney along with many other companies such as the Chuck Jones Gallery and Stan Lee of Marvel Comics. After completing art and design school M Kungl applied his graphic design education to achieve a successful career in advertising. Spending nearly two decades creating award winning logos, package design and illustration for companies such as Panasonic, Johnson & Johnson, Toshiba and Nissan Motors, Kungl then focused on fine art full time and within two years of heading off on his own was selected to create the official artwork for Miami Beach’s 25th annual Art Deco Weekend. I had a chance to speak to Mike about his work, his vision and he offers advice to aspiring artists.

As a child I always had an appreciation for art and drawing which transferred into a fondness of drafting and mechanical drawing in junior high school. This progressed into a very fortunate high school art program in which my art teacher and guidance counselor observed I would do well in the commercial art industry.

Well, it’s not the handsome prince or the gallant hero that’s for sure. And it’s not the bumbling clown either, a character somewhere in between I guess. At some point I have to take on the persona of all the characters I paint to get into it. Even the princesses, I must say, after all I do shop for glitter at Michael’s when I’m going to paint Tinkerbell!

I’d have to say somewhere in between Bugs Bunny, Darth Vader and Popeye! “I fights to the finach cause I eats my spinach!”

If someone is interested in doing this as a profession, what recommendations would you offer?

Always pursue your dreams, challenge yourself and don’t be afraid. Like anything else this is a tough business, be diligent and take your craft seriously and continue to show your art. Be patient and persevere. It wont come easy but if you hang in there you never know where it will lead.

 

 

Any news you want to share with our lovely dandelion moms?

Thanks so much for your time Mike!  I really love how you have turned so many classic fairytales and movie characters into collectable art!

You can find Mike on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Kungl/293062120520?ref=hl

Follow him on Twitter:
@MKungl

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