Nathan Ota
Identity Artist Research
Background
Nathan Ota is a California based artist whose artwork is inspired by cartoons, comic books, photographs, and Punk-rock flyers. He graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He as done work for newspapers, magazines, recording companies, and the gaming industry.
How He Started
Ota found a passion for drawing and art at a young age. He says, "Ever since I can remember, I have always found myself drawing over doing my homework". He got into graffiti which he soon cam to love. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do when he first started college, but by the time he graduated he decided that he would be an illustrator.
Artwork
Nathan Ota uses elements of graffiti and street art in his paintings. There are several signature elements he uses in a majority of his work including red and white striped shirts, characters that have boxes on their heads, and trees. Originally Ota did not incorporate graffiti into his artwork at all. After a discussion with one of his students he decided to use it in his work more often, since it was a passion of his, but more importantly its was part of who he was as an artist and a person.
Why I Chose This Artist
I chose to research Nathan Ota because his work immediately grabbed my interest. Through a little more research I found out that I had something in common with him as an artist. Just like Nathan Ota, I have an interest in graffiti. More importantly, his ideas (like mine) can often be "unorthodox" or "creepy", which is what really made me pick him as the artist I would research.