Once again Bored Panda reached out to Nate but this time with even more questions! First, we asked the artist if he had any major influences in his life that might've helped him to develop and refine his style.
“I had a lot of influence from other cartoonists growing up. The big ones were Gary Larson, Bill Watterson of Calvin & Hobbes, Walt Disney animations, and Jim Davis of Garfield. Currently, I find influence all the time from various people. My parents also gave me a boost as a kid by supplying me with markers and paper. Plus, they never frowned on me for drawing in class instead of paying attention.”
Art, in any kind of form, takes a lot of time not only to practice but also to produce, therefore we asked Nate how long it takes him to fully finish his comics.
“So, it's tricky. Of course, I have to write it first. That can be done in a few minutes or weeks. I have a writing routine, and sometimes ideas flow out like water from a faucet. Other times, there's nothing, and that nothingness is essential, though. It's part of the creative process. But, okay, let's say I have an idea ready, and it's time to actually draw! A good, colored gag cartoon usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half. A graphic novel page usually takes about 2-3 hours to ink and color.”
Being an artist is not easy, one can easily encounter a lack of inspiration, burnout, etc, so we wanted to ask Fakes about his ideas for the comics.
“Read a lot, write a lot. You must get into a writing routine if you're going to come up with ideas. As I mentioned earlier, they sometimes don't hit. That's why routine is vital so that you're ready for them when they do. Also, I pay attention to everyday observations, and something might strike me as funny. If I can create a humorous take on a circumstance, I will.”
As we mentioned before, sometimes creative work can cause quite a burnout, therefore we asked the artist how he dealt with that as well.
“Every creative person gets moments of burnout. It goes with the territory and is entirely normal. Creative work is tough! It's not an easy job, and there are times you don't feel like being creative. However, those times pass, and more often than not, I'm excited as ever to do the work that I do.”
We also asked Nate about how people reacted to his work.
“My gag comics generally get a lot of groans, laughs, blank stares – you name it. Humor varies for everyone. Some comics are a huge hit with thousands of people, but there'll be a few who will say 'this is stupid' or, more recently, 'okay boomer.' It cracks me up, the responses I get. Generally, they're good, though. My fans are the best, and I just focus on creating off-the-wall, hopefully, funny material that folks will enjoy.
On another note, my new graphic memoir, A Fade of Light, will be published by West Margin Press in September of 2022. This graphic novel has a somber undertone to it and is precisely the opposite of my gag comics, so I'm anxious to hear the reaction to it. It's the most exciting, rewarding, and deep project I've ever worked on in my life, and I can't wait to share it with the world. I'll certainly be sharing more and more details on my Instagram and elsewhere as the time nears closer to its release.”
The creative process is not easy, but there are some enjoyable parts about it.
“I enjoy coming up with stuff that I know is 100% uniquely me. And hearing or seeing the audience react is always fulfilling for me. Makes it all worthwhile. There's no other profession out there that's better than being a cartoonist.”
We also asked about the inspiration behind the artist's Instagram account.
“I'd say it's the norm these days, and you can get a great audience. Plus, I've been able to share new ideas, interact with fans, and I feel like people get to know me better personally and professionally. Additionally, I get to share photos of my cat, Tiger, which is always a hit.”
Artists tend to get motivated by a lot of things such as curiosity, the search for beauty, or even meaning. Therefore, we asked Nate about that too.
“I used to be a traditional artist with a dip pen, India ink, and Bristol board. I switched to almost 100% digital about three years ago. It's so streamlined, and digital lets me produce at a much quicker pace, so more cartoons! Yippee!”
