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!
Flowers birds and stuff!
Spring Designs
Ring in Spring with some Singing Birds, Green Grass and Storms!
Created: July 11th, 2019 | Role: Illustrator
Spring Birds are okay and let you know Winter is ending, but Summer Birds know how to rock and are the coolest.
Created: December, 2016 | Role: Illustrator
Happy Spring! Happy Summer! The grass is green! Why not have a great day like this EXTRA LONG dachshund living his best life on a journey to get its bone?
A super stack of pancakes
Captain Pancake
The most powerful breakfast buddy!
Created: December 9th, 2018 | Role: Illustrator
Captain Pancake is a huge fan of a certain football team from Chicago, by the lake, of the Midway!
Created: November 26th, 2018 | Role: Illustrator
Guess which Captain Pancake loves birthday? The Captain BIRTHDAY Pancake loves birthdays! Happy birthday to one and all! Treat yourself!
Bawk B'gaw!
Chickens
Flightless Midwest poultry having a really weird day.
Created: April 19th, 2022 | Role: Illustrator
Just an absolute unit of a bird. I mean look at this thing. That right there is a freakin chicken. Just a total unit.
Created: April 21st, 2022 | Role: Illustrator
Business. All business all the time. So much business. Lots and lots of business. Don't talk to me, I'm so busy with business. BUSINESS.
Pen, Ink, and Cintiq!
Illustration
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: February 19th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
Captain Pancake is back to celebrate Valentines Day with his oversized teddy bear pal! Why not give them both a huge bear hug to show them some love!
Created: February 18th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
Another updated robot! A bit out of season when I'm posting this, but the Pumpkin Spice Latte Bot is all steamed up and ready for the Fall!
Created: January 24th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
Cool temps call for speedy robots that serve up coffee! The Latte bot is en route to serve up some tasty drinks to keep you warm and toasty! Beep Boop!
Created: January 22nd, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
Beep, Blop, Zort! When you're a cute little robot watermelon is it a totally bad move to also enjoy a slice of a tasty and fresh watermelon?
Created: January 14th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
A Merry Christmas, a HO-HO-HO, and a giddy up little partners! Santa's here with a big ol' cowboy hat delivering gifts and joy to all the good little boys and girls. YEEHAW.
Created: January XXth, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
Life at the North Pole isn't just about toys and spreading joy. You have to chop some wood to keep Mrs. Claus and all the elves and reindeer nice and cozy!
"Halloween Candy Destruction Shark"
Created: October 31st, 2023 | Role: Illustrator
FACT: Sharks will eat your current and past Halloween candy plunders with reckless abandon because they love them some crunchy, sweet, and gooey candy!
Created: October 27th, 2023 | Role: Illustrator
FACT: If sharks spend enough time with jack o'lanterns in the water on All Hallows Eve, they become one themselves!
Created: October 25th, 2023 | Role: Illustrator
FACT: Don't get in the water and between a shark and it's appetite for some October pumpkin destruction this Halloween!
Join the Danger Huskie Danger Team
Danger Huskie
Vector works that a fun, cute, scary, and a bit dangerous!
Created: April 14th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
Oh no! The horror! These pointy vampire fangs have arisen from their slumber and are on the hunt for fresh victims! And fresh blood!
Created: March 23rd, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
It's a big Irish flag for St. Patrick's Day! This Chicago-style weiner dog is showing his Irish and Chicago pride for a day hopefully filled with luck!
Created: March 16th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator
Happy St. Patrick's Day! What's luckier than a festive dachshund in a chicago-style hot dog costume that is giving you a four leaf clover? I can't think of anything!
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: 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!
Created: September 5th, 2022 | Role: Illustrator
Oh, you all saw Top Gun this Summer too? Sweet, me too.
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 heavy kickdrum style, but lacks a bit on hi-hat and snare rhythms.
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!