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An interview with Nathaniel Eckstrom

Something we’ve been talking about for a while now is to do some interviews with our artists. So that you, the dear ivoteforart visitor, can find out more about the amazing team of artists that we have here.

First cab off the rank is Sydneysider, Nathaniel Eckstrom. Nathaniel has been with us on ivoteforart since the very beginning. Nathaniel is a prominent part of the Australian illustration scene, and having picked up the Desktop Magazine’s Create Award for Illustration last year, you’re bound to hear more about him wherever it is you are. We spoke to Nathaniel during the week about his illustration, his influences, and a whole lot more:

Photo copyright Britta Campion

Hi Nathaniel. How’s it going?

Great, I’m heading up north to a farm for the weekend. So I’m planning on doing very little. Piece and quiet and some drawing.

Sounds nice. Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you started illustrating? When did you decide that you were going to be an artist?

Art was the only subject I felt comfortable with in High School. In fact, I topped the year once which seemed promising. I went on to study Graphic Design for two years and loved the illustration classes. I always had this idea in my head that I wanted to be a freelance illustrator.

Just after finishing College I called a big Illustration agency and made an appointment. Young and naive I walked in with my book of not very much thinking all I have to do is show my stuff and they’ll take me on. After a brief meeting with one of their illustrators I was quickly cut back down. He gave me some encouraging words and said to come back and keep showing my stuff. I always laugh thinking about that. I hadn’t realised just how many years of hard work, promoting etc is involved in Illustration. I love it now and it’s a rewarding profession full of highs and lows.

What is your first art-making memory as a kid?

A colaborative pirate book the class made in Grade 2. I still have it after winning it for a reason i can’t remember.

2008 was a pretty big year for you, especially since you were the winner of the Desktop Create Awards for Illustration - How has that helped your career?

Desktop Magazine have been very kind to me. I’ve had a few great jobs since winning the award. It helped introduce my work to a wider audience plus I have a extremely sturdy bookend now. That thing weighs a ton!

Has this allowed illustrating to be a full time career for you?

I’m slowly getting there!

I know that feeling! We’re obviously interested in the online art world. Has the internet been a good thing for your career? How has it changed your role as an artist?

It’s definitely given me a huge amount of exposure. To my knowledge all of my clients have found me this way. So yes, it’s been a great advantage. Everything is at your fingertips and it allows artists to take more control over their careers. The only downside is trying not to spend too much time on it. The days when you actively had to seek out material from the library or other sources is long gone.

Are you working on anything exciting at the moment? New work? Upcoming exhibitions?

Right now I’m working on a full page editorial piece. And I’m very excitied about an upcoming colouring book. I finished a range of teaboxes for ‘Home & Human Fashion’ that should be released this month. I also have plans for another exhibition, but that could take a while.

Tell about your creative process. What inspires you to create new pieces? Do you have particular habits to your creativity?

A lot of my inspiration is derived from some of my musical heroes. Some of my favourite musicians are extremely creative people. I’m a massive fan of Mike Patton and Perry Farrell’s projects. I usually listen to music while I’m drawing or painting. I’m not sure it’s possible to capture the same emotions in art as in music. But when you have the visual element together with music, it magnifies the whole experience.

If I’m not working on a commission I work on whatever ideas I’m thinking at the time. Sometimes they come from a piece in my sketchbook or random thoughts that need to be expressed in drawing somehow. I like to do a bit of research first. I try and come up with word and picture association related to my subject. And then it’s a matter of combining the ideas I think work best.

How do you feel about the state of the Australian art / illustration scene at the moment?

There’s a lot of amazing talent in Australia. And more and more establishing themselves Internationally. And with sites such as ‘I vote for art’ it helps artists get thier work out there.

Ding ding! Thanks for the little ivoteforart plug there! Now, onto more serious topics - If you were on death row, what would your last meal be?

I’d hate to be faced with that decision but definitely my favourite dish - chilli crab pasta!

Ooh, Nice. Ok - one more question ... Who are some other artists, living or dead, there that you admire?

I love Robert Dickerson’s faces. And Gary Shead is also amazing. James Jean, Jeff Soto, Tara Mcpherson, Istvan Banyai and Yuko Shimizu are amongst a long list of favourites.

Thanks very much to for Nathaniel for talking to us.. You can, of course, check out his tremendous 3 pieces available for sale here. And you can find out more about Nathaniel via his website.

 

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