About Willie Wat, the artist

I was born in Watsonville, CA, where I learned how to hang with the homies and appreciate good Mexican food. I would draw on the desks and doodle all over my tests.

At San Jose State University, I took all the art classes that caught my interest, from glass blowing to sculpting to painting, and graduated with a BS in Graphic Design with an emphasis in Illustration.

After graduation, I started a career in the video game industry. I began with educational games, and then moved to San Diego to work on Playstation games and Online PC games. Now fifteen years later, I’ve moved on from the gaming industry to become my own boss and Art Director at Nite Owl Ink.

My influences vary from the styles of Gregory Manchess and Joe Sorren, to Justin Sweet and James Christiansen. I’m always on the lookout for new artists to admire and love looking at others’ sketches to see the flow in their line work, how they create, and their thought processes.

One thing that’s been constant over the years is my sketchbooks. I love sketching at coffee shops and doodling about whatever comes to mind. It may not always look the best but it’s about the ideas. Concepts that have stuck are ones I’d been working on for many years, but not until now have I had the time to finalize the pieces to the point I am happy with. I hope you like them.

If there’s one thing I learned in Illustration class, concept is key. In my art I push concepts, things you wouldn’t normally see, Art that challenges the imagination. Like in the movies, I love a good twist.

Now if I had my own T-shirt company this is what I’d do…

Thanks for taking the time to visit,
Willie