Meet Brian Hunt | Local Artist / Union Laborer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brian Hunt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brian, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I think the secret is patience & drive. I would be creating these images regardless of an audience. The emotion & creativity that fuels my work is uncontrollable. In many ways it’s a form of therapy for me mentally. Many times I’ll spend countless hours on a piece only to not be happy with the final results. The nice part about being a painter/artist is, a piece is never finished. You can always change the outcome. By practicing my technique’s day in and day out I will eventually find the end result that leaves me satisfied. Ultimately that is where both patience and drive play a major factor! Rome was not built in a day.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Life is an uphill battle. I have come to terms with the fact that at time’s being a artist is difficult. Even with a BA in Graphic Arts, I am a Union construction worker. I can give you a million excuses why things “didn’t work out” but when I think back only one stands out in my head. I had just graduated a very creative, think outside the box, stint at the University and now it was time to find a job. After countless interviews ending with the same response of “we are actually looking for someone with prior experience in the field…” I became very frustrated. Instead of just being myself, I think was trying to be what I thought they were looking for. When I did finally find a job it was designing the grocery store coupon pages in the newspaper. Not my idea of creative or exciting for that matter, so I declined. After that the market crashed and jobs became few and far between. At times I regret this decision because who knows where that grocery store coupon journey would have brought me. I am proud to be a Union member and it has allowed me to support my family and home. But I will always have that “what if” in the back of my mind and at times that eats away at me. I learned to be happy with what I have but to never stop shooting for the stars because there is a big world out there and things change all the time. So in the meantime I’m thinking positively and staying hungry.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
As a young child my mother recognized my talents and always pushed me to pursue the arts. As a teenager, my only priority at the time was my next buzz. I never cared for school much but was always able to squeak by, so my grades were mediocre at best. Fortunately for me my mother took upon herself to fill out my college applications, sad I know, and I was accepted to the University of Hartford Art School. This experience really allowed me to try new things, perfect my technique and learn from some incredibly talented people who understood where my head was at and what I wanted to accomplish. It was life changing in so many aspects and really helped mold me into the man I have become. So I owe my mother a very special thank you for all her support and encouragement.

Cartoons and Graffiti art is where I am most comfortable. Oldies like Tom & Jerry, Wiley Coyote & the Road Runner and even Ren & Stimpy are a huge influence. Creating characters with the hopes of them someday being recognized as an icon always kept me busy. On the other hand, graffiti has always blown my mind. Seeing NERF painted all over my town, or the rows of tags I would see on my commute to Boston made me want to be able to do that too. I think these two styles are always open to interpretation, and I like that.

Instagram: @misfitdrops