We were lucky to catch up with Nick Dunkenstein recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nick, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

As a creative I feel that its almost expected to be misunderstood. People, even loved ones, will have a hard time really pin pointing your purpose and who/what you’re going for until you have an official title slathered all over you. Realistically an artist is bound to have multiple characterizations, and in my personal opinion – they should. Art is not just ONE thing after all. I’ve learned to never be angry at anyone for misinterpreting myself or what I do, however the few times I’ve had the term “crafter” placed over my head has made me question my abilities. I like to think my work is more than just “artsy-fartsy craft time”.
Artists usually get labeled as only one thing, yet there’s so much more that goes into being such that really they become art themselves. I know with the amount of hats I wear makes it difficult to describe what I do, which is why I tend to apply “enigma” to my descriptions, but I will admit, its always amusing to hear what people think.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m an artist that lives in what is delightfully known as “the arm pit of Florida”. Although I have traveled all around the world, I’ve been stuck in the quicksands of this place for a longer time than I’d care to admit. I went to art school, after that I spent a lot of time just being a creative and going about selling, and showing off my art. Later on, I got in to working with bands, I was even invited to work for a band for their over seas tour, which was quite a unique experience! Meanwhile, I’ve done some cover art for others located in California, to back in Florida. The Last Electric Rodeo I was able to create two album covers for; “Prequela” their second album, and “Retro Futrum” their third. LER was a super fun one to work with, based in the Daytona, Orlando, St.Augustine area, and traveling to Atlanta, GA a few times, their sound is very dark surfpunk, and spaghetti western. Being a character band they dressed up and told stories through their music, all with a post-apocalyptic feel. I also created some poster work for them, and helped with costume & make-up. Later on I was able to preform as two of their characters; Black Rose and Nu Girl – girl in gasmasks.

In between, I’ve stumbled into youtube shorts and films from film makers and pranksters, and even into local music videos. I like to think I have a presence that’s memorable and quick to identify due to a characteristic personality, however no one knows who I am most the time.

Obviously, art is my main focus and my love. I love creating work and I’m well known to bring something new to the table when ever I’m asked for a collaboration. I’ve done illustrations and book covers for several books. My work leans towards a more eery vibe, although to me its nothing of the sort. I like to think I’m just eclectic- a specialized taste.

My work can be found in books of ghostly poetry to books about possible serial killers, my own writing in dark poetry collections, illustrations in children’s scary stories to feminist anthologies, and if you get the chance you can catch shows with the original pieces such as Women Writing for (a) Change’s next show “And Justice For All” where you can find my “Whispers of the Dead”.

While I love illustrations and painting, I also love assemblage and collage. I have a very deep fondness for telling stories and I can create all kinds using bones, bugs, and dried flowers, even upcycling things I find thrown out along the roads. Being an advocate for death positivity, I’m willing to tackle some hard subjects. I believe knowledge eases fear, and we can be strengthened through the power of knowing and preparation. Death is something I try to keep reminding people about, since one day we all will be.

Of course I must say, everything is ethically sourced. I have been given passed pets, found many creatures that have passed on their own, and I make sure to take great care of the little things. Since I was young I’ve had a deep passion for Memenro Mori, so pieces that are reminders of the inevitable are certainly the subject, as well as giving a soft safe guard of beauty. Everyone who has given me their passed furry loved ones, has been given back a beautiful piece made with respect, and each piece is adored. I have also created some loving pieces for parents, using their children’s hair and baby teeth, so they can remember their children as babies while they watch them grow into adults.

A lot of people are off-put by work such as these, but I create things that I love. One of my favourite pieces I created for myself using the gold teeth that was pulled from a great uncle of mine in WWII. I never met him from my knowledge, but as I worked with the teeth, I was able to finally meet him. It’s funny since I don’t consider myself a family orientated person, yet I keep my great uncles teeth near by, even wearing one as a ring. There is a growing population of people who are feeling the same with this type of work, so I know I’m not alone.

Just as the Covid19 pandemic made others pick up new things, I did too. Since 2020 I started a small web-type comic called The Pandemic Diaries, which shows less detailed and very silly, illustrations of me involved in some even sillier predicaments. Several that involve the Covid 19 world we live in today. It’s been taken quiet well, I think.

Recently, I have been able to work with an elusive writer known as Vita S. Todd, in co-creating a book of short stories that show light in darkness called “A Gathering of Incandescence.” This is a special collection of 13 stories with detailed illustrations of anthropomorphic light beings, with several stories based in different parts of history. We hope to have this book available soon on amazon, and I’m very excited, since its been a concept I’ve been carrying around for several years.

It’s taken a long time to get to a place I’m at, while I feel I should be farther, I know I’m here – where ever that be. I’ve met so many people, both remarkable and not so remarkable, but an adventure none the less. There’s been a lot of self learning and self teaching, more so in the confidence department. I’ve been able to model for creatives such as Mark Pariani Productions “The Tangled Web Series” which is an on-going series of people cosplaying characters from “The Amazing Spider-Man,” and even create murals with artists such as EdBot5000, even though the mural was only able to last for so long. It was still such a fun time!

The future looks to have a lot more in store, which is exciting and I can’t wait to share it with the world, but all in all, its taken a lot of work, a lot of time, and a lot of struggles. I can only hope it gets easier, as a person who suffers from anxieties and panic attacks, I have to learn to navigate around my own self. It’s hard being someone who has more hurdles to jump than most people, but I can tell you the feeling after is worth it.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

They can be more open and accepting to art. Make art of all kinds available to everyone and teaching the history and meaning behind many pieces, and creatives through time – We learn from history and from others. Many of what has motivated myself is learning history and seeing how we are transformed through it, learning how to tell a story and how to speak not with just my words, but my actions and creations. Society can learn to create better ways to connect with one another, and knowing that some words are stronger visuals, to make an ecosystem that doesn’t nourish fear, and instead learn to grow from what we don’t understand through knowledge.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Not so much outside recourses as much as the resource of myself. Not letting fear dictate my actions.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panoramapancakes/?hl=en
• Facebook: The Pan-demic Diaries

Image Credits
Mark Pariani – Productions Photography Your Way by Kimberly Hall