Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nat Bradley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nat , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

Abstraction and experimentation in art, music, and film often come under scrutiny, with some dismissing it as pretentious or as a cover for a lack of talent. Creativity and exploration is not about snobbery or intellectualism but about satisfying an intrinsic need to discover and try new things, and with this comes the very real risk of being completely misunderstood. When a viewer can’t quickly categorize, it can bring out defensive reactions. Add into this the auction prices of some important historical paintings that are likely not to be understood without context, it can make the entire endeavor of putting art out into the world feel unnecessarily confrontational. I am in no way trying to place myself on a higher level than anyone else. I am just doing things that interest me. I love to experiment with different processes and methods. Boredom and the desire for novelty are powerful motivators. I hope that if my work isn’t fully understood it is at least interesting.

It seems that the public expects creatives to only specialize in one thing and stick to one style. Being a film maker, a painter, and musician, etc doesn’t mean you can’t try different things. After all, it is the nature of creative people to try new things. Each medium represents a different method of expressing a feeling or an idea. So the artist chooses the medium that is appropriate. Sometimes an idea needs several mediums simultaneously, other times and simple drawing or a short sentence will suffice. There is always a certain level of skill to be required in each discipline but it is not necessary to become a master. All that is required is to attain enough skill to execute the idea. Skill is a means to an end. There are tools and skills to make a house, but it is imagination and creativity that invents the idea of a structure and its design. Learning a few different skill sets is in no way a lack of focus or direction. It provides flexibility and fluidity to communicate in specific ways.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a multimedia artist based in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area. My work includes video art, music, sound design, and visual and fine arts.

I started as a musician at a very young age, primarily playing guitar as my main instrument but also branching out into bass guitar, drum set, vocals, and modular synthesizers, performing live with various bands. I also did work as a professional live sound and studio engineer for many years. Over the past 15 years, my focus has evolved towards video and digital art, as well as painting.

I’ve made several experimental short films. “SubConController,” “Something So Unnatural,” “Remote Viewing Sessions.” My latest film, “An Index Of Secrets,” is being released as a series of scenes on Instagram and YouTube, ultimately to be compiled into a full-length film.
Video work is very interesting to me as I get to explore and blend different creative disciplines.

I also provide sound design services and sample packs under the name “Outsider Sound Design. My services cater to video games, commercial ads, movie trailers, and soundtracks.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I’m not particularly fond of the idea of goals, as they imply a finite endpoint where the creative journey concludes. Instead, I embrace the concept of an ongoing mission, which is to stay engaged in a daily creative practice. The focus is not on the end result but on the act of the creative process itself. The artwork, music, and videos that emerge are simply artifacts of this continuous process.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Many non-artists struggle to understand why someone would persist in making things that might not be widely understood or valued. I grapple with this myself at times, but it’s about pushing limits and opening up new possibilities. The creative process is about exploration and expression.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.natbradley.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natbradleyart/
• Twitter: https://x.com/NatBradley4
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@outsidersounddesign6915/videos