Niklas Wesner

Illustrator

Expressing emotions in paper

Niklas is inspired by Asian art, especially the Japanese u-kiyo-e artist Hokusai
His pictures show great detail, and also appear very clear
He challenges himself by drawing new subject matters

Niklas Wesner lives in Hamburg and studied illustration for his bachelor's and master's degrees at the HAW in Hamburg. Drawing has always been a passion for him but he also considered working as an author, filmmaker, or graphic designer. By composing his own images as an illustrator, he can accomplish all of these professions. His pictures portray emotions and tell stories. "To create images that evoke a sense of a longer period of time is particularly intriguing to me, such as the feelings associated with a special day or event," Niklas says. A popular technique he uses is to create surreal spaces that combine or superimpose different impressions. This approach also allows him to effectively express texts and concepts. The style of his drawings is influenced by Japanese art in particular by the Japanese woodcut artist Hokusai. His clear lines allow him to incorporate a variety of detail-oriented information into one picture without causing the composition to seem disjointed.

Interview

How did you get the confidence to work as a freelance artist ?: I reached a point in my work where I could use my experience to achieve the quality I sought. I no longer felt the need to chase after the next big thing like I did at the beginning of my career. Knowing what works for me and how to achieve the results I want has helped me tremendously to work as an artist.
What does your work process look like ?: Most of the time I first create individual sketches or use drawings from my sketchbooks to create a composition. For commissioned work, I often scan the sketches to be able to move them on the iPad. I do the final artwork with ink on paper on the light table and the colours with Photoshop.
How do you innovate?: I experiment with a variety of things. They can be technical, such as trying out new tools, or creative such as using new composition techniques or conceptualizing colours and surfaces. Sometimes, I also try out motifs that I am not familiar with, such as certain animal species or I try out new spatial perspectives.
What is your advice to aspiring illustrators ?: Never give up as it's normal to face challenges. Paint and draw every day, challenge yourself and complete your art. Obtain inspiration from a wide variety of sources and keep an eye on the market, analysing which illustrations are successful, but don't compare yourself too much to others.

Niklas Wesner is a rising star: he began his career in 2018