For Alex Wight, Skully Vibes isn’t just an Instagram handle or a character’s name; it’s a front-row seat to a world he’s been creating since college. Back then, a young Alex was on a career path toward becoming a biologist, but a love for Cannabis and art veered him into a lane he never dreamed existed.
Alex describes his style as “Saturday morning cartoons meets scientific textbook illustrations.” There’s always a lot of color or nature in the scenes he creates, along with his signature Skully Vibes character.
Even though Alex spent a lot of time in school taking art classes, smoking bongs and playing Super Smash Bros., he never thought he could have a career in art or weed, let alone together. After earning a degree in biology, he flipped the script by moving to Colorado and entering the Cannabis industry. Working as the general manager for a dispensary, he fostered a deeper love for Cannabis culture while plastering his office walls with cartoons he drew.
“My boss hated them, but everyone who came in would tell me how much they loved them,” he said.
This encouragement led to Alex illustrating a series of nonfungible tokens called “Smoking Skulls” and tabling prints and stickers at Cannabis events. He eventually attracted the attention of multiple brands, beginning with Olio and its artist series of packaging.
Today, the Skully Vibes studio sits in a Denver building affectionately nicknamed “Weedworks,” a spot where powerhouse creatives — like Extracts Daily, Level Heady and Borovision — also have offices. Alex said they often meet up for breaks at a dab table outside to share ideas.
Inside the studio, he plays a constant loop of rap and hip-hop music.
“Mainly right now, “Take Me To Your Leader” by King Geedorah, Chief Keef deep cuts and Young Thug.” When the beat stops, Alex turns the vibe to something more educational. “I’ll also go on YouTube for long-form videos — lots of historical documentaries, socioeconomic breakdowns and true crime stories.”
Alex said Cannabis plays a big part in his professional art career. Along with working for numerous industry clients, he said smoking during studio days keeps him fluid and ready to move between all the different parts that come together to create finished graphics or paintings.
“I dab pretty regularly. It’s great for getting new ideas or zoning out on repetitive tasks,” Alex said, “less so when I have super technical stuff to draw,” he added with a smile.
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