Bored Panda reached out to the artist behind the series to learn more about his work. When asked how he would sum up his comics, Kristian responded: “If I were to describe Optipess in three words, it would probably be optimistic, pessimistic, and... hmm, unrealistic.”
We were curious about how Nygård’s art style has evolved over time and what factors influenced these changes. Here’s what he shared with us: “My style has mostly evolved organically over the years I've been making the comics, and I haven't really deliberately focused on changing things up. But going from traditional media to digital was definitely a huge factor. Also, using different digital tools, like a new drawing tablet or new brushes, has made it easier to try new approaches occasionally.”
When speaking about the most rewarding aspects of being a comics artist, Kristian explained how important it is for him to have a creative outlet to express whatever is on his mind. He elaborated: “I am often pondering about a theme or idea I would want to get across, and when it sometimes really clicks into place it feels really great. Even more so when readers seem to resonate with the end product.”
Lastly, the cartoonist shared which comics from his series hold a special place in his heart: “A personal favorite of mine is still the 'Dressing Up' comic I made years ago, but I also quickly discovered just how fun it is to draw the H. P. Lovecraft monster Cthulhu. I've lost count of how many Cthulhu comics I've made, but the comic ‘Rude Awakening’ is maybe still my favorite. It also holds a special place in my heart because it was originally released in print over a two page spread in Le Monde Diplomatique, Norwegian edition.”
