We recently connected with Nick Ragetli and have shared our conversation below.
Nick, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
Earning a living as a creative is never easy. More often than not, it comes with some luck in the beginning, and a lot of patience and hard work. I have always been a hard worker, that came naturally to me, so being at art school became something to use to build up my skills as best I could and soak everything in. It wasn’t enough to just go to class, I followed livestreams from practicing illustrators in the field, and specifically in the area of fantasy art. It was important, I think, to see real people being successful at this line of work, and seeing the potential. That drove me to work hard at my portfolio coming out of school. I got a job after almost a year of working on my art after graduation. It was tough not getting any calls back from most of the companies I applied to, but it didn’t stop me from continuing to study and improve my art. Eventually a call came from a small studio and I got a full-time job as a creative, as an illustrator. These days, to earn my living I split my time between several contracts, working on table-top games and illustrating larger paintings for other clients.
Nick, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m an illustrator and concept artist, with a heavy focus on environments. My work is mostly fantasy-art related, with the natural world playing a key role in most of my pieces. I developed my skills in art school at OCAD University in Toronto, graduating after four years, with a Bachelor of Design in Illustration. Continuing my education through that time and beyond with online videos and going in person to meet, and talk with some of my favourite illustrators at conventions. I imagine new worlds for my clients as a concept artist, exploring and blending their vision with mine to create the scenery they are looking for. As an illustrator, I paint and make the viewer feel entranced and spellbound by the worlds, objects and people in them. My job is about creating a story that matches my client’s vision, and making sure that story is beautiful and interesting to the viewer. My artistic skills, borne through hard work and perseverance, are the tools I use to fulfill both mine and my client’s visions for the artwork. Core to my success is gaining an understanding of my client’s wishes, and creating a concept that not only is accepted, but is enjoyed by clients and the public as well.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me, I am rewarded through not only the act of painting and creating in itself, but after the work is done, I love to see others enjoy the art as well. In creating I am between a struggle to find the path of the creative process , and enjoying the moment of imagining something completely new to the world. I love the feeling of being lost in my work, losing track of time and seeing the piece I’m creating come to life.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
At the beginning of my pursuit of being a professional artist, I was unaware of most resources available, and was relying on my university for most of my learning. As I got into my later years at school I realized they weren’t able to provide all the knowledge I needed, and I began to explore online alternatives, and painting guides such as James Gurney’s Color and Light. I think the currently vast library of guides and courses online is more specific and geared towards whatever the artist is looking to learn. In tandem with my program at school, I started watching and learning from online professionals. This is a resource I still use to this day, as so many different artists are producing amazing guides and tutorials, as well as full blown courses in their specific skillset. Watts atelier, Proko, Artstation, Schoolism, Muddy Colors Blog, as well as concept art schools are all so useful to every artists in their journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nicholasragetli.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickragetli_design/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-ragetli-45764a33/?originalSubdomain=ca