TOASTY TUNA
Kaleb Duggan, aka Toasty Tuna, takes pride in creating his unique style of illustrations that are somehow nostalgic and brand new at the same time. Just saying his name makes you smile, and that's just how he intended it to be.
When asked to describe his art, Kaleb explained, "I like to do everything with a layer of humor. I like to see the smiles on people's faces."
Toasty Tuna started turning his drawings into stickers while living in Boone, NC. Sharing his work with skate shops and record stores, Kaleb searched for a sense of place in the art community while escaping the grind of the "regular job." Looking back, he fondly remembers the early days of rejection as a necessary learning opportunity as an artist.
Kaleb explained that he quickly learned what takes many people years to understand. Somebody not loving your work is not a reflection of you. It just simply means that it is not for them. This message resonated with me, as with many creative individuals seeking to make a living with their work. "It's intimidating at first because you put so much of yourself into it."
There is no simple way to describe Kaleb's work without looking at it. Depending on your age, it resembles early Nickelodeon cartoons or late-80s skateboard graphics. For me, the nostalgic quality of his character design, colors, and textures reminds me of Ren and Stimpy or the art of Jim Phillips. To Kaleb, it's all about world-building. "It's just the presentation of the normal world, but through the filter of the creator."
If you enjoy illustration, color, cartoons, or just plain fun, check out Toasty Tuna's fantastic work. You would be hard-pressed to find another artist who represents the hard work and diligence it takes to make a living from art while maintaining the same charismatic and playful energy that he brings to every piece.
Show him some love by giving him a follow, sharing with a friend, or purchasing his art. Kaleb's work can be seen at various events and shops, including The Big Crafty and Horse and Hero in Asheville, NC.
© 2024 by West Ashe Creative
