Kyle Topping

Like many artists, Kyle Topping wears many hats – a multidisciplinary artist whose preferred processes are relief print, screen print and etching, he also co-owns and operates Spark Box Studio with Chrissy Poitras, a social enterprise, online artist resource hub and community printmaking studio with a commitment to supporting and promoting individuals working in the arts.

This fall, Kyle is the artist instructor of the 6-week Photoshop for Beginners course at the County Arts Lab. This comprehensive course will help those new to Photoshop develop a strong foundation in the software, delivered as a weekly video as well as weekly in-person or online sessions to ask questions, get clarification and troubleshoot. “I create digital collages combined with illustration that are printed using analog printing processes. Diagrams, blueprints and schematics are the buildings blocks of my visual language,” he says. “I like to describe my work as fictional science.”

This August, Kyle and Chrissy were able to take part in a residency fellowship at Zea Mays Printmaking, a professional printmaking studio with a mission to provide a space to learn, create and promote prints made with the safest processes while working with artists, studios and schools worldwide to share innovations in non-toxic and sustainable printmaking. The residency was made possible with assistance from the Professional Development grant from County Arts’ Artist Fund.

On the heels of the PEC Studio Tour less than 2 weeks ago, where Spark Box Studio was open to Tour-goers with their brand new print store, we asked Kyle to tell us a bit more about his work. Read on to hear more about the residency, challenges and advice for artists just starting out!

Tell us about another artist’s artwork/artistic project you’ve experienced recently that made an impact on you:

I recently attended a two week residency fellowship at Zea Mays Printmaking in Massachusetts. During this residency I focused on learning more about sustainable, green printmaking practices, specifically copper plate etching and aquatint. There is a lot of new development in the world of green printmaking and this experience was hugely impactful. The director at Zea Mays Printmaking, Liz Chalfin, is an expert in this field. She has dedicated the past 20 years to researching and sharing her findings in non-toxic printing. Through our discussions I feel like I left the residency with a strong understanding of how I could further my own studio’s journey on the road of green printmaking.

What advice would you give to artists just starting out in their careers?

Here’s what I’d tell any artist starting their career: be ready to wear a lot of hats. You’re not just a creator—you’re also a writer, marketer, distributor, webmaster, accountant, and more. It can feel overwhelming, but there’s a way to manage it.

One of the simplest things you can start doing today is paying attention to how you spend your time. Include everything—from emails and brainstorming to art creation, delivery, studio cleanup, and accounting. Getting comfortable with knowing, or at least estimating, how long tasks take is key. It helps ease the stress of pricing your art, building quotes or setting budgets for grants.

What has been your most challenging work or project since you began your career, and why?

For 13 years, the main focus of my business was our artist residency program. During that time, we had the pleasure of hosting well over 500 artists. It’s taken me several years to come to terms with the decision to end the residency—it had become a big part of my identity as an artist, and it was what Spark Box Studio was best known for. Even now, I catch myself mentioning it when introducing myself professionally. But sometimes, good things come to an end, and that’s okay—something else usually fills the space. Without the residency, I’ve been able to focus more on my passion for sharing knowledge through our YouTube channel and workshops, as well as dedicate more time to my creative work in printmaking and installation art.

Tell us about a piece of media you’ve been loving lately:

Well it is fall, so Chrissy and I are binge watching Gilmore Girls, we’re on season 2. Next up will be the animated short series titled Over the Garden Wall.