Ms. Kathleen Voigt is a self trained German born artist currently residing in Florida, USA.

Kathleen, working under the name Seriously Silly K has been producing sculptural jewellery works for many years and has recently begun creating sculptural resin works *cough* art toys *cough* as well.

Importantly, all of Kathleen’s work is highly technical, beautiful and imbued with a sense of mirth.

(Picture below of a hand-painted Sinner resin, by Kathleen)

…with a busy 2014 ahead, now is the perfect time to get schooled on Kathleen Voigt aka ‘Seriously Silly K’ by reading the interview below…

Basics/Getting to Know

Name + D.O.B?

Kathleen Voigt + You never ask a Lady about her Age 😉

City, State n Country you’re Repping?

I’m from Germany, but located in Florida USA since 2009.

(Pictures below of a one-off hand painted and sculpted resin Owl, from an ongoing series of Owls by Kathleen)

Describe a memory from three stages of yr life ….basically trying to piece together Ms. Silly K’s pivotal moments. Concerts, art, action-figures, school, college… ANYTHING ma’am.

* age 10 – pre pubes:

Playing with Barbies. My favorite one was the Pamela Anderson Baywatch Barbie and her Flipper.

Also both Kens kept molesting my Dolls on a regular Basis.

* age 15 – pube rage:

Pretty much a dork with A Grades. My Mom can tell you all about my hormonal temper tantrums though.

* age 20 – acceptance of pubes:

Finished my 3 Year apprenticeship as insurance sales woman and lived independently in my own apartment in Hamburg.

Personal motto/quote?

Always look on the silly side of life  (^_^)

(Picture below of a raw sculpt of a dog and it’s well loved chew-toy, by Kathleen)

Favorite band(s)?

Hmmm…my taste in music has changed over the years.

Of course i used to be Metal and Goth orientated during my teenage years.

But i’ve also always have been into and enjoying to this day the 80’s, Synth Pop and  Reggae.

What i never grew out of is Depeche Mode.

Favorite TV show(s)?

• American Horror Story (all 3 seasons have been blowing me away)

• The Walking Dead

• Ufo and Conspiracy Docus (Ancient Aliens, Unsealed – Alien Files, Monsters and Mysteries in America and so on)

• Universe related Shows (Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman, How the Universe works, Futurescape)

Favorite sport(s) + teams?

NONE!

(Picture below of a music loving panda, sculpted and painted by Kathleen)

Favorite movie(s)?

• The Fifth Element…Grew up with that Movie and it never gets old!

• The Harry Potter Films

• Old Boy ( Original Korean Version)

• The Last Unicorn

• SinCity

• Pans Labyrinth

Favorite books and comics?

‘Honigmond‘ from Gabriel Barylli

General Questions

Company motto?

“…Where Smiles and Giggles happen.”

(Picture below of Kathleen and her dog Meaty)

Dogs Vs. Cats – who wins, and why?

Now that is a good Question!!

It really depends on the type of Canine and Feline, who duel each other.

Imagine a Chihuahua fighting a Cat…The outcome is clearly Cat: 1 , Dog: 0

No in all seriousness now, I’m definitely a dog person. And when i say dogs, i mean real dogs…no tiny, fragile foot honks.

I own a Rescue Pitbull. Even though, he is damaged from his previous life, Meaty is loyal, loving, protective, plus you can squeeze and spoon the poop out of him. He HATES Cats though and it wouldn’t end well for the Feline.

All the positive aspects, i mentioned about dogs, they simply don’t apply to cats. While dogs respect you as their owner, a human is for a cat more like hired staff. They make you their bitch 😉

‘Seriously Silly K’ Art Questions

Favorite ‘other’ artist(s)?

Salvador Dali has been a big inspiration my whole life.

But oh man, I’ve come across so many crazy good Artists over the past 7 Months alone on Instagram… So where do i start?! Let’s see…

John Santagada (‘RadioactiveUppercut’) draws these crazy, colorful trippy monsters and creatures, i can’t get enough of.

Daniel Fleres – the creator of the “Swanicorn” – has a very playful, cute style! I’m proud to own a couple of his Drawings.

Jonathan Dubose (‘DuboseArt’) mastered the Art of Resin Casting. Have you seen his newest clear and color mixed marbled Resin Creations?

And Ofeloner is another one with such a unique Style, who keeps knocking tattoo related designs with a twist out of the park.

‘Topheroy‘ is fantastic at airbrushing rainbows on art toys! that color scheme is my favorite!

The List of Artists could go on and on like this, but these are  just a few Names, that come right away to my mind. There are many more, i truly admire!!!!

(Picture below of some bagged Sinner’s by Kathleen, with header art by John Santagada of ‘Radioactive Uppercut’)

Worst aspect of the contemporary art-hustle?

I don’t really know, how to answer this question as i have problems with the word hustle.

I’m NOT a hustler, baby…maybe that’s the worst part 😉

Best aspect of the contemporary art-hustle?

…there we are again…

Do you consider what you are making to be ‘art’, ‘design’, re-hashed crap?

I am very passionate and dedicated to the things, i create.

What i make is not only Art, but  each piece is also a part of me, coming from my mind, being realized by my hands with love, attention to the detail and sometimes pared with frustration.

