Illustrator and animation director Jimmy Simpson is constantly working on one project or another. With notable clients that include MTV, Vice, GQ, and Facebook, there’s clearly no shortage of work. Based in Brooklyn, he draws in a wide range of styles and techniques often pulling from ’90s nostalgia and art history. And when he isn’t following his creative interests you can find him exploring New York City on his skateboard.
“At this point I can’t not make things!” he admitted in an interview with Working Not Working. “I usually have 3 or 4 project ideas floating around in my head and I don’t feel quite right unless I’m making progress on one of them. I feel really lucky that I’ve been able to convince people to pay me to make things for them and I’m going to ride that out as long as possible. I also get excited about being part of a creative community that is overwhelmingly positive.”
Keeping his style intentionally fluid, so as to connect better with each client, his graphic illustrations and short animations have a spontaneity to them. “I like to keep my personal style pretty fluid while connecting each project with recurring imagery and themes,” says Simpson.
As for his inspiration, he’s naturally drawn to artist and musicians that don’t limit themselves stylistically. “This includes people like Heinz Edelmann, Toro Y Moi, Wayne White, and Flying Lotus just to name a few. Stylistically I have been really influenced by the drawings of Ken Price and paintings by Stuart Davis over the last few years.”
Check out some of his work in the gallery below.
