Interview with The Doodler HImself

Nadim Tell us about yourself

You know that boy who sat next to you in class and stared out of windows, daydreaming? Well, that was me. I had a hard time focusing in class - especially during math period. To escape the monotony of algebra, I would doodle dinosaurs and weird alien-like creatures in the margins of my textbook. Today, twenty odd years later, I still find myself gazing out of windows --- much larger ones. 

YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATIONS OR INFLUENCES? 

Quentin Blake's whimsical style captivated me as a young reader. It still does. His work in Road Dahl's The BFG is magical. His quick, spontaneous ink strokes complimented Dahl's vibrantly playful protagonists and personalities. But, the cartoonist who still plucks away at my emotional chords, is the genius Charles Schulz. His Peanuts universe is deeply engrained in my childhood. His illustrative style is pure and minimalistic. And let us not forget - honest. Through sarcasm he taught us about juvenile paranoia, the meaning of true friendship, love and the importance of persistency (damn kite!). And Charlie Brown is hands down, one of the most beautifully written characters in comic strip history. 

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PIECE OF ART?

• Picasso's The Weeping Woman (1937),

• The Skating Minister (1790) by Henry Raeburn

• and the comic book cover of Superman vs. Muhammad Ali (1978) by the legendary Neal Adams.

MOST INTERESTING RESPONSE TO YOUR WORK SO FAR? 

Awww...

FAVORITE WEBSITES or Social media handles? 

• RoadsandKingdoms.com and @cats_of_instagram

What would be a dream project for you? 

Would love to see my characters come to life through animation. 

Can someone contact you for a customized piece?

For sure.

Anything else you'd like to share? 

Some of my work is currently being showcased at Diaagram 4 by Concept Me in Dubai. if you're in the neighborhood, swing by! 

DO YOU HAVE A WEBSITE?

www.nadimbasna.com - but it's still under construction. You can follow me @the_whippersnapper on Instagram.