August 31, 2017 |

Artist Interview - Nate Flamm

Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Nate Flamm and I’m a freelance and independent illustrator. I create fantasy illustration for publishers, and sell my original artwork at Nateflamm.com.

Why do you do what you do?
I love to the process of creation. I view painting as a complex puzzle with a problem and solution. I enjoy all the research and conceptualization that goes into creating a maximally effective illustration.

How and when did you get into art?
Like most people, I started drawing very young – 3 or so. My parents encouraged me to work hard and become talented.

How has your practice changed over time?
I’ve gone from making art for fun, to creating work for clients, and now working on independent projects through crowd-funding at Patreon.com/Nateflamm.

What’s your favorite piece of art that you’ve created? Why?
The Illustrated Man, based on the short story collection of the same name, by Ray Bradbury. It most effectively captures my artistic vision and is my strongest piece in terms of technical capacity.

^{The Illustrated Man}

What’s the best piece of art advice you’ve been given?
Don’t take compliments to heart, do the work, focus on substance - not style, and paint from life.

What’s one art tip/technique you can share with us that you find really helpful?
Complete all (or at least most) of your problem solving before you go to canvas. The more tonal / color studies and reference gathering you can do, the better the final image will be.

Do you have any secret tips or techniques you use to salvage a piece when you make a mistake?
Push through to finish the artwork to the best of your ability.

The real technique here is learning to accept the mistake, because you will never create a perfect painting. Just try to plan better next time, and make the next one slightly better.

What is your favorite Strathmore paper?
Strathmore’s Toned Gray! It’s perfect for quickly executing thumbnails, plein air sketches at your local museum, or preliminary studies before starting a painting.

What art materials could you not live without?
A standing desk and a rubber mat. Bad health is a hindrance to good art!