Meet Oliver Walker

We were lucky to catch up with Oliver Walker recently and have shared our conversation below.

Oliver , thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

I’ll be vulnerable, and admit optimism comes from a lot of inner work. For those who know and have dealt with the struggles of chronic mental illness, optimism can feel like a feigned concept. Truth is, mental illness can strip you of a lot of things. Your passions, your motivation, and even yourself. What can end up happening, and what certainly happened with me, is your brain can find comfort in emotional imbalance. I had to reshape the way I thought, the way I reacted, and my perception. I’ve had to nurture my optimism for a lifetime through practiced acts of self love and compassion. Because of that I’ve built a strong foundation for my contentment, my comfort, and my optimism.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Outside of working in a tiny boat shop, I’m a freelance illustrator with a focus in editorial illustration. My artistic journey is a little all over the place, but without it I don’t think I would have ever been able to progress as a creative. Before graduating with my degree from Maine College of Art & Design, I spent the majority of my school years painting highly rendered watercolors. All of which were influenced by natural history. That was until I had taken a course on editorial illustration, and discovered my passion for creating conceptual narratives through my illustrative hand. I had become immensely drawn to the process of this realm of work. From reading the brief to brainstorming, and eventually creating a piece of work that could tell the whole story through a single image. I began to stray further from hyper-realism, and embraced my ability to create playful surrealist visuals.

My first big jump into editorial was back in 2023 when I worked with The Nature Conservancy of Maine for their annual book report, and since, I’ve slowly built up a clientele locally. However, last year I branched out after being recruited for an art contest, the same contest in which I would meet and collaborate with a fellow artist, Edgar Wang. We would later create a finalized sketch depicting the ever intertwining influence of cultures between two cities. This piece didn’t win, but it became a milestone for me in regards to my creative process and visual problem solving abilities through collaboration.

Today my work covers a wide range of topics, often revolving around psychology and real world happenings. I strive to create illustrations that provide a unique visual narrative, highlighting the development of changing concepts and ideas. It’s important for my work to not just add dimension to an article, but rather act as a form of communication through playful colors and bold subjects.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Taking the time to explore. I cannot emphasize this enough, allow space for discovery. Whether that be in yourself, your art, or the physical world. Embracing the unknown will allow you to develop a better understanding of what is around you while also creating a room for chance and opportunity to grow. In the world of illustration it can be daunting to try new things, especially when there is a heavy reliance on style and brand. At times there can be little room for experimental creativity. Try not to be deterred by this, and find small ways to explore. Whether that be through change of subject, tools, or process. Explore in small or big steps, in the end allowing discovery to be a part of your life will influence development in yourself, your work, and your skills.

Second, silence is not failure. You are going to have to put yourself out there a lot, and you are going to have to accept silence as an answer. However not receiving responses from art directors does not mean you’re off the table. You are likely being seen, but there’s possibly just not an appropriate spot or story for your work yet. Be persistent, be patient, and use the silence to hone in on your craft. You will always have a higher chance at being seen and hired by putting your foot in the door than not reaching out at all.

Lastly, build connections and community. Branching out is a wonderful way to build influence and inspiration in yourself and others. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other artists, or make friends. Creating an environment that sparks creativity and positivity is important, especially in illustration where everything is a one man show. As artists we have the ability to learn from one another, as well as share our knowledge. I found that collaboration was a wonderful way to engage with skill sharing in order to bring concepts to life. However you can start anywhere. Find a local art community in your area, or an art community online. The beauty of illustration, and art in general is that there’s always a spot for your creative input no matter how niche.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Collaboration is a big part of what I do! I work with writers and art directors, as well as other artists. It’s probably one of my favorite aspects about illustration as a whole. I’m always taking on new projects and would love to work with more art directors and fellow creatives in the future. If you’re interested in me and my work you can contact me on most social media, and email. I am always excited to develop new skills and learn from others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.owillustration.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/o.w.illustration/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owillustration/
• Other: o.walkerillustration@gmail.com