Background
Josh McCausland’s work approaches visual reality from its own unique angle.
As both a videographer and graphic designer, Josh is comfortable reconciling the real with the imagined, and it shows in what he creates. His work is refreshing, and exhibits a cleanliness that is never too removed from humanity.
Healing plays a large part in creation for Josh as “an outward expression for internal struggles.” Art is his way of continuing to exist “as a child in the living room sketching on floor, with no restrictions and no worries.”
It is this feeling of freedom that Josh’s work truly captures, allowing everyone who interacts with it a much-needed moment of peace in its simple beauty and effortless elegance.
In his pursuits, Josh has completed a BFA at Cumberland University with a major in Entertainment Design and a minor in film studies. He developed his own film company, iQ Flicks shortly after and now maintains his small business while working full-time for The Vincit Group as Lead Videographer and de facto design expert.
What was your major?
Entertainment Design with a minor in film studies
When did you graduate? Did you get your master’s?
I graduated in May of 2015. I did not get my master’s degree I moved straight into my field.
What have you done career-wise since you left CU?
I graduated in 2015 and that seems like a long time ago but when I sit back and think of everything that’s happened in my life I really wonder how it all happened in such short time. My career has flourished in so many ways since I graduated. My company, iQ flicks has grown its name a lot and my freelance work has really improved. I have had the opportunity to work with some really neat clients over the last year and a half. I started working in a marketing office in January of 2016. I never could have seen myself in a 8-5 job and I honestly can’t see myself doing it now. This job hasn’t been that. It has been an opportunity for me to fully express my talents into a brand and a large organization in a way I never thought I could. At the Vincit Group, I work with an amazing creative team of millennials like myself and we create all the content for a nationwide brand. How cool is that? With the help of our experienced PR team we create content that is seen across the nation across all mediums. It’s a really humbling experience.
I have also noticed a lot of personal development in myself over the last couple years that has helped my career immensely. The growth I have made as an artist just from when I graduated is substantial. Your career stems from your mentality and as an artist my mental state and my attitude towards what I do is imperative. I struggled with a lot of things once I graduated and I noticed my career was in balance due to that. The thing I had to remind myself, as I did at Cumberland, is your situation doesn’t define you but you define your situation. My career was a direct reflection of my college experience in that I just had to wake up and grasp what was in front of me and reach my full potential. I am a very modest person and I can confidently say that as a young artist in my 20’s I am freaking proud of where I am at and I am only hopeful for what is to come.
How did your experience at CU help you pursue your chosen career? Was there anything about CU that helped you, such as personal attention from professors?
Cumberland University was a great experience for me. I thrived in a small setting and was surrounded by some great people. The ethos of the college helped me more so than the actual courses. I came into my college experience with a real drive to grow as an individual and Cumberland University cultivated that. There was a large amount of support from people around Cumberland University that helped me thrive as an individual. I surrounded myself with friends who supported what I did and the drive I had would push them to be better. My roommate Ian, would always tell me how my passion for what I did and seeing how hard I worked would drive him. People saw how passionate I was for what I wanted to do and I built a great family around that. Larry Davis is one of the most talented people I have ever met and have had the pleasure of not only working with him but calling him one of my best friends. I have Cumberland to thank for that.
The interesting thing about Cumberland was that being a liberal arts college you get exposed to a lot of different aspects of a college experience. I became close to a lot of different professors in which a lot of art majors might not have been associated with. Paul Stumb is someone who I met my freshman year. He was the dean of the business school at the time, and I noticed very quickly I stuck out when I was with a typical group of business students. But not out of place. Dr. Stumb always welcomed me into his office with a warm, very firm and sometimes a little painful, handshake. He would ask me about classes, my work, and often tried to connect me with people who may need some video work.
There is a warmness about each program at Cumberland if you just reach out of your comfort zone and try to get to know people and in that, be comfortable with who you are as a person. In the real world you have to do that. I find myself in meetings with clients now where I have to present to whole boards of manly men in suit and tie. I fire in the room with my shirt untucked, my Chance the Rapper hat, crack a joke, and everyone is comfortable because I am myself. I am not in any way saying you need to start off your career that way, but find what works for you. Be yourself. Cumberland didn’t tell me specifically, but I acquired a thinking in my time there that grew and harnessed me as an induvial to grow.
The most influential person for my time at Cumberland University was a man I bumped into my freshman year and grew to become very close with by the name of John Essary. John taught me so many invaluable lessons. Not just about technical things, but as a friend. He pushed me to be better with every project and life experience. He would tell me what I needed to hear, not what I wanted. I appreciated that so much about him. Even in my sophomore year when I know I was obnoxious and unsure of what I was doing, he cultivated me and was there to help teach me new tricks. One of the greatest achievements of my life so far has been seeing us grow closer and to be at a point where I know he is proud of what I am doing. Cumberland University should be proud of not only graduating John, but of all the work he provided for them in his time as an associate there. He was in my opinion one of the most inspiring graduates I’ve seen come out of Cumberland University. And I am eternally grateful to Cumberland for providing that friendship to me.
What would you say to a prospective student considering CU’s arts program?
I would say have fun. Do the work you want to do. If you want to sketch, then sketch. If you want to create YouTube videos, create them. If you want to bedazzle socks and sell it on Etsy, heck do that too! Whatever makes you happy and fulfills whatever artistic outlet you have, do that thing. The more you think about what others like, or what is “successful”, you will run into issued internally and externally. The more you have fun and create the work you want to create; you will inherently find your place as an artist. And when you find your place as an artist, people will notice.
Cumberland’s art program will welcome you in as long as you are willing to learn. Be willing and open to learn new things. Ted Rose will teach you quickly how he can connect ANYTHING to painting and drawing. He will connect with you no matter what the circumstance.
One last thing, be mindful of the knowledge of the people who you are learning from. Sometimes you may thing you know everything but really stop for a second and look at a man like Ted Rose. I can confidently say, time with Ted is priceless. Spend as much time learning from him because he is a true genius.