Meet Kevin Story Mintern | Graphic Designer and Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kevin Story Mintern and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kevin, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I grew up in California’s Central Valley, particularly the Fresno and Clovis area. The Valley produces a huge percentage of the nation’s fruit and vegetable crops, and I come from a line of Farmers. My mother grew up on a ranch that grew a lot of stone fruit and grapes, and I have heard many stories about my grandmother picking in the fields when she was not much more than a toddler, after being forced to leave Oklahoma after the Dust Bowl. I myself worked for the Fresno County Department of Agriculture in the grape fields, and that is where I met my partner of 4 years now. The rolling foothills that surround the valley and a variety of fruits and vegetables make appearances in my work quite frequently.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Well, I have always wanted to be an artist even from a young age. I went to college and originally was majoring in Biology as my parents were *heavily* suggesting that as a career path. I took one elective art class changed my major and never looked back. It caused a lot of tension at home, but I knew I had a calling I could simply not ignore. I won a few awards here and there in school, and then after college I found myself applying to any job that would have me. A good friend of mine, Crystal, suggested I apply at the county as there were open positions at her work, although it was a different department.

This job was hands on in the fields and involved inspecting a huge number of insect traps for various pests. My now partner of 4 years, Andrew, was also working the same position as me.

Soon after this I was offered my first real graphic design job, for a chain of cannabis dispensaries, and it was there that I taught myself a great deal of Adobe Illustrator from YouTube Tutorials, as my degree was focused on drawing and painting on canvas. I spent almost two years at this job, but left after being denied a much deserved raise. This was an incredibly hard blow to my self esteem but I had a fiery determination inside to succeed.

I created a series of Zodiac drawings that went viral right around this time. They blew up on instagram and have been reposted on Pinterest several times, and I started booking a lot of freelance work. During this time I also sold some of my work to Shein and Footlocker through various partnerships.

And as I said in a previous answer, I won a contest on Azealia Banks’ Instagram and have been creating a lot of product designs for her health and beauty line, CheapyXO. Because of this exposure, I have gone on to create designs for a variety of performing artists and brands.

I am also very excited about a project launching very soon, but I don’t know just how much I can say about it just yet. Other than it’s my biggest collaboration to date!!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you’re coming to the Fresno Area, I would definitely suggest a trip to Yoshi Now! Vintage Shoppe- and not just because they wrapped the entire front of the store in my artwork. They’ve got some of the coolest vintage furniture and clothing around!

Brunch at Fresno Breakfast House- my mouth is watering just typing this! They have amazing hollandaise sauce for all my fellow breakfast enthusiasts.

You can’t visit without taking a trip to Yosemite or Kings Canyon National Parks, and if you’re feeling extra adventurous perhaps a stroll through the newest National Park, Pinnacles, which is also near by. They are known for their blossoming population of reintroduced California Condors.

The Forestierre Underground Gardens are a unique slice of Fresno Heritage preserved through the ages, if you have never been you should check it out. It’s unlike anything you’re probably imagining in your mind.

Also the blossom trail is really nice in the spring you can drive around and see all the various fruit trees blooming!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First of all Shout out to my partner Andrew! None of this would have been possible without his hard work. Being a full time freelancer is not always the highest paying job when you are waiting between royalty payments, and Andrew has been my rock. I love him very much and am really excited about moving in to our new place.

Shout out to Grammy Nominated Rap Phenomenon Azealia Banks for helping to launch my career. I have had the pleasure of designing a wide variety of merchandise for Miss Banks over the past two years or so, and no doubt my career would not be in the place it is today if it wasn’t for her belief in me! I won a contest she held on her instagram and have worked closely with her on a number of product designs- most notably her Bussy Boy Soap. Because of the exposure I have gone on to create designs for a number of queer performers such as Alaska 5000 and Luxx Noir London of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and even the French Language singer Jain.

I have been a huge fan of Azealia’s music from the time when I was in high school, so working for her is a dream come true. I was trying to explain to my dad who is a big Beatles fan that this would be like if John Lennon had called him to come play guitar or something. LOL.

Instagram: @kmintern

Image Credits
The photo of me outside Yoshi Now was taken by Andrew Mitchell