This Artist Can Tell A Joke In A Single Panel, Here Are His 40 Best Works (New Pics)

Once again Bored Panda reached out to Nate but this time with even more questions! First, we asked the artist if he had any major influences in his life that might've helped him to develop and refine his style.

“I had a lot of influence from other cartoonists growing up. The big ones were Gary Larson, Bill Watterson of Calvin & Hobbes, Walt Disney animations, and Jim Davis of Garfield. Currently, I find influence all the time from various people. My parents also gave me a boost as a kid by supplying me with markers and paper. Plus, they never frowned on me for drawing in class instead of paying attention.”

Art, in any kind of form, takes a lot of time not only to practice but also to produce, therefore we asked Nate how long it takes him to fully finish his comics.

“So, it's tricky. Of course, I have to write it first. That can be done in a few minutes or weeks. I have a writing routine, and sometimes ideas flow out like water from a faucet. Other times, there's nothing, and that nothingness is essential, though. It's part of the creative process. But, okay, let's say I have an idea ready, and it's time to actually draw! A good, colored gag cartoon usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half. A graphic novel page usually takes about 2-3 hours to ink and color.”

Being an artist is not easy, one can easily encounter a lack of inspiration, burnout, etc, so we wanted to ask Fakes about his ideas for the comics.

“Read a lot, write a lot. You must get into a writing routine if you're going to come up with ideas. As I mentioned earlier, they sometimes don't hit. That's why routine is vital so that you're ready for them when they do. Also, I pay attention to everyday observations, and something might strike me as funny. If I can create a humorous take on a circumstance, I will.”

As we mentioned before, sometimes creative work can cause quite a burnout, therefore we asked the artist how he dealt with that as well.

“Every creative person gets moments of burnout. It goes with the territory and is entirely normal. Creative work is tough! It's not an easy job, and there are times you don't feel like being creative. However, those times pass, and more often than not, I'm excited as ever to do the work that I do.”

We also asked Nate about how people reacted to his work.

“My gag comics generally get a lot of groans, laughs, blank stares – you name it. Humor varies for everyone. Some comics are a huge hit with thousands of people, but there'll be a few who will say 'this is stupid' or, more recently, 'okay boomer.' It cracks me up, the responses I get. Generally, they're good, though. My fans are the best, and I just focus on creating off-the-wall, hopefully, funny material that folks will enjoy.

On another note, my new graphic memoir, A Fade of Light, will be published by West Margin Press in September of 2022. This graphic novel has a somber undertone to it and is precisely the opposite of my gag comics, so I'm anxious to hear the reaction to it. It's the most exciting, rewarding, and deep project I've ever worked on in my life, and I can't wait to share it with the world. I'll certainly be sharing more and more details on my Instagram and elsewhere as the time nears closer to its release.”