10 Questions with John Paul Kesling

John Paul Kesling was born and raised on the banks of the Ohio River in Northeast Kentucky. He earned a BFA in Arts from Morehead State University, Morehead, KY and an MFA in Painting from The Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA. He currently resides in Madison, TN with a dog.

John took a few moments from his busy schedule traveling across the Eastern United States transporting his art to and from various exhibitions and artist residencies to answer a few questions so you can get to know him a little more. Here are 10 questions with John Paul Kesling, plus a couple extra to boot.

1. Outside of art, what hobbies do you have or how do you like to spend your free time?
In-line Skating, Metal Detecting, making silly basketball videos for TikTok, car camping in my hideous green 2003 Honda Element.

2. What do you like to listen to while working in your studio?
Lots of improv comedy podcasts (pairs well with metal detecting), lots of nostalgic 90s pop music.

3. Do you have any pets?
An Australian cattle dog named Maggie that knows all the tricks except the one where she doesn’t almost rip my face off for no reason at all while I’m climbing into bed at night. Seriously, what’s wrong with her?

4. What do you daydream about?
Searching for shark teeth at Myrtle Beach in 1988.

5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
No blinkers/turn signals.

6. Do you collect anything?
Old Polaroid Cameras.

7. What is the best concert you’ve ever been to?
Boy II Men with MC Hammer.

8. What was the worst job you ever had?
Paula Deen’s Restaurant in Savannah, GA.

9. Have you ever disliked something and then change?
Hated Fleetwood Mac but later realized I didn’t hate them but just the songs that Stevie Nicks sings on.

10. What would be the title of your memoir?
“Beard or Cold Sores? : A Life Of Disgusting Choices”

11. What’s your go-to guilty pleasure?
Folding laundry while watching trash TV.

12. What is the best advice someone has ever given you?
Hakuna Matata. I guess it’s more of a problem free philosophy than it is advice but it works.