HELLO NEKKO blog – design, illustration and more…

Biography
I was born and raised in rural Central Oregon and gained a deep respect for the outdoors at an early age. Painting and drawing were always a passion, and I decided to pursue my interests in art and nature by attending school in Bozeman, Montana. After graduation, the city beckoned, and I moved to Portland to pursue a graphic design career designing tee shirts and apparel for adidas. After a few years of computer design I began to draw and paint with more frequency, and soon began putting together an occasional show. My interests continued to move in a hand drawn direction as I strayed from computer illustration more and more. After four years, my wife and I decided to move back to Bend, Oregon to pursue a more active lifestyle and a freelance career in illustration. Two years later my client list is growing continually, the work keeps coming, and I still manage to put together an occasional show.

How did you start out in illustration?
Mostly by trying to get off the computer as much as possible. I realized that staring at a computer all day was not what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing, so any excuse I could find to pick up a pen was gratefully utilized.

How do you define your style?
Constantly evolving.

What is your creative process?
I find most of my subject material out walking in the badlands east of town or on frequent roadtrips. I take lots of photos and make sketches whenever I can. Depending on the job or project at hand, I then gather material I’ve documented and combine it in a pencil or ink sketch. If I’ve got more time, I’ll ink with a crowquill pen and India ink. Color in commercial work is often added after the piece is scanned into the computer. If it’s a painting, I’ll lay the background colors down first, and then go over it with painted outlines or the crowquill pen.

Creative Process > Nike 6.0 Vertigo – Snow :

What project has given you the most satisfaction?
Definitely the work I’ve done for Nike 6.0. It’s usually on a real fast turnaround, so often I can go to the bookstore a couple of weeks after I finish the ads to check out how they turned out.

Where do you find inspiration?
Walking the dogs around town, scavaging out in the desert, going to art shows when I’m in the city, taking roadtrips, and just constantly observing what’s going on around me.

Who are your favourites designers/artists/illustrators?
Katsuhiro Otomo, Frank Miller, Evan Hecox, Kozyndan, James Jean, Mike Mignola, R. Crumb, Charles Burns, Chris Ware, Aaron Draplin, Grant Barnhart, Rob Mars.

Can you tell us a little about your next project?
I’m working on a jacket pattern for Grenade Gloves. It’s all hand drawn, super detailed, with the usual Grenade subject matter.

Do you exhibit?
Usually a couple times a year. My full time job as an illustrator doesn’t leave me as much time to paint as I’d like, but I hope to be doing more of that in the years to come.

Adam Haynes painting mural on the wall of the okok gallery in seattle:

What books/magazines do you have on your table, today?
Vapors, Complex, Snowboard Journal, National Geographic, Akira, Hellboy, 300, and many more graphic novels.

What kind of music do you listen to?
Country, Indy, some rap, whatever my friends in the city see fit to pass along.

Which job would you choose if you had to make the change?
I’d prefer not to, but probably I’d go back to being a finish carpenter.

Give me 5 photos of personal/fun objects you like?

Do you have any pets?
Two dogs.

Can you share your 3 favorites links? Why do you like these sites?
www.draplindustries.com – Draplin rules. An amazing designer, world class roadtripper, and all around good guy. His daily blog keeps me informed.
www.craigslist.com – What can I say, I’m always looking for something.
www.thislife.org – I spend a lot of time drawing by myself, and books on CD and This American Life keep me sane.

What question would you like that I ask you?
What’s the secret to a flaky pie crust?

Finally, can you give us your magical secret to be an amazing illustrator?
No magical secrets here. Draw often, and be observant.
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For more info visit: www.stickfort.com – Adam Haynes’ website
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Thank you very much Adam!