A Sticky New Year: The StiCky Interview

A STICKY NEW YEAR

An Interview with StiCky

BY MATT MELTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT MELTON

Off the beaten path and far from the bright lights of our cities is the only way to find your way to the reclusive and ever elusive StiCky, or as you may better know him, @stickyclawdraws on Instagram. We’ve observed his ever-growing creative impact in the cannabis community, as each new piece shared in his repertoire showcases his expanding clientele, and interest from fellow members of the “cannafam” in Maine and beyond!

But who the heck is this guy?! Well, I had the opportunity of meeting this interesting fellow firsthand, and boy was it a great time!

MCC: Let’s back things up a bit. Paint us a picture of your journey, leading up to StickyClawDraws.

SC: “My journey starts right here in Maine. I am a native, and like most others reading your publication,had that “down home Maine experience” growing up in the woods and watching all of this amazing cannabis stuff unfold. I graduated high school locally and proceeded off to Florida, then off to New Hampshire to obtain my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration. After college, I worked a plethora of jobs, from retail, as a barista, to marketing, and even in monument design and installation [headstones]. All along the way, I never lost sight of my passion for the arts and creativity. Around 2012, I made my way home again and apprenticed in the tattoo scene, but ultimately decided that wasn’t right for my career. I love being reclusive and working with individuals in a more personal, low-chaos, and creatively conducive space. Not long after this, I decided to hop on a bus and head south to see what may unfold down there. No real savings or plan...just took a chance.

“This led to building out an old van and converting it to both a home and mobile apparel print shop, all themed around the horror genre. Mostly marketing on social media, it took off and was a lot of fun for a few years. Over time, I found myself boxed in thematically, so alas... the desire for more began to grow. In 2019, I returned to Maine again for a family emergency only to realize that I had unknowingly longed deeply for the North. The fall, the winter, the snow!

“Once back, I was contacted by one of my oldest friends over at BudTeeCo. At this time, he was just getting his new shop location up and running and asked me to help out. Naturally, I was down, so I helped him set up the new space—built some tables, opened and closed boxes, folded shirts, made coffee runs, whatever really. During our long hours of this work, my friend made a statement I will never forget. ‘Yo, dude...you should’ve been doing cannabis designs and had an Instagram for it, like two months ago.’

“Man, was he right. I took his advice wholeheartedly, and he connected me with a few wonderful clients. Everything just snowballed from there, and as such, StiCky was born.” SC: “Man, that’s tough. It’s all about the journey, learning who you are, and what you really enjoy doing. And it never really ever stops completely, you know?

“The oldest memories of influence I have would be drawing my toys and action figures. I would often pause childhood movies and spend hours and hours drawing the scenes and characters. Drawing was all I really knew deeply, and it was the only place that felt like home. I was always getting in trouble for drawing in class. It could just take me anywhere I wanted to go.

“During my high school years, I started gravitating toward the surreal, mind-bending artists, like Salvador Dali and MC Escher. At this time, I had a growing relationship with cannabis, so it made sense. One thing I will never forget is being told by one particular art teacher, ‘See...this is really incredible...but you can’t make a career out of drawing marijuana.’ That is just too darn funny now.

“During college, I was exposed to more contemporary artists. I fell in love with the styles of artists like Alex Pardee, Tomer Hanuka, Audrey Kawasaki, and Jeff Soto. I love artists with a broad spectrum of talent. It’s really incredible to watch contemporaries grow and develop. They show you that anything is possible if you want it badly enough and believe in yourself. These days, it’s simply anything creative that embodies that very spirit. It doesn’t matter if you are just getting started or appear to be an expert. If you got heart and true spirit...I dig ya!”

MCC: Speaking to the heart my brother! So, what does StickyClawDraws mean to you? Or better yet, what is his ethos?

SC: “This work to me is both a personal and a shared experience. People come to you with these incredible ideas, or what I often refer to as “highdeas.” They have this amazing grow, shop, product, or overall great medicine. They just can’t manifest (by themselves) the imagery of how their creative mind sees their brand identity. So, for me, having this ability becomes a very meaningful exchange that I can have with each person. It creates a task that is truly meaningful for me, where I’m allowed to be myself and utilize the best parts of myself, and it is no longer work. If your ultimate form of play can be what you do for work, then what is better than that? In short, the ethos of StiCky is doing what I love to do, working alongside amazing individuals and companies doing just the same.”

MCC: Nice! Now that is what I would call the American Dream. How has Maine cannabis influenced you?

SC: “Maine cannabis and cannabis in general has greatly influenced and empowered my life. I experienced it around the age of 15 and loved it right from the beginning. It has improved a lot over the years and has always been a staple in my adult life. It helps me relax, overcome anxiety and depression, and center my thoughts and formulate my ideas into one concise image or concept. It has always been something that provides encouragement for deep thinking and methods of creativity. “Cannabis also reminds me to eat. That might sound ridiculous, but anyone who knows me, knows I am very project-oriented and forget to eat for most of the day. I would say that cannabis [as I’m sure everyone reading this is probably aware] is a great gift from mother, Gaia, Earth. She provides incredible healing and nourishing power. Cannabis is one of those gifts, with capabilities far beyond and far more healing than the ways it has benefited me. It has been a staple to my life and my art, and I’m sure that will continue for the rest of my life. To be working within this community and visually representing it through each individual piece is just incredible to me. I’m truly grateful.”

MCC: Amazing dude. Do you have a personal favorite from your portfolio?

SC: “The thing is, each project I do becomes my next favorite. I get super stoked on them, and each one is a brand new and exciting thing. I love the fun and creativity of the exchange with each person. Once a piece is completed, I feel this is my next best thing. But like any typical artist or creative, that exact moment is fleeting, and you start thinking, “what’s next?” So, I would say my favorite piece is...yours. Reader, hit me up!”

MCC: Haha, I love that. What are some “fun facts” about yourself?

SC: “One fact readers might find interesting is that I’m actually colorblind af! I have difficulty distinguishing between a lot of colors. Essentially, the spectrum of color that I see is limited compared to the normal eye. Creatively, this can be stifling at times, but that is a huge reason why I use the digital approach when it comes to color and final touches. Each piece I create “It’s taken years of practice, and two “color theory courses,” but I am able to now freely navigate the color spectrum charts when choosing color palettes for each piece. A lot of times I will have clients send me color swatches or pantones for the colors that they want to specifically use. This way, I can directly sample those colors and use them. So, in this day and age, there are ways around any challenge, and I can still accomplish something great!

“Another fact to note was my decision this past February to begin building myself a tiny home! It seemed like the logical next step, post “van-life.” What I didn’t expect is how far it would come along, so quickly! The really incredible part is that it has been made entirely possible by way of these projects within the cannabis community. I am beyond grateful for each and every person out there who has been a part of this. Thank you so very much for supporting me both as a creative and in my personal journey.”

MCC: No way! That’s incredible. What can we expect to see from you in 2021?

SC: “Well, that’s probably the most exciting part. I haven’t a clue! I never entirely know what the future will hold. This could keep going, or it could end in an instant. That’s why it’s always important to enjoy the moment and be grateful for everything you have. People have reached out to me from all over. Initially, client interest was more focused in the Maine area. However, over time it has branched further. I’ve now worked with clients in over 10 states. My hope for the future would be for this momentum to continue. I hope that my work might remain a preferred embodiment of cannabis brand identities, that more connections will grow, and so too will this amazing creative exchange I get to have with each and every person. I’ll draw just about anything so long as it’s for good people, in good taste, and supports someone with a good heart. So, here’s to 2021, and even more lit graphics for more lit people!”

MCC: Very well said! It’s surreal, the connection you have with your work and client base. It’s no longer just business, but a very powerful movement. Big thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat. It has been a pleasure, and cheers to 2021 and beyond!