Artist Spotlight: Colin Mitchell
Socksanova presents - YETI ALREADY
-Milwaukee, WITruly a renaissance man, we’re honored to present Colin Mitchell - aka Yeti Already. Forever grinding his art and loving his friends, we’re grateful he found some time for us too.
We say renaissance man because we don’t think there’s just one word to describe his art. A brief look into his professional portfolio includes commissioned paintings, sculptures, graphic art on textiles, album covers for artists and flyers for local events and businesses - not to mention his personal passions in food, music, flora; the list grows as he does.
We asked Colin if he’d be willing to share some insight with us about him, his work, and his inspirations. Read more about Colin’s inner workings, peppered with some other things we needed to know, below:
Can you describe your artistic style in three words or less?
“Graphic, Grimy, Surrealism”
If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring artists, what would you need to tell them?
“As someone still aspiring, I’d say never stop aspiring. It can be a long winding road, but if you keep chasing and keep imagining and keep asking “what if?” the rewards of the process will be well worth it, regardless of any possible outcomes.”
Do you have a favorite food?
“This is a hard one because I love to eat, but if I had to pick just one…it’s gotta be mushrooms. So versatile.”
Naturally, we had to follow up with - Is a hot dog a sandwich?
“I mean technically sure, but realistically nah. Definitely its own genre.”
Are there any other artistic mediums or forms of creative expression that you're interested in exploring in the future?
"Neon. Concrete. Experiential Art. Set Design.”
What are some of your favorite pastimes outside of your art life?
“Goofing off with friends. Spending time outside. Cooking, cinema, thrifting.”
Are there any local artists or art movements in Milwaukee that have inspired or influenced your work?
“Watching talented local artists like Sketchy Tony, or Chacho Lopez, or Bigshot Robot adorn our beautiful city has given me a lot of inspiration to keep honing my craft.”
Are there any artists throughout history you’d like to work with, and why?
“Kim Jung Gi. His ability to draw beautifully illustrated scenes filled with interesting characters, all somehow perfectly drawn in perspective, is mind-blowing. I’d be so grateful to be able to witness and learn from his skills.”
What's the most unusual or unconventional material or tool you've used to create your art?
“While climbing a mountain outside of Denver I found a burnt piece of wood and used it to draw a face on the flat side of a boulder. It struck me how simple and primal it can be to create art, connecting us over thousands of years to the cave paintings of our ancestors.”
How do you envision the future of your artistic career, and what goals or dreams do you have for yourself as an artist?
“When I see huge empty brick walls and colorless city streets it makes me wonder why we aren’t funding more public art. I want to see our streets filled with art, like Wynwood in Miami.”
What’s a quote that inspires you to create?
“Everything you can imagine is real.” -Pablo Picasso
It’s always a great time when we’re with Colin, and we couldn’t be more proud of his accomplishments and ambition. Once a Thread, always a Thread.
Thanks for reading if you got this far, and more fun scoop about our Threads to come! Be sure to stay in the seam by joining our newsletter for notifications and updates on Socksanova happenings.
Please welcome YETI ALREADY to the Socksanova family!
