Meet Nikki Longfish

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Longfish.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was fortunate to be raised by two artists in the San Francisco Bay Area, my father designed and created stained glass windows which supported our family and my mother had taken interior design classes in college and growing up I watched her create watercolor paintings. So when talking to other aspiring artists, I didn’t know the majority of parents weren’t supportive of their child being an artist. They understood when I wanted to take art classes in high school and wanted to major in some sort of art in college.

I stumbled upon the Illustration/Animation major at San Jose State University and I knew this is what I wanted to do. Everyone’s path is different and it took me seven years to graduate. I explored a lot of avenues of art by taking fine art classes, graphic design classes, illustration classes, animation classes, visual development classes and my senior year a 3D Maya class in 2004. These classes were no joke, 6 hours of class a week with hours upon hours of homework. The more hours I put into my art classes, the more I grew as an artist. Thankfully our teachers encouraged friendly competition and for us to help one another and building each other up. My classmates became my 2nd family/network and one classmate Dela Longfish many years later became my husband.

Right after graduation, my school experiences helped me be prepared to start a 3D artist internship at a graphics card company. After about a year my college friend recommended me for a short contract job at a big video game studio creating simple 3D shapes as collision for a big video game title port to the Xbox 360. I was very excited for my first video game industry job. When that contract ended another college friend recommended me for a 3D Environment artist job at another big video game studio. I got the job and started my first full-time video game job. I learned so much about 3D and the video game industry. If I remember correctly, I survived two layoffs but not my 3rd, just two months short of my four year anniversary at the company. An art director I had worked with before gave me the opportunity to be a UI Artist (User Interface) at a new video game studio. Thankfully I had a few graphic design classes in college and my UI Lead was the nicest and most helpful and surprisingly, the UI programmer I worked with also patiently taught me a bunch about video game UI. I ended up working for three more game studios small and large focusing on mobile games but none of them lasting more than a year.

If you are keeping track that’s six video game jobs in 10 years. I had made some lifelong friendships, and I really appreciated each company for taking a chance hiring me, giving me a place to grow as an artist. I worked on nine video games that shipped and worked on four canceled games that will never see the light of day and I won’t be able to show anyone because of None Disclosure Agreements. The video game industry is a roller coaster of crunch time (working overtime which can be months of 14 hour days), nurf gunfights, wrap parties and layoffs. I survived 4-5 layoffs, but I wasn’t always so lucky and was laid off four times, quit once and was a part of a studio closing. There were times I had applied to 70+ different jobs in a five months span before getting my next gig. I respect so many artists who are able to pick themselves up and get right back onto the roller coaster that is the video games industry, but I was getting tired of it, I needed something else.

Throughout this time, I also stayed creative outside of work by organizing two group art shows in SF with my college friends, where I was able to start painting traditionally again, which I loved. Maybe something I could focus on instead of video games? My husband had been working at big video game studio as a concept artist for the past seven years, unfortunately, a bigger studio bought that one and then shut it down so at one point we were both unemployed. If we were going to move to another city, now was the time. He accepted a job in Santa Monica and we moved to Los Angeles. I took a break, getting us settled in our new city, and working on my traditional acrylic paintings yet again, organized Dela and I’s artwork to sell at our first convention (which we really enjoyed). Thankfully I have a very supportive husband, so I started focusing on my traditional paintings. I had my paintings in a couple of group art shows in LA and it felt great! I signed us up for more conventions, art walks, etc. I got a part-time job at a local gallery that I had been visiting for eight years, I love the positivity people express as they look around the gallery, and I love helping the gallery support the artists.

Please tell us about your art.
I’m still figuring it out, and I think a lot of artists would say the same. We are always learning and growing. Varied experiences over the past 13 years helped me see what I wanted to do. Currently, I love painting in acrylic, and the theme is usually cute characters and food related. I start by create thumbnails and then a larger pencil sketch of my idea for a painting. Once I’m happy with a sketch, I’ll scan it and bring it into Photoshop to figure out rough colors and lighting. I then transfer the drawing to illustration board and start painting in acrylic. For the most part, I still use the acrylic paints and color palette I learned to use back in my illustration classes at San Jose State.

When I’m selling art at a convention or art walk, I love watching people’s reactions as they are looking at my artwork, the best is when my art makes people smile and laugh. Sometimes you can tell they are in a rush or not really paying attention and all of a sudden they stop in their tracks and point out what they love about my art to their partner or friend. It really feels great to make people happy with my artwork, even if it’s for a few minutes. Having a booth at a convention is also great for meeting other artists, talking to them about their process, getting inspired by their artwork and being able learn from their experiences being at conventions. My newest love is taking one of my paintings, bring it into Illustrator and figure out if I can make a simplified enamel pin design out of it. So far, I have made three pin designs from my work. In my extra time, I still enjoy going to the mall and sketching people, and going to figure drawing to keep my drawing skills up like I did back in college.

Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
During my time in the Illustration/Animation program at San Jose State University thankfully the teachers told us the entertainment industry is always changing with highs and lows so it is best to save your money for those times you are out of work. As you read earlier, there were plenty of times I didn’t have a job for months and I was so thankful I had saved my money. I remember my first couple of jobs I’d always bring my lunch to save money, once I had saved enough to feel comfortable I’d eat out with coworkers once a week to get out of the office and get to know my coworkers more.

If I bought anything, it was an art book to get inspired but I definitely limited it to every once in a while. If you are struggling, really look at your budget and see where you are spending your money. Don’t just rack up credit card debt in hopes you’ll make it one day, live within your means and as you learn and grow, you’ll see your art will be more valuable. Some other advice, if your job offers a 401k, take advantage of that. I know so many artists that could have put money into a 401k and never did, now they are in their 30s-40’s with 0 retirement money. I think most artists dreams include making their own art full time, having that retirement money means you can live that dream.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I currently have a “Tea Cup Corgi” painting in the Cats Vs. Dogs art exhibition at Giant Robot Store in Los Angeles CA, I also sell a lot of my art prints and a few pins there, too. I still have some of my art prints from the “Kawaii Foods” Art Show I curated at Leanna Lin’s Wonderland in Eagle Rock, CA. Some of my original acrylic paintings, art prints, magnets, coasters, etc. are available on my husband and I’s Etsy Shop. https://www.etsy.com/shop/DelaAndNikki

I’ve also shown my art at the Giant Robot Gallery, Gallery 1988, Hive Gallery, The Perky Nerd, Meltdown Comics, Balconi Coffee and Muzeumm. I’ll be showing artwork at the “Geek Meet” gamer event at the Slidebar in Fullerton CA and one of our favorites Designer Con November 22nd-24th in the Anaheim Convention Center.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nikkilongfish.com/
• Email: drawingnikki@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drawingnikki/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drawingnikki/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/drawingnikki
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DelaAndNikki

Image Credit:
Austin Majors-Setmajer, Nikki Longfish, Stella Longfish

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