Jonathan Niclaus was born and raised in Düsseldorf, Germany, then moved to England to work for a graphic design studio, and is now based in Berlin. His work is distinguished by a style of nostalgia of the ’70’s and ‘80’s poster campaigns, although with a contemporary hint. His figures are sexy and surreal, to give a feeling of handcrafted quality in spite of his digital nature.
Niclaus says about his works and technique: “I often start with pencil sketches so my work is infused with a traditional aesthetic. This is especially important to me as my final artwork is digital. I have moved away from perfect vector shapes — imperfect forms and ‘mistakes’, together with different textures, help me conjure an artisanal feel in the final piece.“
Jonathan Niclaus is surely inspired by organic shapes, the light of the variouse hours of night and day onto architectural forms, which recreate a magical and surreal atmosphere.
He specializes in editorial illustrations, always discreet and filled of narrative scenes. The result is often thick and clear, with a twist of ornamental segments, as his color palette alone explains the chosen nature of the objects and scenes represented, and as if he wanted to remind us of his focus on shadows, light, and reflections.
Click here to view more of Jonathan’s works.
