@nikolas.ilic | www.nikolas-ilic.com
We are honored to have, Nikolas Ilic, as our Featured Artist, he is an amazing artist that draws incredible illustrations, you definitely wont regret following this guy, so go over and support a fellow artist!
How long have you been an artist? What is your specialty? Where do u find inspiration?
I have always enjoyed art as a kid and would say I have always been an artist since I can remember. It wasn’t until college where I really realized I could make it a professional career. I attended Sheridan College in Canada studying animation and graduated in 2011. Since then I have worked in the industry and specialize in design for animation and also illustration. i find my inspiration from multiple sources. My dad for example is a fine artist and is always painting so he definitely was a inspiration for me going into the arts. Now people like my work colleagues and people in the animation industry are great inspirations for me!
Do you have a job in the art industry? If So, what’s one thing you don’t like about it? If no, where would your dream job be?
I am currently Art Director at JibJab Bro studios for the Netflix Original series Ask the Storybots. Overall Its a great job and the best part is the people I get to work with. If i could have a dream job it would have to be getting payed to do just my own art work and my own content!
Do you have a favorite Artist?
There are many great artists I admire. But if I had to pick one, I do really love is Ronald Searle. The personality and charm he gets out of his characters and illustrations are filled with so much life!
What is one accomplishment you’ve had in your life? Does not need to be art related.
I would say winning a Daytime Emmy Award ! It was for the work I did for the Netflix Original series Ask the Storybots. It was a pretty surreal experience and still feels surreal to this day.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?
I have been working in the industry for the past 7 years in studios and I would love to see myself as a freelance artist in the future and having my own business and identity.I feel like having your own identity is very important as an artist and thats what I strive to do.
If you could meet and talk to any person in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?
If I could meet and talk to anybody in the world It would have to be Miroslav Sasek! Much like Searle, he is a great inspiration to me. I think learning from him in person and watching him create his illustrations would have been an amazing experience. Traveling the world and seeing how he captured cultures in a fun graphical appealing way would have been phenomenal.
How is one way you make money with your art?
Through freelance work! Building clients and finding new ones is how I make money with my art!
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
If i could go anywhere in the world right now it would have to be the Netherlands! Hopefully in the near future I will go, my mother comes form a dutch decent and I have family still there so I think ti would be great to meet family members I have never met before. Also I have heard thatHolland is just a very beautiful place in general!
What is your favorite brand of art supply? Whether it’s a brand of pencils or brand of camera or software
Most of my work is done mainly in photoshop which I do love using, I started using procreate with the Ipad pro and have been enjoying that lately as well. When it comes to traditional work I like using 2b pencils for drawing and sketching. Painting with acyclic gouache is also fun but its hard to find the time!
Any advice for young artists?
To keep drawing and creating art to find your voice! I think the one common question lots of people ask are how do you draw like that or paint like that?. Sure there are tips to give but ultimately you just have to keep at it and you will eventually improve as long as you are dedicated and passionate!
