Daily Inspiration: Meet Ty Erickson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ty Erickson.

Hi Ty, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey as an artist started at age six, when my dad—an artist himself—handed me a copy of How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way by Stan Lee and John Buscema. That book opened something in me. I was instantly hooked: on comics, on storytelling, and on the power of visual art to hit you in the gut and pull you into another world.

I won a few art competitions for school and the county fair. It helped garner more exposure and confidence in my work. I stayed dedicated to it through all of high school and college. During this time I was working on independant films. I got work as a concept/makeup artist. I had alot of fun doing this but unfortunately I had to step away to look for more steady work. After years had gone by I decided to focus on myself and get busy on my skills again.

Since then, that obsession has grown and evolved. Today, I’m a graphic designer and visual artist with a deep love of the bold, dark and imaginative—ranging from album covers for metal bands to horror art, sci-fi illustration, and fine art that leans into mood and symbolism. I’ve also ventured into comics myself, driven by the same love for dynamic storytelling that grabbed me when I was young.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My yes, it has been a very rewarding experience but success as an artist takes time and patience. With the emergance of AI, its making my profession not just more competitive but also unpredictable. So if anything, it just challenges you to be more and more efficient. The key is to believe in yourself and treat each experience as a lesson. Without that I would have given up a long time ago.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an Illustrator/Graphic Artist and I specialize in Graphite, Ink, Acrylic and Digital art. I am very experienced in concept art and character design since my days as a member of the art department in indepenant horror films. Most of the time I am creating cover art and album designs for bands in the metal community. Personally, this is where I have made some of my best work. A few artists that have influenced me are Simon Bisley, Frank Frazetta, Zdzislaw Beksinski, Robert Williams, Bernie Wrightson and Olivier Ledroit. I love highly detailed fantasy art because it is a great creative excersize forcing you to draw inspiration and reference from pure imagination. What I think sets me apart is my attention to detail as well as my adapability. Bringing ideas into reality through collaboration.

I also love commissions and if someone has a great idea they would love to see come to life, reach out to me through my links!

What was your favorite childhood memory?
When my dad got me my first art table. The rest is history.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighteyesartworks
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573655174258