10 questions with N8W

I first met Nate Williams in 1998 and was immediately struck by the originality of his illustrations. He was able to capture a vivid world that was a bit latin, a bit retro but completely modern. over the years we had lost contact til a couple of years ago I bumped into Nate at a party and he told me of his impending departure for Argentina. I thought it would be an amazing trip, not quite understanding that this would be more than just a trip for Nate. Two years later Nate is still in Argentina and his art is everywhere now. If you look at any hip magazine odds are that you will see his work for Converse in it. I feel that it would be great to share the sincerity of the one like N8W.



1. who are you. what should folks know about n8w.

good question :) .. I think I'm a optimist that’s just curious about the world, information, insects, plants and people. I like to experience things first hand and use things that are second hand

2. you have been in south america for a while, do you miss starbucks

.. ha ha .. its amazing how pervasive north American media and products are .. I've been trying to learn Spanish for almost two years and its difficult when a large amount of music played on the radio is in English .. the movies in the theaters are in English .. etc .. but no I don't miss Starbucks or large chains of any kind. I really like family ran businesses specific to the locality and just consuming less in general.


3. I see your work everywhere, who are some of your most recent clients

lately, I've been extremely lucky... I try to do pro-bono work when I can which is a great way to get your work out in the public and help people at the same time. (On the Boards, Art with Heart, a few zines, etc)

As far as paying clients .. I've recently done work of Paste Magazine, Cartoon Network, The Village Voice and I'm currently working on some images for a mural that will be in an Australian Restaurant located in Korea.



4. how much does the internet affect your ability to work from Argentina

It still amazes me after 10 plus years of using it. With Telephone, Broadband Internet, and Chat .. Working from Buenos Aires, Argentina is almost the same as working from Seattle. It has allowed me to work all over the world .. Chile, Panama, Argentina, and Costa Rica.

In costa Rica I lived in a very small town that only had one paved road. I shared a 56kb connection with 4 people at an internet café .. I would show the comps to client from this café .. and when they were ready to download the final 3 MB highrez file .. I would take a 1.5 hour bus ride to the nearest town with broadband internet to upload the file to my server .. then take the 1.5 hour bus ride back .. sounds like a pain .. but riding a bus in a beautiful place .. looking and talking with super kind people was a pleasure .. it was like a field trip

5. whats fun there

I could go on and on and probably will .. I completely love Buenos Aires .. this is a suppppppppper fun crazy city .. like a European/latin version of New York City at a 1/3 of the price. On the surface .. the nightlife is amazing ... you will never be able to go to all the exhibits, shows, restaurants, theaters, lectures, art collaborations .. etc .. there is always stuff happening .. but beyond that.. I like how the little things are different .. its like being a kid again .. all of the sudden everything is interesting again because it works differently so you can't just be on autopilot .. you have to notice your surroundings .. from going to the supermarket, to flushing a toilet, to how you greet people. I like taking the subway and people watching. I love how expressive and friendly the people are. I really like how old people and young people hang out together a lot more than in the US .. and you can't take a taxi cab with out the driver talking shit about President Bush .. which is completely fine with
me. Here are some pictures



6. have you grown out your hair like all those argentinian footballers

ha ha .. no .. I still have a pretty non-descript hair cut .. the football mullets are out of control here .. I've seen every variation of a mullet .. In my attempts to assimilate I stopped shaving regularly

7. what are the inspirations for your work

I usually am inspired by things that aren't really art related .. like insects, plants or textures found in the city .. and of course music.



8. Have you seen any good street art there

tons .. there a lot of good stencils .. graffiti.. etc .. but I really like the street art that don't fall into a lot of the graffiti clichés
for example

9 what are some upcoming projects for you

Buenos Aires has really amazing interior design .. and its made be realize how lighting can really effect your mood.... I would like to make my paintings more dramatic and dynamic and illuminate them .. kind of theatrical/scary circus feel ..

here are some of my inspirations

here
here
here



10 any last thoughts for the stash

thanks for getting to know me :)
n8w