When artist John Kissee does a self-portrait, he puts himself in a storm trooper helmet holding a Blaster Rifle. He’s also wearing short shorts, knee-high socks and a pair of Converse.
“It’s my love letter to the ‘70s,” Kissee said. “I was a kid with imagination. That one has a lot of meaning to me.”
The 40-year-old graphic designer spends his days creating packaging art for a health supplement company in Boca Raton, but in his free time, Kissee has created a medium that is uniquely his own.
The Miami native takes pencil sketches he creates from every day life, scenes from movies or whatever else comes to his head, and scans them into the computer. He then fills in the black and white in Adobe Illustrator with vibrant colors, distorted shadows, complicated backgrounds, mythology and meaning.
“I try to tell a narrative,” Kissee said. “The viewer is invited to peer in and see what’s going on in my story.”
Kissee said each image takes anywhere from a couple days to a week to perfect.
“It really allows me to cut loose and be creative,” Kissee said.
Kissee received his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Florida International University and for many years worked as an illustrator for magazines.
He moved to New Orleans for four years and really enjoyed the change of scenery along with the artistic community.
After retuning to South Florida, he enrolled in Broward College’s design program. Kissee’s work will be on display on May 21 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Island City Eyecare located at 2301 Wilton Drive, Suite C1 in Wilton Manors.
For more information about his work visit: www.johnkissee.com.—DR
