Hard work and belly laughs
Introduction
My name is Nick Volkert, an artist and creative living in Northwest Chicagoland.
I'm a classically trained illustrator and painter, receiving a BFA in Illustration and an MFA in Painting from Northern Illinois University. I currently illustrate digitally, converting pen and ink illustrations to prints and tee designs.
In my off-hours I like to paint, create comics, attend way too many concerts, play drums, and, in addition I'm a diehard White Sox fan.
I have a lot of comics, illustrations and art to view, hope you find something you like!
The season of ice, cold and snow is upon us!
Winter Series
A selection of designs about the coldest season that hopefully bring you warmth and joy!
Created: December 10th, 2020 | Role: Illustrator
Fact: Goon sharks aren't afraid to lose some teeth (they grow back anyway).
"Annoyed IL Birds: The Cardinal"
Created: January, 2015 | Role: Illustrator
Just cause it's the state bird of Illinois, doesn't mean it isn't SO OVER winter and ready for warmer weather.
Created: December 26th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
Christmas is over, the holidays are nearly done, and this grizzly bear is all tuckered out and ready to hibernate yesterday, but still has to muscle through to New Years! If he can do it, you can too!
No Teddy Bears
Bear Designs
Cuddly Bears, Bears that like coffee, Bears that like to roam. Here for all the Bears.
Created: July, 2012 | Role: Illustrator
A large grizzly bear lumbers though a pine forest.
Created: March, 2017 | Role: Illustrator
Mr. Bear isn't too keen on his sweet new hat the local birds provided.
Created: January, 2015 | Role: Illustrator
In November, Bears tend to grow sweet mustaches!
Midwest Winters are the Worst
Annoyed Birds
Late to migrate birds have zero time for the harsh Midwest Winters.
Created: January, 2016 | Role: Illustrator
Just because the robin is a frequent visitor in Illinois, it doesn't mean this robin hasn't had his fill of cold-ass Midwestern Winters.
Created: March, 2016 | Role: Illustrator
Crows, the smartest of the birds of the Midwest, frequent visitors of Illinois, made a dumb decision staying behind for the Winter.
"Annoyed IL Birds: The Sparrow"
Created: August, 2016 | Role: Illustrator
Knowing full well of the cold and windy Illinois weather this sparrow is dressed for the warmth, this but is still totally over the cold.
Pen, Ink, and Cintiq!
Latest Illustrations
I love making personal works that I use as a vehicle to explore to constantly learn the programs I use on my day to day, and push my artistic abilities.
Created: December 27th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
Now that Christmas is over and all the wonderful holiday treats have been eaten, we can officially get back to eating and enjoying pizza...right?
Created: December 26th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
Christmas is over, the holidays are nearly done, and this grizzly bear is all tuckered out and ready to hibernate yesterday, but still has to muscle through to New Years! If he can do it, you can too!
"Back to school lunch pail gal"
Created: September 14th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
The joys of back to school! A new year of learning, connecting with friends and gaining new data, err, knowledge! This little robot gal is pumped!
Created: September 8th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
BACK TO SCHOOL. The heck to all that noise! While all decked out in his interests and seemingly equipped to learn, this little lunch pail robot is completely disinterested in school!
Created: August 22nd, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
FACT: Some sharks can in fact grow hair and let that salt and pepper flow rock out in tandem with some sweet patriotic gear FOR AMERICA.
"Potential Fireworks Disaster Shark"
Created: August 20th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
FACT: You might want to be careful with any crates of fireworks and misplaced lighters around any sharks near the, the situation might become a spectacle!
Created: August 24th, 2023 | Role: Illustrator
Sweeping into action, this daredevil squirrel with a sweet bomber jacket and goggle hat, grabs a tasty acorn to store at his home base!
Created: May 4th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
Spring has sprung and so has this lady chicken! She's out and about with a coffee to keep toasty and a sweet derby hat to show of her sense of fashion!
