The Obelisk Questionnaire: Nate Vaught of Brainvault Illustration
The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.
Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.
Thank you for reading and thanks to all who participate.
The Obelisk Questionnaire: Nate Vaught of Brainvault Illustration
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
I’m a visual artist… an illustrator, specifically. As cheesy as it may sound, I don’t care… art is my life force. Obsessively trying to emulate Salvador Dali’s work, particularly, the towering animals found in works like The Elephants and The Temptation of St. Anthony ranks among my very first memories of artistic expression. I saw my crayon and pencil scribbles as masterpiece tributes to a genius. By my early teens, I’d discovered the likes of Frank Frazetta, Pushead, and Ed Repka, among others and virtually everything I’d put to paper was heavy on those influences. Those guys were officially my new heroes.
For years, I’d only draw for my own enjoyment, with the occasional praise from friends… or condemnation from people that didn’t “get it.” It wasn’t until I moved from my hometown hellhole of Martinsville, Indiana to Indianapolis in the early 2000’s that I began to finally get my name and work known as an artist. It was a relatively slow start, while I was attending college, but as recognition spread… so did clients and collaboration. Since then, I’ve gone on to work with the likes of The Gates Of Slumber, Transgression, Radiation Sickness, Boddicker, Demiricous, Mother Of Graves, Lavaborne, and Graveripper, among many others.
Describe your first musical memory.
I’d have to say it was the day my dad dragged out my parents’ record collection, and blew my mind with the contents. That afternoon was my official introduction to Black Sabbath, Kiss, David Bowie, Mott The Hoople, Montrose, Jethro Tull, Black Oak Arkansas… and Ted Nugent’s dumb ass. Haha! When my dad put on The Who’s Quadrophenia, I was much less interested in the music than the gritty photographs in the gatefold. I can’t understate the confusion I felt when I was staring at the cover of Kiss’ Alive II (with Gene all sweaty and dripping blood from a ravenous maw) while “Detroit Rock City” and “Christine Sixteen” totally vanquished any horrific visions the cover inspired in my impressionable brain. It was when my dad brought out the first two Sabbath albums that I lost my shit. The intro to “Iron Man” sent my pulse pounding and my mind reeling. Yeah, that was definitely the day that got me hooked.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
That would have to be the combination of all the best shows I’ve witnessed: Neurosis, Type O Negative, Life of Agony, Slayer, Judas Priest, King Diamond, Alice Cooper, The Rolling Stones, Ministry, L7, Gwar, Swans… all such immensely great experiences that I feel I’m beyond lucky to have had in this life.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
I’m 45 years old, and just this year, I came out as bisexual. So, I guess my long-held belief that people should be able to unapologetically be who they are was stifled by my environment. I grew up in Martinsville, Indiana. I first recognized my orientation in high school, but kept it under wraps the best I could, because Martinsville’s reputation for bigotry is 100% legit. By the time I was a junior, I’d lost a good friend to suicide because her physically abusive dad couldn’t hang with the thought of having a gay daughter.
Rednecks and jocks called me and my friends various homophobic slurs every single day at school. Faculty even laughed it off. Things like that made me fearful of anyone knowing I went both ways, so to speak. It wasn’t until the early 2000’s that I’d become obviously comfortable with my sexuality, but only then revealing it to my closest friends. Fast forward to just a couple months ago, when I finally thought, “enough is enough,” and shed that burden. The most liberating feeling I’ve experienced in my life. And it was super-interesting finding out how many friends and family already knew. Haha! I think I passed the test.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
I’ve always believed that constant practice and development only leads to greater things. Art’s subjective, right? The more in tune an artist is with themselves on a personal level, the more effective and vibrant their work will be in its execution. Whether it’s a cover art commission for a band, or some deeply personal piece, I always make it a point to somehow inject a part of myself into that work. Otherwise, it feels insincere. I’ve always taken pride in the fact that people know my work at first glance.
How do you define success?
I define success as simply being happy with one’s work, one’s life, and one’s self.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
In the late 90’s, my phase of browsing the likes of rotten.com and goregrish.com definitely did not serve me well. Violent death, mutilations, war atrocities… and I can’t even clean up my cat’s puke without gagging. Humans are disgusting.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
I’ve done album cover art for several bands, but it’s always been front and/or back cover illustration. I have yet to do something like a full vinyl gatefold. So, if anyone’s down, hit me up! I’m also always daydreaming about three dimensional versions of my illustrations coming to life. That’d be gnarly!
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
Self-expression, first and foremost. It’s an artist’s lifeblood. Everything that comes after is just icing on the cake.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
I’m a huge horror freak… and there are tons of new horror films I have in my sights. Terrifier 2, what? Haha!
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