In 2019, Santa Fe-based artist Daniel McCoy (Muscogee Creek/Citizen Band Potawatomi) told SFR his obsession with art might have begun with his artist father, but also Hot Wheels and Star Wars. At the time, McCoy was borderline obsessed with the Americana of Allsup’s convenience stores, and by paying homage to their oasis-style high desert existence, he found a sublime counterpoint between high art paint and ink and the relationship between the hoi polloi and chimis. Some years down the road, McCoy is still plugging away at the painting game, and though New Mexicana like Blake’s Lotaburger (and, yes, Allsup’s still) makes its way into the pieces, McCoy’s intersection of elements from pop art, classic landscapes and what we might call stoner metal album art still feels like the early days of something we’ll later call iconic.

What’s the general vibe like with your current work? In other words, are you feeling particularly inspired and, if so, how so?

For about the last 10 months, I’ve been painting nonstop. I got to assist on some really cool projects, too, but I’ve mainly been concentrating on my own work, so the line work is getting tighter and I think I’m using my time really well. The New Mexican landscape continues to inspire, and I’ve kind of been concentrating on the power of mountains and peaks at night. They seem to glow and to almost be alive, and that alone is part of the drive.