Created: May 3rd, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
Rain, wind, cold, warm days breaking up the cold, and of course the flowers starting to peak out of the ground. Who loves Spring? Well this shark does.
Join the Danger Huskie Danger Team
Danger Huskie
Vector works that a fun, cute, scary, and a bit dangerous!
Created: January 1st, 2025 | Role: Illustrator
Happy New Year! This fancy little dachshund in a tux and a Chicago hot dog costume is here to help you ring in the new year in the fanciest way possible!
Created: July 20th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
Happy national hot dog day! This Chicago dog is repping the red white and blue, not of the Chicago flag but of the stars and stripes of the American flag!
Created: April 18th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
This terrible and evil mummy has escaped its tomb, its sarcophagus and is on the prowl to reclaim its throne in the modern world!
I write jokes too
Comics! (Eventually books)
I used to pay the bills as a cartoonist at the Northern Star during my Undergraduate and Graduate studies at Nothern Illinois Univeristy. I've always loved comics and was an illustation major to be a comics illustrator (that old cliché). Nonetheless and when the time allows, I love to write and draw works for my friends and social media followers. Big things in the works!
Mondays are the worst
Monday Comic
Just a weekly comic I started celebrating everyone's least favorite day of the week.
Created: July, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
Always keep your head on a swivel when amongst the geese of CANADA.
Created: February, 2023 | Role: Illustrator
That last cold snap really cashed my hands out to oblivion.
"Retreat to Hoodie Season (Fall Edition)"
Created: September 5th, 2022 | Role: Illustrator
Fall update of my retreat to hoodies comic earlier this year. Huzzah!
Comics about a wonderful future gal pal
Dear Future Girlfriend
Another weekly comic that started as a series of smart-assed Facebook posts and grew into a comic!
Created: October 8th, 2022 | Role: Illustrator
Aint no smash dancing like the smashing of pumpkins, smash dancing.
"Chainsaw alarm clock (Repost)"
Created: October 4th, 2022 | Role: Illustrator
You'll make sure I'm up for work on time, albeit with an accelerated heartbeat, during cool weather sleepy season.
Created: July 17th, 2022 | Role: Illustrator
If it doesn't work out, we'll at least have this in common, forever.
A helpful little arachnid
Helpful Spider
Always helpful!
Created: June 2023 | Role: Illustrator
Helpful Spider noticed the weather has warmed up and is ready to be helpful for the rest of the year!
Created: January 2023 | Role: Illustrator
Helpful Spider is on the ready in case things get weird, which they probably will, so yeah.
Created: August 2022 | Role: Illustrator
Helpful Spider is can't believe it's August already either! In any case he's manning your back to school list and making sure you have all your supplies!
Comics usually on Thursdays
The Thursday Treat
Ongoing comics that are sometimes funny, of various amounts of panels, subject manner, and typically on Thursdays, not on a more funner day like Friday.
Created: September 28th, 2017 | Role: Illustrator
Can the taco not only be a great delivery vehicle for meat, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream, but also a wildly un-aerodynamic car?
Created: July 6th, 2017 | Role: Illustrator
A tale of a TRex drummer that has a mean heavy and menacing kickdrum style, but lacks a bit with rhythms on the hi-hat and snare.
Created: February 5th, 2016 | Role: Illustrator
The Thursday Treat is a well of knowledge of helpful, albeit questionable, tips on keeping yourself warm during a frigid Winter.
Reading, it's for your eyeballs!
Related Blogs
Tips, tricks, work stories, short stories, and random musings.
Created: January 16th, 2021
A few tips for JR UX Designers out there looking to gain more skills and be a more proficient UX Designer
Created: January 2nd, 2021
It's cold, miserable, the roads are dangerous, so it's time to get creative while you're huddled up in your warm home.
"Welcome to the new nickvolkert.com"
Created: October 12th, 2020
A two year effort crafting, JSON, SASS, REACT and CDNs finally live!