At Rust Belt Market: Kill Taupe

The offers a unique experience for patrons as well as vendors. The new art market is host to more than 60 artists every weekend. Each week, Patch will feature one artist and get a closer view of what the heck they do.

Ferndale Patch: Who are you and what do you do?

Kill Taupe: I am Kill Taupe and I am a Metro Detroit illustrator who works mostly with acrylics and watercolors. My illustrations are filled with bizarre rabbits, robots, Slurpee chugging bears, foul-mouthed vegetables and the occasional zombie.

Ferndale Patch: How did you get your start?

Kill Taupe: I've been drawing for as long as I can remember, but it was about four years ago that I actively started to sell my work. I started by opening an Etsy shop and then selling at local art and craft shows. From there, I was fortunate enough to get in to some awesome galleries and shops and I've been hustling ever since.

Ferndale Patch: What inspires you?

Kill Taupe: I love bright colors and bold lines. I am a pop culture junkie and there are a lot of references to everyday items in my work, but they usually carry a healthy dose of snark.

Ferndale Patch: What is it about the Rust Belt that attracted you to it?

Kill Taupe: I really enjoy doing art and craft shows because you get to interact directly with the customer. I like getting to meet the people who are taking home a piece of my artwork. In Michigan it's usually limited to our brief summers, so I thought it was a genius idea for a couple to come along and bring people a year round place to vend. They're covering the entire spectrum as well. Not only are they bringing together artists, designers and crafters, but also there is also live music, local eats and even vintage sellers. The vendors change every week, so it's always a new experience. I don't think creative types could ask for anything better.

Ferndale Patch: Tell us one thing about your work that would surprise us.

Kill Taupe: Sometimes people are surprised by the content of my work. They see the bright colors and cheerful cartoony characters from far away and then they come in to get a closer look and I get either one of two reactions. They A.) Get the joke and start laughing, or B.) Scrunch up their face in disgust at the more "PG-13" or "R" themed stuff. It's probably a little twisted that I enjoy both reactions equally.

Kill Taupe will be at Rust Belt Market July 24. You can also purchase Kill Taupe artwork at: www.killtaupe.com.