Conversations with Kevin Butler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Butler

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have always found joy in creating things. As far back as I can remember, I was drawing, building, whatever. It was made clear to me through parents, teachers, etc… that being an artist was a hobby. Not a career. So as a teenager, when I found out there were art schools that helped you find a job as a creative person it felt like a major unlock for me. Because I was not a very good student as far as traditional academics were concerned. I probably could have been, but I was just bored, disinterested and knew I was not going to be a doctor. I actually just started a podcast inspired by this. It’s called “making it”, and I interview people who’s made it in Creative-based careers in the hopes that it will inspire young people the way I was when I toured that Art School.

Anyways… So I went to art school and after a brief stint in the fine art / illustration programs found my way to the advertising dept. Probably because I could hear the adults voice telling me to find a “career”.

So I ended up an advertising creative. And that’s been my day job for the last 20 years.

But I never stopped drawing and painting.
About 13 years ago I began drawing and painting cars with surfboards on them.
My dad rebuilt hot rods when i was young, and we spent most weekends at car shows so I always had a connection to classic cars. And i grew up in Santa Cruz so surfing was also part of my childhood.

After drawing about 800 cars with surfboards on them, i began to diversify, making other things that felt in the same “surfy”, “beachy” California spirit.

I have partnered with a number of global brands, and done exhibitions all over the world.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I am lucky.
I have always had my advertising day job to fall back on.
This has allowed me to keep my art mine.
I don’t do collabs if i don’t want to and I don’t have any external pressure to do anything I don’t want to.

Sure, sometimes i have to say no to things because my day job is consuming all my time, but that’s the only downside.

I see friends where their art is their full time jam having to hustle and struggle.
When your livelihood depends on an instagram algorithm, being an full-time artist it can get pretty frustrating.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am probably most known for my Rad Cars With Rad Surfboards series. I have drawn over 2000 cars to date. A lot of them commissions.
I also got a lot of attention for my #MrSurfy series where i captured a bunch of the personalities you’d find in the local lineup in the classic “Mr. Messy” style.

I am really grateful that i’ve been able to keep control over my art.
I had a very successful artist tell me very early on that I am essentially making a pure drug. A drug that most companies are addicted too and need in order to be relevant and sell stuff.
So the longer i hold out and continue making my pure drug the more valuable it is. And so far I have found that to be true.

I have said no to a lot of pretty big collab offers because companies want to BUY my IP for their products. Often times when i say no they will do a bootleg version. When that happens I know i made the right decision because it proves that it isn’t about me or my work. it’s about trying to sell stuff.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was kind of a latchkey kid, but was super lucky to have grown up near the beach in santa cruz so I spend most days surfing, skating around. As we got older a lot of my friends from back then got into smoking and drinking and I thank my lucky stars I didn’t get sucked into it. Santa cruz is a lot like an island. Many people never leave. And I think deep down I knew at some point I was going to grow out of it, so I didn’t want to get stuck.

Pricing:

• Custom Prints $200
• Stock Prints $150

Contact Info:

• Website: https://radcarswithradsurfboards.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/kbut
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDfrFXbnJltAvAZ9l9unJvA