Cory Bugden is a Calgary-based artist known for his whimsical style, love of bold colours, and ability to put a smile on anyone’s face. In 2016, after working as a graphic designer for an agency that serviced clients like Oakley, Speedo, and Red Bull, Cory decided it was time to push his artistic capabilities and jump head-first into the world of illustration at the Alberta University of the Arts.

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“In the beginning, as a bright-eyed and somewhat terrified freshman, I wanted to be a concept artist for film and video games. My focus started to shift as I continued my schooling and I soon found myself falling in love with editorial illustration, print-making, and large-scale projects like billboards and murals.”

Currently, in his fourth and final year of a Bachelor of Visual Communication (Illustration) at AUArts, Cory wants to be a studio-owner, creative director, children's book illustrator, and amateur freestyle rapper.

“To be able to learn from some of the great minds that create [at AUArts] is a really amazing experience. I think the biggest takeaway that I keep close to my heart is to not be precious about the things that I create. It's ok to be messy and learn from mistakes because sometimes those mistakes are what makes your work unique.”

For Chroma on the Rise, PARK’s latest collaboration with Southcentre Mall, Cory created Colour Me Happy, an installation exploding with colour, warmth, good feelings, rainbows, and french fries.

“The idea for my mural started with thinking about what makes people happy. Since the mural was originally planned to be launched along with the International Day of Happiness, I wanted to make people smile! I wrote down a list of words that I associated with good feelings and gathered suggestions from people around me and started doodling them on a floor plan of the 3D space. With some sizing adjustments, and a little colour, the area really came alive and ‘Colour Me Happy’ was born! Happiness comes in all shapes and sizes, but nothing screams happiness like ice cream cones, sunnyside-up eggs, and rollerblading.”

Since this was Cory’s first time painting a large scale mural and a 3D space, we wanted to learn more about his experience. Read our conversation below:

How did your first large-scale project differ from your previous smaller-scale projects?

Both aspects had their share of challenges but I am eternally grateful to PARK and Southcentre for letting me not only have fun but also learn a lot about the mural painting process. I think that any small scale project can be a large scale project, and vice versa, you just have to be ok with resizing some things or cutting other things out. One of the best tools I used for this project was a flat floor plan of the space that was scaled down to a letter-sized piece of paper. Translating the drawings from the smaller model to the real walls went really smoothly.

What were the biggest takeaways from your #COTR experience?

Since this was the first mural I’ve done, I learned a lot about the process of creating these large-scale pieces. Like using white paint to make colours like yellow and orange more opaque and figuring out what colours to paint first and last so the process was more efficient. There were lots of times where some things weren’t working quite the right way but with a little problem-solving, I know better for next time!

How important are opportunities like #COTR for artists?

Opportunities like this are huge for artists because it gives them a space to show who they are and what their artistic voice is. It also gives them a chance to explore their creative process and allow them to through something new they haven’t done before (like me!)

What advice do you have for emerging artists trying to develop their own unique style and pursue a professional career as a creative?

One of the most important things that I’ve learned is to not be stressed out about what everyone else is doing — everyone’s style, taste, and abilities are different. Be yourself, and keep creating no matter what. Art blocks will happen, but they are never permanent. Another essential piece of advice would be to always share your creations with people and network with other artists. Being active on social media is a big part of this, but make sure to take breaks and follow the content that you want to see, not the content that’s going to make you feel bad.

Who has inspired your artistic voice?

Keith Haring and Andy J. Miller are two of my biggest inspirations. Both of them use bold colours, geometric shapes, and exaggerated line-work which has been a HUGE inspiration for my work and process.

One last question before we go: if time and funding wasn't a concern, what dream project would you like to pursue?

My dream is to create a studio space in Calgary that is accessible to students, emerging artists, and professional artists. The space would also serve as a creative hub, store, and print shop that makes the artists’ work come alive. Later on, I would love to expand into a full-service print studio offering everything from silkscreen to risograph, serving Calgary and beyond. If there’s enough budget for a second dream project, I’d say recording a mixtape with Kendrick Lamar.