Q: Originally from the Golden State, what are some of your favorite things about living and working in Utah?

A: I grew up in the Bay Area (Berkeley/El Cerrito) and Salt Lake City, Utah, and spending 10 years living in South and Central America, I recently returned to Sandy, Utah. Utah is a beautiful place with lots of types of landscapes. The thing I like best about living in Utah is being close to nature and close to family.

Q: What do you like best about your workspace?

A: It’s peaceful and I have a view of the mountains.

Q: Do you think it needs improvement, if so, what would you change?

A: No not really … sometimes I like to be around people so I will brainstorm in public spaces such as a park, coffee shop, restaurant, on a hike, etc.

Q: What is the most important item in your studio?

A: Notebook and pencil.

Q: What is your favorite part of the creative process? 

A: Thinking of new ideas.

Q: What was the strangest or most unusual assignment you’ve taken—and  what did you learn from the experience?

A: When my style was a little “darker I did an article for parents choosing baby names. I thought I would be a bad fit for the article, but I actually ended up enjoying it and realized my style could be more diverse than I thought.

Q: What was your favorite book as a child?

A: Anything by Gary Larson.

Q: What is the best book you’ve recently read?

A: The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography, by Simon Singh.  

Q: If you had to choose one medium to work in for an entire year, eliminating all others, what medium would you choose?

A: Paper and pencil.

Q: What are some of your favorite places/books/blogs/websites for inspiration?

A: My favorite place is definitely walking in the mountains, finding a waterfall, a river, a nice view, etc. I like making art more than looking at it, so most of my inspiration isn’t art related. I love listening to audio books and podcasts (Freakonomics, Intelligence squared, The Joe Rogan Experience, Military History Podcast, Dan Carlan’s Hardcore History).

Q: Where did your idea for Hank and snOLiVER originate? What was the most difficult part about getting from idea to finished art?

The first book, Hank and snOLIVER in Put Down the Phone! Is about a kid, Hank, and a snake, snOLIVER, who find a magic lamp. A genie appears and grants them a few wishes, but just as Hank and snOLiVER start to wish for something the genie’s phone rings. The genie, becomes distracted and grants Hank and snOLIVER the wrong things and they slowly become frustrated and the adventure begins.

The second book, Hank and snOLIVER in What Can I Be? is about Hank’s anxiety because he doesn’t’ know what he wants to be when he grows up. Hank’s best friend, snOLIVER, helps him explore a wide range of potential careers. At the end of the book Hank still doesn’t know what he wants to be, but he is at peace because he realizes the more he explores the more he’ll discover. More.

Honestly, there was no hardest part, the idea drove itself and I enjoyed it. I had a great publisher, Suzanne Taylor at Gibbs Smith. She supported me with great enthusiasm and confidence.

Q: What advice would you give a young artist about applying to an art school or college?

Write down your expectations of going to college and talk to various faculty at that college to see if your expectations match with their answers. Here are [one, two, three] articles for students from my blog.

Q: If you could be anywhere but where you are now, where would that be?

A: I would be in the arms of my beautiful wife somewhere in Costa Rica.

Q: What would be your last supper?

A: Sushi and ice cream.

Nate Williams writes stories, make images, and tries to encourage and inspire kids. Curiosity, play and discovery drives everything he does. After spending 10 years living in South and Central America, natal homing kicked in and he returned to the beautiful Utah mountains with the princess of Argentina and the rest of his family. Nate will give a talk in NYC in Februrary. Blog. Facebook. Twitter.Instagram.