(Picture below of the ‘HFD’ AKA ‘Hela Fass Doo‘ mascot, by Kathleen)

When and why did you first start making ‘art’ (toys, drawings, paintings, anything)?

The artsy side lays in my family.

My Father, whom i don’t have any contact to anymore for many years now, is a very talented oil painter and wood carver in his spare time.

My brother definitely inherited the bigger talent from him, but sadly lets his gift wither away. I was only blessed to a portion of that talent, but with practice worked my way up and I hope to improve more with time 🙂

In school I enjoyed the obligatory “artclass” once a week for 1 hour the most during my school years. It wasn’t really an art education though and i could never afford nice art supplies and materials; So i made the best out of what i had with cheap paints, brushes and paper.

When i was 19, my father surprised me with ‘Faber Castell’ colored pencils, an easel, oil paints and a couple canvases, which i enjoyed from time to time as a hobby when i wasn’t working. But not really excessively.

Years later, at the end of 2009, i started customizing my first Vinyl Toy and have improved much since then 🙂

Any formal art training? Or pivotal moment/influence?

I don’t have any art education and am sadly 100 % self taught.

Being self taught means, you make so many more mistakes along the road and improve, develop your skills slower than those, who are able to get the right support, supplies, materials and education.

(Picture below of a toadstool ring, by Kathleen)

Why + when did you decide to go in on the art hustle?

I’ve been working for insurances for 8 years since i was a teenager. I was really fed up with my type of work as it didn’t make me happy to go to a huge office everyday, working with 80 % hormone raging women, being everyday on the phone, answering questions, complaint letters and what not. The corporate world is simply not where i see my future.

And even though this artsy business means living on a super low income with no social benefits, at least I am doing, what i love, while I am still relatively young. We’ll see, if it goes well long term…

Describe the method of making a ‘Seriously Silly K’ piece? (dot point all o.k.)

…see question: Do you consider what you are making to be ‘art’, ‘design’, re-hashed crap?

Toy Questions

What are your thoughts on ‘The Sucklord’, and his role in the art-toy scene? (I ask as he is the ‘ur’ toy-bootlegger and your nemesis)

Even though, I’m not particularly a fan of his work and wonder, how he gets away all the time with bootlegging without being sued.

I must leave it to him for being obviously a good businessman, who also lives out his character as the sucklord. So he must be doing something right.

Is the rise of ‘art’ toys an indication of the changing nature of ‘art’? OR just a bunch of nerds with too much $$$ and time?

I wouldn’t say that there is a change in Art itself, but so many more possibilities for artists of making art with using designer toys as 3-D canvases for example.

And not everyone in the toy community does have a lot of money.

It’s a hobby, a passion for most of us. I collect, too. Designer toys give people the opportunity to buy a piece of art from various artists to a relatively affordable price.

(Picture below of some mushrooms pendants, by Kathleen)

What are your thoughts on the current rise of mass-production in the resin-art world, and the move away from hand made pieces? The 2012 Designer Con Suck-con figures as an example…

Haven’t heard of the Suck-con figures. nor do i know, how many were produced. Also, at what number does “mass-production” start?

But if the demand on your art toys is higher than you are able to produce by hand yourself, then i would understand, that you go the next step and have a manufacturer do it for you.

Resin could be the new Vinyl…Who knows?

Do you think once an artist has re-used a piece of pop-culture, it becomes harem for another artist to use it/spoof too? …I am thinking of ‘The Sucklord’ + ‘Boba Fett’; ‘The Mark Ultra’ + the hangman mask head etc.

Well, if one guy gets away with bootlegging and is being successful at it, others might takes their chances, too and try their luck.

I for myself prefer originality in art or at least a style, that sets you apart from others.

Favorite toy/figure? (I’ll allow self promotion)

Oh i don’t have only one favorite toy.

Among other Pieces, I own, I love my handful of “Skelves” by Kathie Olivas & Brandt Peters, “Darb” by Nathan Jurevicius, “Coot” by Wilfred Wood and the “Rainbow Skull-Head” from Secret Base.

What does your wife/girl/woman/family make of the whole perpetual adolescence/Peter Pan/man-child aspect of toy art + toy collecting?

My man is actually who introduced me to Art Toys. We both share that passion and love collecting and decorating our home with them.

Life is serious enough at times and you should never lose the child in yourself 🙂

My mom and brother enjoy to see my resin creations and custom toys. They are proud of me in some way.

What was it like working with Nasty Neil of ‘Wasted Talent’ on the Moose Head Marijuana Medallion you two recently collaborated on?

It was a super positive experience! there was no pressure, we communicated well and the result was quite representable, I’d say 🙂 I just wish, I’d live closer to other artists, so the shipping forth and back would fall away.

(Picture below of the Moose Head Marijuana Medallion by ‘Seriously Silly K’ x ‘Wasted Talent‘)

The Future

Any collaborations on the horizon?

There are a couple of peeps, I have been in contact with to collaborate, yes 🙂 Just gotta make time for it.

Any major projects you want to hype ma’am?

Not really at this point. I have a couple things planned for this year, but there’s nothing show-able right now as i first need to stock up on art supplies. And shit is quite expensive.

Thanks for having me, Josh!!!!

Links

• ‘Seriously Silly K’ – Instagram
• ‘Seriosuly Silly Girls’ – Storenvy