Today we’d like to introduce you to Lydia McKee.
Lydia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Since I could remember, I’ve always loved art, design and drawing. As a child, I was always happiest with a crayon or pencil in my hand. I began drawing Hello Kitty and Minnie Mouse, among other iconic pop art figures at an early age and my passion developed from there. I frequently visited Art Basel in Miami and Frieze in London/LA and would spend hours looking at the female artists’ work. Moma, The Guggenheim and The Whitney were my go-to’s on weekends in New York City during high school and I would be inspired by feminist art like Jenny Holzer or Barbara Kruger who were activating DMC with their audience. I then studied Fine Art at Chapman University in California and honed my skills in different mediums such as painting, sculpture, graphics and video art. I love contemporary art and soon focused on pop art as an area of interest.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
After three years working as an artist in various mediums, I would say there’s been ups and downs. Covid was particularly tough – because everything was shut down, I did not join a formal program as intended, so began to paint on my terrace in WeHo, which has since turned into my studio. I started with canvases, big and small, and migrated to clothing with hand-painted illustrations with a few murals and commissions along the way. It soon became a way of life and some months were good others less so. The hardest part of my job is that I am always alone when I work and I crave my friends and associates as it’s usually just my dog, Bing and I (or as some would say, the King and I!)
Lately, I’ve been better about making a work-life balance happen and incorporating hiking, tennis and physical training into my weekly routines. The exercise gives me an escape and a break to think and dream and even aids in mustering up new ideas for my art.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m known for my hand-painted hoodies and sweats line called LYDIA MCKEE which have been sold in Fred Segal, Artcade, the Webster and various sustainable online platforms. I focus on pop characters and have developed my own range of bears and characters as well as retro-inspired iconic cult figures from the world of cartoons. I also do paintings by commission and lately have been much more in demand for large works on canvas in abstract formats. I’ve done everything from abstract to linear to cartoon bears on commission, and designed works for nurseries and playrooms, also murals for businesses and video art for Instagram shopping and brand websites. Campaign illustrations for Aera Shoes, Martin Katz Jewellery, Nest Candles campaigns for holiday and fall, Elle Magazine and Violet Grey Instagram content. So, it’s varied. I love what I do and I actually just finished illustrating a children’s book about a little girl called Yasmine in Beverly Hills, which was a first for me!
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Never give up, even when you’re tired or tempted if you have a passion to follow it, whether full or part-time. If you love something deeply you need to nurture it, protect it and explore it so it finds its way out into the universe to share with others. My mum always used to say, “make good choices” every day when she dropped us at school and I did just that, I made my choice to be an artist. I have always got lost in art and embraced its creative spirit with love and compassion and a desire to learn from other great artists. I recently met the artist Donald Robertson or @drawbertson who is now one of my idols as he makes so many people so happy with his art and I love his tongue in cheek approach to his painted figures and characters and he gave me good advice…”live your life loving what you do, I had no formal training and I’m living the life I love drawing and painting every day.” Yes please!!
Contact Info:
- Website: lydiamckee.com
- Instagram: @lydiiamckee.art
- Other: @artlyd (tiktok)
