Art is changing. As computers change our life, our art changes too. But Nathaniel Barlam has mixed old-fashion, hand-illustrated comics to create something entirely different. I stumbled on his videos quite by accident. We share a love for some of the same artists, and while viewing some vintage music on YouTube I saw Mr. Barlam's extraordinary mixed media works.
Something about these videos soothes the soul. It isn't just the music, it is the artist's vision of the music. These artworks somehow transcend the mix of sound and drawings and allows the "viewer/hearer" a glimpse of fantasy. Thanks Nathaniel for giving us a look at your passion.
Mr. Barlam has a few other illustrated videos besides Guinnevere, check them out, FC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCUQZbSiafQ
Mr. Barlam has a few other illustrated videos besides Guinnevere, check them out, FC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCUQZbSiafQ
My name is
Nathaniel Barlam. I am from Marblehead, Massachusetts and studied
Architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design. I now work as an
Assistant Designer for Schuco USA, designing façade systems in NYC.
Although my career is in the field of architecture, I’ve always
drawn my inspiration from a variety of sources, especially music and
sequential art. I’m an ardent fan of classic rock, with some of my
favorite artists being The Beatles, The Band, The Who, CSNY, Van
Morrison, Genesis and Joni Mitchell. The music made by these artists
helped me get through some of the most difficult periods in my life,
and so as a way of thanking them I began to make comics of their work
in college. I feel naturally drawn to difficult work – my favorite
author being James Joyce – and through illustration I was able to
draw out a clearer comprehension of what each artist may have been
feeling when they composed their enchanting songs, deepening my
empathy as well as my understanding that I was not alone in my
struggles.
As I continued to work on these
personal projects for my own benefit, I came to realize the impact
they could also have on others who were going through the same
difficulties I was. Thus I decided to upload videos to my YouTube
channel that synchronize my still images and text with the music and
lyrics that inspired them, engaging as wide audience of listeners as
possible.
Now, I see my illustrations as a form
of translation and hope that through my art I can share with everyone
music they may otherwise find “too difficult” to appreciate. Just
as these songs helped me, my goal is to make them accessible to help
others in need of the refuge of music.
Since graduating from RISD I have
continued to make time for my work in the off-hours my job leaves me.
Currently I am working on a new project, which will be my first one
drawn completely digitally. It is my most audacious project yet, and
I hope to finish it by the end of the year.
My videos can be found on my YouTube
channel –
I also write an in-depth breakdown of
each comic on my portfolio page –
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