I got to know Nathan Fox through Steven Heller and the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay program at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. Steve called and wondered if I could meet with Nathan to discuss animation possibilities with him. I was beyond impressed with Nathan’s combination of storytelling, illustration, and his awesome use of color. It’s wonderful when you see the influences that an artist has dovetailed into their style, technique, and presentation, while making it all their own—Nathan’s a perfect example of this. Japanese brushwork, comic-book narrative, poster graphics. . . it’s all in there, but used like I’ve never seen it before. And his use of sequential panels to tell a story is unparalleled.
Nathan’s work has appeared in the The New York Times and The New York Times Magazine, Interview, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Wired, Mad Magazine, Vertigo, Dark Horse Comics, and Marvel, among other places. In addition, his art has been featured in projects for MTV, the Burton US Open 2009, the Nike House of Hoops, the 1800 Tequila 2012 Essential Artist Series Bottles, Instant Winner, REAL Skateboards, and many others. You can visit his website at www.foxnathan.com. He is also currently working on the comic book series Haunt with Joe Casey, through Todd McFarlane’s Image Comics.
Beginning in the summer of 2013, Mr. Fox will be chairing the MFA in Visual Narrative program at SVA. His marvelous talents will finally be shared in a program that focuses on the “Artist as Storyteller.” “Great visual storytellers challenge our notions of self and truth, engaging an audience to its core,” Fox said in an announcement. “That level of visual narrative becomes an experience, a moment not soon forgotten, a memory forever cherished. These works have withstood the test of time, becoming part of our history and cultural identities.”
I’ve assembled a sampler of his work below. It speaks for itself, so just scroll through the luscious visuals and savor the experience.
Let’s start with some roughs . . .
. . . followed by some B&W cleanups.
An aerial view of Manhattan . . .
. . . and now, in color! (Color by Jeromy Cox from DMZ Ghost Protector, written by Brian Wood. Vertigo Comics)
Nathan has played with conventional 3-D techniques . . .
. . . in unconventional ways.
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Full-color designs follow.
A book of postcards published by Chronicle Books:
Here’s a link to the postcard book – http://www.chroniclebooks.com/titles/stay-tuned.html
For an article on Judd Apatow for Wired. (Thanks, Scott Dadich!)
(Hunting with Dick Cheney)
“Mach Go, Go, Go . . .”
. . .and not since Will Eisner have I so enjoyed looking at an illustrator’s depiction of women.
.You might also enjoy An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and Designers, now on sale at MyDesignShop.com.