John Strouf is a Wisconsin based Ink artist who goes by the nickname CupCake. Although he started doodling when he was a toddler, he launched his art career in 2020 after losing someone close to him. At this time he started drawing relentlessly to calm his mind.
Cupcake draws his creativity from turmoil and tragedy he has experienced in life. His work is a distraction from negative thoughts and used as a therapy when he cannot sleep. CupCake believes his art takes its own form and he creates the translation of the energy he feels.
CupCake draws both in the light and in the dark. Because he uses fluorescent materials for his work, you can see differences in the imagery from light to dark to black light. His work is heavily detailed and incorporates hidden easter eggs. Within his meaningful hidden details you can see a theme; “You deserve what you get, and you get what you deserve.” When creating he starts on one side of the image and watches as it grows across the board. The imagery within his drawings are connected. And as your eye moves across his work you see the different ideas masterfully sewn together as one.
