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Creatives at Home: Nathan Nankervis in His Colourful Studio
This Melbourne-based graphic artist and illustrator shows us around his eye-catching design quarters
Nathan Nankervis’ character is plastered across his studio, where he spends his days working for clients such as Bonds, Heineken and Red Bull. Alongside these big company designs, Nankervis works on his own personal projects which he surrounds himself with. Colour and pattern with motifs of ‘googly’ eyes and faces can be seen in his paintings, illustrations and digital designs, and represent his fun nature. The transformed upstairs studio of his east Melbourne home receives plenty of natural light, and he can play his favourite tunes in there all day long – perfect for inspiring creativity and art with googly eyes.
He spends a lot of time at his desk, where he edits designs on his computer. “My favourite medium would be digital. I’m a ’90s kid, so I grew up with a keyboard and mouse in hand. It’s what comes naturally,” he says. “I also aesthetically like everything to be clean and crisp, which the computer enables me to do.”
To ensure he is always inspired, he has crammed his desk with some of his favourite works, both his own and others’. His favourite piece in his space is the giant illuminated Spiderman bust sitting off to the side.
To ensure he is always inspired, he has crammed his desk with some of his favourite works, both his own and others’. His favourite piece in his space is the giant illuminated Spiderman bust sitting off to the side.
To nurture his creativity, Nankervis needs colour around him and lots of it. In fact, when asked what he couldn’t live without, he says “my music and my colour.”
Nankervis doesn’t just spend time creating on his computer either; he also draws, paints and works on his sticker art. He’s currently working on an exhibition happening in December, with designs based on letters.
Nankervis says that the space grew on him organically with the more time he spent in it. While he doesn’t love the murky-coloured walls, he simply covers them in his own art.
Conceptual drawings and sketches Nankervis is working on lay on the floor next to his painting. He uses regular house paints for his physical work and experiments with spray paints. “I’ve found it really soothing getting off the computer,” he says.
The young artist twirls and spins the basketball in his studio around as he works, as part of his creative process. While he doesn’t consider his work to be work, to clear his head when he needs to, he goes for walks, shoots hoops, cooks and meditates.
Nankervis describes his creative space in three words – happy, fun, Nathan. It’s where he can be himself and practise what he loves.
Nankervis’ latest exhibition, ‘Letterman’ can be seen at Magic Johnston in Collingwood, Melbourne, Friday 9 December, 6 to 9pm.
TELL US
What do you like about Nathan Nankervis’ creative space? Let us know in the Comments.
Nankervis’ latest exhibition, ‘Letterman’ can be seen at Magic Johnston in Collingwood, Melbourne, Friday 9 December, 6 to 9pm.
TELL US
What do you like about Nathan Nankervis’ creative space? Let us know in the Comments.
Age: 24
Occupation: Graphic artist, illustrator and designer
Location: Box Hill, Victoria
There’s no doubting who the artist is behind these boldly colourful pieces, as they are an extension of the artist himself. Having relocated his studio from a garage conversion to the upstairs room of his share house in Box Hill, where he has lived for 8 months, his definitive sense of style hasn’t been lost in the new space.
Nankervis graduated from Communications Design at Swinburne University, and set out to make a career out of his passion for drawing.