Tim Nyberg

Where are you based?

Door County, Wisconsin (about five hours north of Chicago).

When did you first become interested in art?

Being an only kid for seven years – and few kids in our newly developing neighborhood – I had a lot of free time on my hands – I have drawings that I did that go back to three years old. I believe that I first became aware of my “talent” in fourth or fifth grade – when my projects looked better than other kids’ projects. The key, I believe was supportive (and also artistic) parents. I sincerely believe that anyone can draw – but at some point, someone tells us, or we tell ourselves, that we can’t (or can’t draw as well as others) – so we give up. Apparently, I never stopped thinking that I could.

What style of art do you use most?

As with my illustration style, I skew towards humor and/or bizarre. With painting I venture into abstract and non-objective stuff – often with the help of jazz (I feature live jazz in my gallery and interpret the music in paintings).

Has your style changed from when you first began as an artist?

Absolutely – it’s always changing. Consistent is an attraction to aggressive color pallets, texture, hints of underpainting, and whimsy. That was a problem for me as an illustrator – I was all over the board – people couldn’t niche me out – I thought that was a good thing… I still do – who wants to be predictable?

What medium do you use?

As an illustrator I did mostly pen and ink (most recently roller ball type pens) with Dr. Martin’s Dyes (intense water color) and colored pencil. I also niched out in paper sculpture. Since the early 1990s I’ve been digital – using Illustrator, Photoshop and Painter. The styles were/are almost always humorous. Now, since my transition to more “fine art” I’ve been using acrylic (and occasionally graphite and various attached objects) on canvas.

What made you choose that medium?

Although I grew up around and appreciating the smell of oil paint, I was never keen on the slow drying time. I paint very fast – and wet – I know how acrylic behaves and I love the water clean-up. I started using acrylic in junior high school and never looked back.

Do your ideas come from life or imagination?

Well, I’d submit that imagination is rooted in life… It’s just rearranging that which you have experienced. So, I guess life. But, looking at my work, you can see that most of it is pretty fanciful and non-objective – so, I guess the correct answer is… imagination?

How do you choose your images and colours?

Color (colour if you insist): Intuitively and often with reckless disregard for convention. Images: They usually choose me.

Who is your favourite artist?

Whoa! Where to start? So many known and virtually unknown for so many reasons. My art is all over the place – some of my work resembles Modigilani, others Picasso… But I look upon every piece of art two and three dimensional with interest and respect. I think that we all borrow from and learn from others.

What is your favourite piece of work by yourself?

I’m always evolving in style and always having new favorites appearing. The five pieces shown here are “favorites” for various reasons. Most often because they have surprised me and pushed the limits from where I have previously been.

How much time (on average) does it take to complete a work?

Never more than one or two hours or so. Being an illustrator for years taught me to work fast. I will often paint over a piece two and three times until I end up with a piece that I just can’t bring myself to bury… so, I suppose you could multiply that time for each version.

How well do you take criticism?

Depends on who’s giving it. If I respect the person giving the critique, I’m all ears. I often encourage my artist friends to be honest with me.

What do you do to overcome a ‘block’?

Put on some out-there jazz (or any kind of music that you favor) and paint what you hear in the music – the colors of the notes, the textures, rhythms… It’s a great exercise and, if you let “whatever” happen – you just might get shoved in a new direction.

How do you know something is ‘finished’? Is it easy to walk away?

It just feels right. When there is no part of the painting that doesn’t make total sense with the others. For me, it’s always easy to walk away – I get bored easily. But, I am pulled back to pieces often. I’m starting at one right now that I have to pull off the wall and rework – because there is an area that has started bothering me.

Have you had exhibits in galleries?

Yes, mostly local. Plus, I hang pieces in local businesses (restaurants, the wine shop, hair salons, office buildings and the art store that I frequent). I’ve only been doing fine art for just shy of four years, so I’m still getting established. I find that people are usually willing to hang a piece on loan. I’ve also done a number of live paint to music events at colleges, art centers and jazz clubs. This could be construed as an exhibit I suppose. It certainly is good marketing and entertaining for me AND the audience.

Have you any exhibits in galleries planned for the future?

Yes. Putting out feelers all the time. And trying to get representation in other areas of the country. Got any ideas?

What are your plans for the future?

I don’t plan much. I just roll with what comes – that said, I am constantly working. If you stop working, stuff stops rolling to you.

What advice would you give new artists?

Stay out of ruts. Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t ever think of a piece as a finished work of art. The piece will tell you when it’s done.

Have you done any courses to help you?

I was an art major in college – focusing on graphic design. My paintings at the time were rather illustrator-like – tight. The best advice that any instructor ever gave me was to try something totally not objective – so I gridded off a large canvas and painted squares – for two or three weeks. It was very freeing.

What do you do to market your work?

Online gallery on my web site. Facebook, Imagekind, videos of the work on Youtube, press releases about gallery events (I own my own gallery in a tourist area). I also do special projects that combine my paintings with my graphic design abilities like Beer Label designs and posters. I have a line of greeting cards and “Tiny Budget Artwerks” that make my art accessible to the general public at very low prices – each of these features my gallery web site – so every greeting card that goes out the door is an advertisement of my work.

Do you use social networking in your day to day life?

http://Facebook.com (search Tim Nyberg) http://Behance.net/timnyberg http://www.linkedin.com

Are you available for work (commissions)?

Yes, although I don’t take many of them – it’s too much like work. I AM available all the time for graphic design and illustration (see http://www.octanecreative.com)

Have you got hobbies?

Art – photography – anything involving creativity. I usually turn my hobbies into jobs.

You can see more of Tim’s work at http://www.galleryfortytwo.com