Nick Sawyers is a local artist, painter, and BMXer whose work will be on display at Vapes of Wrath starting this Friday night, when they’re holding an opening reception and Zombie Walk pre-party. In addition to Sawyers’ work, they’ll also be featuring the artwork of Dirt Cobain, and this year’s Zombie Walk t-shirt design by Gary William Musgrave. A limited pre-run of the shirts will be available for sale, and Gary will be on hand as well.

Nick’s work is highly detailed, illustrative, and bold. You’re likely to see robots, hot rods, and strange figures intertwined in bizarre, and often humorous, ways.

“I work full time as a concept artist/designer,” Nick said, “so I’m always sketching anything and everything. In my free time I usually end up drawing skulls, machines, and stuff that makes me laugh, too.

“For this show, I’m going through all the work and projects that I’ve done. I have a lot of hand done illustrations, sketches, ink, and a couple of paintings. Since the way I do most of my illustration work starts from drawing, or a sketch, I want to display those parts people rarely ever see.

“I’ve been drawing since I was a little kid, so I’ve messed around with a lot of different styles and techniques in different media. I guess my style is kind of an evolution of everything and, sometimes, I’ll go back and do something in a style I haven’t done in a while, like a razor- strait technical drawing Vs. a more organic spray paint mural.”

Nick works at a website company that has a game studio and clothing brand under the same roof.

“I’m doing concept art for websites, applications, mobile games and more. Then, I’m also doing brand related stuff, such as designing apparel, tradeshow booths, and packaging. Pretty much a little bit of everything all at once.

“When I work on my own art, all the creative decisions are up to me. I can make it however I want a long as I’m satisfied with the end result. When I’m doing client work, or working at the studio, the decisions aren’t always mine. It’s about the client, or end result of the project. So I kinda go into professional work with the mindstate that everything could change, or get scrapped completely.

“If I know what I want my end result to look like, it’s just working with the medium’s application, and knowing its strengths or limitations. Shading with a pencil, photoshop, spray paint, or whatever is all the same as long as you’re shading the right part to make it look good.

“I like to do a lot of hot rod, surf, and rock poster stuff when I get a chance. I like to add a ton of different elements, have good perspective, and make them into a nice composition. I find it challenging to illustrate, so it pushes my work.

“I actually do a contest on Instagram called ‘Franken sketch Friday,’ or #frankensketchfriday, where random followers share 5 objects and scenarios, and I illustrate them all together and give it away at the end of the night. It gets pretty interesting, and is always hilarious. I may have to do one at the show, since it’s Friday and all.”

Last year, Nick attended the prestegious Art Basel international art exhibition in Miami.

“That was super fun! I went down there with Badjuju brands and did a big production wall named ‘just the tip’ with Sketone, Dease and Ricks. It was a ton of work, so we didn’t party too much, but we got a couple of 4AM wheat paste missions in. The whole place is covered in good art, both legal and illegal. [laughs]”

Vapes of Wrath is located at 4103 N. Viking Way suite B. The reception begins at 6 PM. To check out Nick’s work, follow him on facebook, shop at StoreEnvy, or check out the steady stream of images he posts on Instragram.  

{FG_GEOMAP [33.83266,-118.12717600000002] FG_GEOMAP}