Original Interview can be found at:

http://www.lounge72.com/interviews/interview.php?id=41

Interview by Thinkmule

So, can you tell me a little about yourself? full name, some backround info, etc

I, Nate Williams, am an artist/illustrator currently living in South/Central America. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and Salt Lake City, Utah .. I studied art at the University of Utah with an emphasis in Inter-media sculpture … worked in an ad agency then moved to Seattle, Washington and worked as a designer and art director for a software/video game company. Now I am here in South America experiencing life from another perspective and attempting to learn Spanish.

How do you describe your work?

I used to say Bold, Simplistic, influenced by Japanese and Mexican Food Packaging .. but now I don’t even really know what to say .. Its just the way I think .. so Its kind of hard to remove myself from it and define it. Someone else could probably describe it better than I could because they would be a little more objective and could perceive it in the context of other artists works and define its unique qualities.

What about Hola Amiga?

In retrospect Hola Amiga was a response to my previous work environment. I used to work for an Ad Agency and then as an Art Director for a Software/Video Game company. Finding a way to measure the success of a specific marketing effort/tactic/campaign was extremely important in these environments (Return on Investment). We would do this by running usability tests, focus groups, retina tracking, analyzing statistics, tracking youth macro and micro trends and much more .. a lot more scientific than I had ever imagined .. very, very interesting .. but I always thought that we put too much emphasis on the things that were easy to measure and not enough on things that are more intuitive from the subconscious level. A group of marketers could never get together .. have a of meeting and then create a james brown. He has a one of a kind personality that isn’t conceived through research .. its just the way he is. Lots of times things have value before we can understand why they have value. Monkey’s have learned to eat different types of plants and herbs for upset stomachs or to increase fertility.. I’m sure they don’t know the why it works .. but through trial and error and learning from other monkey’s they know that it works.

So that is why I created Hola Amiga .. I was working in an environment that was extreme on one end so I created something to balance that out on the other end. Hola Amiga was all about doing what I wanted and not having to explain why I did it .. it was to explore the subconscious

Now that I have been away from that working environment for almost two years .. I don’t have the urge to balance it out as much .. the pendulum has actually swung back towards the center where I’m craving a to tell more of a story .. Than just to masturbate with random imagery like an mtv video. It would be great to make something someone who doesn’t care about art can appreciate.

So in a nutshell .. I’m pursuing other projects right now .. it might reappear one day.

Day job?

After working in some very demanding jobs I really, really, really appreciate my free time. I don’t know if I spent too much time alone as a kid or what .. but I can entertain myself for months at a time. My perspective has changed.. I used to work and then figure out what I could do in my spare time. Now I do the things I want to do .. and try to figure out how to pay for it. Which isn’t so hard .. everything I like to do, draw, paint, read, research, exercise, sit on park benches, spend time with my girlfriend, travel, laugh, talk with people .. etc is free or fairly cheap. I’m gradually making the transition to being a fulltime illustrator/artist .. but from time to time I will do some freelance web design to help pay the bills.

How did you end up way down south?

Long story .. but I love the various Latin cultures .. everything ..from the food, the gorgeous people .. the emphasis on nurturing relationships between friends and family to the art, music, etc .. just being in a totally new environment with a different language, customs, etc .. is like being a kid all over again .. but having the maturity and intellect of an adult to appreciate it.

So .. I went to Spain .. met a woman from Argentina .. we kept in contact .. I told her I wanted to move to a Spanish speaking country to learn Spanish … she said Argentina was amazing .. I came an studied in a language school in Buenos Aires, Argentina .. moved to Chile for a bit .. moved back to Buenos Aires .. than convinced my girlfriend from Buenos Aires to move to Costa Rica with me .. we lived there for 6 months .. then we moved back to Buenos Aires about 5 months ago. She is originally from Buenos Aires and now we’re engaged .. so I will have a life long connection to Buenos Aires where her family lives. I love Buenos Aires .. here are some pictures:

http://www.n8w.com/newweb/photos-buenosaires.php
http://www.n8w.com/newweb/photos-cr-sept.php
http://www.n8w.com/newweb/photos-chile.php

What’s on your desk right now?

My laptop .. a rad sculpture by John Casey, a guitar tuner, calling card, pens, misc papers

What is your creative process? What mediums do you work in and which one do you enjoy the most?

The creative process from commissioned work vs. personal work is very different .. with commissioned work .. I get the assignment .. take a notepad .. and take the subway around the city, sit on park benches, take random buses etc .. this is my way of brainstorming .. and by putting myself in new environments .. I think of different analogies/ideas for the assignment.. come back .. post the super rough pencil sketches online .. the client .. picks an idea .. or gives feedback and then I create the final piece.

With personal work .. I have moods .. sometimes I feel like making music .. sometimes I feel like painting .. sometimes I feel like programming or learning a new medium (currently video stuff) .. My personal stuff is usually more about playing and discovery .. rarely do I have a grandiose Idea that I just need to execute.

I don’t have a favorite medium .. different mediums are great for different moods.

You seem to have developed a pretty unique style. How did this all come about, or do you even know?

Thanks .. I think its probably just a sum of my experiences.. growing up in a family that had exchange students and valued other cultures, working at Kinko’s copies where I could play on the machines and learn about computers, having a super supportive family that always encouraged me to create and embraced my curiosity..

Do you have a favorite piece you have created? Why is it your favorite?

My latest piece is usually my favorite .. but this has been a favorite for awhile http://www.n8w.com/image/art/wb-10/ my mom died from Ovarian cancer a few years ago and this was a piece about her .. the person on the left is her and I’m in the center .. it was basically a piece telling her thanks for everything .. hence the “Gracias” above my head

What do you want to achieve with your work?

I just want to keep exploring and working with great people .. aside from art .. just meeting people that make life pleasurable, interesting, laughable, etc

Influences?

Plants, Animals, Family/Friends, Dan Eldon, Ami Vitale, Bessie Smith, Marisol Escobar, Jordin Isip, Gary Baseman, Clayton Brothers, Astrud Gilberto, Bob Marley, Modest Mouse, Postal Service .. plus a zillion others

Do you keep a sketchbook? How often do you draw in it?

I keep a zillion sketch books .. just small enough to fit in my pocket .. mainly for writing down ideas .. its mixed with illustrations, ideas, grocery lists, funny stick man drawing my girlfriend and I always draw to make fun of one another, etc.

If you could offer some advice to the L72 readers, what would you tell them?

I’m not Yoda or anything .. but I would just say do what you really want to do and you find a way to make things work out.

Future plans?

I just signed up with Magnet Reps out of Los Angeles .. I really like the artists they represent and look forward to working together.

Ultimate Goals?

Be Happy and Healthy, Appreciate What’s around me, keep learning, have a life filled with interesting, people, projects, places, foods.. Contribute something positive.. create things that make people feel good, inspired, curious, or motivated.

Shoutouts?

Definitely .. shout outs to all the rad people I have met via this thing called “art” Jordin Isip, Thinkmule, Robert Hardgrave, Robynne Raye at Modern Dog, and all the portals that have been super supportive Lounge 72, Fecal Face, UAILAB, Crown Dozen, Newstoday, Design Is Kinky, Design Taxi, Netdiver, Artdorks, and many more