Meet the Illustrator: Christopher Nielsen

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.

Textured and colourful with a nod to vintage children’s books.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?

Music, dog, coffee cup.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?

I use a mix of acrylics, stencils, rollers, brushes and pencils and then

put it all together in Photoshop using my Wacom tablet.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.

Marc Boutavant, Jon Klassen and Miroslav Sasek.

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?

In my head I’m usually working on a Little Golden Book in my Manhattan studio space sometime in the 1950’s. With a pipe and tie.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

I was working in an art shop in the city after completing my degree and stumbled across a bunch of beautiful Illustration Annuals. That was when I realised there was a job title for what I wanted to do.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.

Rusty and I like to make a big mess of paints, pencils and paper constructing all the bits and pieces for each illustration. From there the process gets more focused once everything is scanned in and tweaked in Photoshop.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

Definitely the colouring in!

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

Be tenacious and deliver on time.

Christopher Nielsen’s illustrations flow forth from a love of vintage design. His images have been adopted by wineries, zoos, department stores, radio stations, fish mongers and publishers around the globe. When he's not making pictures or raising children he can be found on stage with his band, The Ramalamas. 

For more information please visit Christopher's website.