The Chicago Dog | View Work
Learn more about me below!
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Illustration, Cartoons and Code
I'm a small town kid from Northern Illinois that made the migration from the cornfields of the Midwest to Chicago-land (and then Chicago itself) in pursuit of my passion of art and love of live music.
My background is Fine Art, and I have a BFA in Illustration and an MFA in Painting from Northern Illinois University.
Throughout my career I've worn many hats as a freelance Graphic Artist, working my way up in the freelance arena in Chicagoland as a production artist, designer, illustrator and front-end developer. Working long hours, weekends, traveling all over the Chicago suburbs taking advantage of every opportunity that came my way.
After a long journey as freelancer and full-time creative I started my own company called Volkert Design, LLC., working as a Designer, creating user experinces, interfaces, icons, websites, logos and branding, and applications for a variety of industries. I leverage my skills towards technology, addressing a variety of business issues with my creativity.
When I'm not designing user interfaces for clients, logos, illustrating, or coding, you can see my work posted on my instagram and social media, or out enjoying the Chicago music scene, The Chicago White Sox, or I love hitting the local bike trail to jog and bike and connecting with nature.
Please contact me at nick@nickvolkert.com or follow me on social to request a commission or to work with me!
I'm especially interested in any illustration projects you may have!
~Nick
GO SOX!
The '10s are OVER
The top designs from a decade of work! Thank you so much for your support!
Created: November, 2016 | Role: Illustrator
You might be cool, but are you a skating watermelon with sunglasses cool?
Created: August 27th, 2010 | Role: Illustrator
No ketchup, ingredients like it was dragged through a garden, aviator sunglasses, mustache, stocking cap, it's just a little Chicago Dog!
Created: May, 2015 | Role: Illustrator
NEED PANCAKES? CAPTAIN PANCAKE IS HERE TO SAVE THE DAY!
Abstract works on canvas and board
Check out work I made in pursuit of my MFA in Grad School at NIU, and beyond.
2005
A piece that ended up looking like the side of an actual boxcar, or maybe a vintage refrigerator, that I was able to preserve in time with oil paint.
Oil on wood panel
24 in. x 24 in.
available|$1,750
2006
A spooky vibe came over me when I created this work. Using orange and black to make a layered abstract work that feels right at home during Halloween.
Latex acrylic on wood panel
24 in. x 24 in.
available|$1,700
2006
Meant as an homage to our veterans that last their lives in service, this piece has a frantic application of red white and blue and yellow on canvas.
Latex acrylic on wood panel
48 in. x 48 in.
available|$2,200
A super stack of pancakes
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!
Getting decked out
Totaly cool sporty fruits, ghosts, pumpkins and more shredding on their skateboards!
Created: January 28th, 2019 | Role: Illustrator
The Banana Skater is the chillest banana on a skateboard you'll ever see!
Created: February 19th, 2019 | Role: Illustrator
Orange you glad this skating fruit stopped by to say hi?
Created: February 10th, 2019 | Role: Illustrator
A skating fruit that ap-PEAR-ently does the juiciest tricks!