Featured Artist: Katie McKinney

Katie McKinney

Artist / Mayor of Titty City / Destroyer Of Worlds

Los Angeles, California

Find her at

When did you decide to pursue art?

It’s always been part of me from a young age. I honestly don’t think there was a time in my life, since I was old enough to fingerprint or hold a pencil where I wasn’t compelled to create.

What was your art education?

Honestly, I’m mostly self taught. I did complete Cosmetology school which helped me learn some beauty application tricks, & there were some watercolor classes here & there.

Did you mentor or just start out on your own?

I started out on my own but I have had the privilege of working with some amazing artists over the years.

What do you consider yourself, pro, working, amateur ?

I consider myself a working artist.

What is it you are passionate about painting/drawing?

My favorite canvas is human skin. I love taking a person & turning them into living art. There’s also nothing more satisfying than helping a woman feel beautiful & comfortable in her own skin after they see themselves painted.

Why that? and not babies or pets or landscapes?

Every canvas creates its own art. I let what I’m painting on speak to me.

Do you feel like you have a particular style and if so what is it?

I honestly don’t think I do.

How did you get started using yourself and others as canvases?

It was & still is the easiest way to practice. My face/skin is always with me so if I have no model I’m there. Once I started with that people would ask me to paint them & so I obliged.

You have a real gift for creating using the human face, do you look for the right face for a project or do you let the face define the piece?

It depends on the project really. If I’m wanting to create a certain look I definitely try to find canvas that appeals to that look, however, if I’m not, the canvas definitely helps create the end result.

What do you consider your greatest strength in your art?

I think my greatest strength in my art is how often I push myself to create.

What is your creative process? how does an idea grow and mature into your final image?

That’s simple, I get inspired & create.

How much time do you spend on any particular image?

It depends on the image. It could be anywhere from an hour to five for a larger piece.

Wine, beer, spirits or other?

Beer & whisky

Generally do you create for you? for a client? for a commercial purpose?

Art is my therapy. I feel restless if I don’t create. That being said one of my favorite motivators when creating is inspiring others.

What was your single worst mistake you have made in your artistic journey?

Holding myself back from applying myself because of fear of not being good enough or failure.

Describe your work in 10 words or less

Contemporary figurative mixed media fine art.

Give us some insights to you, your process and your art?

I’m compelled to create. I feel stifled & restless if I’m not painting or creating.

What other artists, photographers etc have influenced your work? and how did they?

I love recreating other artists work, it’s always a challenge & gets me out of my comfort zone, I’ve done several recreations of either paintings or body paints.

Social media… a god send or the spawn of satin, explain!

I think it’s a little bit of both, the god sent spawn of Satan?

Has the internet effected your art career? for better or for worse?

It’s definitely helped me network with other artists & get my work more exposure. One of my favorite things is receiving emails from others telling me I’ve inspired them to create more or to be themselves.

When you started painting did you every imagine the level of success you would have?

I never think about success in terms of fame or acknowledgment, I never cared about those things. My idea of success is being allowed to freely create and make money in the process so that I can travel and continue to freely create.

How do you feel when someone looks in a mirror and can’t believe what they see?

Satisfied. My creations aren’t just about my creating, they are also about the canvas loving the skin they’re in as well as inspiring others to make art or create as well.

What you are painting a model what is it your setting out to achieve?

That the model feels like art. That they have fun & can embrace what they are transformed into.

I see you paint dolls and skulls too, is there a difference in the place the inspiration for a doll comes from than a person?

Not usually. All my art comes from inspiration of all sorts. I’m constantly roused not only by fellow artists & their creations, but also nature, music, poetry. I look at all canvas the same, a blank slate ready to be recreated into something beautiful or grotesque.

Can you describe your technique in general terms? brush, air brush?

I mainly create using paint brushes & body paint. My favorite brands are Wolfefx & Global paints.

I’m a photographer and when I’m creating and shooting my mind has a 1000 things going thru it I have often wondered what someone painting a face or a doll is thinking?

Honestly, when I create my mind is clear & calm. Making art soothes me, to me is similar to meditation. I usually just zone out into the piece when creating it.