Artist Spotlight: Nick Hernandez Talks Dark Artwork, Cults, And More! (INTERVIEW)

Nick Hernandez at his art booth at Frank And Sons Collectible Show

We sat down for an in-depth interview with longtime friend Nick Hernandez to discuss his artwork, inspirations, and the deeper fears that drive his creative process. He opens up about his views on horror films, sharing how the genre influences his work and the emotions he aims to evoke through his art. Beyond that, we explore his artistic journey, his challenges, and the stories behind some of his most striking pieces. All that and much more await in the full conversation below.

For the past decade, visitors to Frank and Sons Collectible Show in the City of Industry—where vendors offer everything from sports memorabilia to comic books and movie posters—may have encountered a booth showcasing striking artwork with a dark twist. This booth belongs to artist Nick Hernandez, who has made Frank and Sons his creative home, dedicating years to honing his craft and growing his business.

Nick's 5x5 reprints of his paintings have become his best-selling items, closely followed by his custom lighters, each meticulously crafted to ensure quality and uniqueness. He pours great effort into every piece, striving to provide customers with both exceptional artwork and a memorable experience whenever they visit his booth.

“Being raised in a cult sort of lends itself to creating darker images”, says Nick Hernandez as he precisely crops and fits a new art piece into one of the many frames he has stacked next to him. We’ll get into all that and more in our exclusive interview with the artist below.

Nick Hernandez at Frank And Sons Collectible Show

Photo by MacabreDaily

MacabreDaily: Hey Nick, we’re glad this interview worked out, you’re always a busy guy when it comes to your artwork. How did all this start?

Nick Hernandez: “Yeah, man. It’s been about 10 years or so. I started really focusing on my artwork and making it my main source of income. It’s been (pauses to think) interesting to say the least.”

MD: Well let’s get into that then. So 10 years, what was the process of making that decision and really sticking to it?

NH: “Let’s see…I was working at a gym and slowly phasing that out and just wanting to focus on my artwork. I was doing alright but wanted to play things safe so before I quit, I was doing the gym and mall showcase shows with the SoCal Etsy Guild and built a cushion of funds I could fall back on if anything went wrong. I just buckled down and started working on my art.”

MD: What mediums do you use for your artwork? Have you found any that truly bring out the best in your work?

NH: “I started off using acrylic but I really enjoy watercolors. Watercolor tends to add a nice ethereal connection to things. It gives the piece a softer feel and mood it brings. It kinda has a life of its own. I use super tiny brushes and with watercolor it takes you to wonderful places. It helps me create the kind of mood that’s a bit brooding yet still having my own voice.”

MD: You chose Frank And Sons Collectible Show to be your home base, so to speak, where people can get your artwork directly from you. What helped you make that decision to be here at Frank and Sons?

NH: “Foot traffic and these are some of the biggest critics in the world. My booth partner and I, fellow artist, Cesar Flores, like to call this “The Minors” as far as audiences go so if you can get people’s attention here, it gives you the confidence to try for bigger conventions or other events. You’re learning your craft and seeing if people dig what you’re doing with your art. It gives you more of an objective look.”

MD: Is rejection and criticism just something you have to get used to when people make comments about your style?

NH: “You hear people all the time ‘I don’t like how he drew that character’ or ‘I hate it when Americans try and draw Anime’. You do have to listen to both the positive and the negative when doing this type of thing. There are two schools of thought: The art of doing what you want to do, and then the art of actually making money doing it. You have to gauge what people want and can’t go all crazy sometimes even though you may want to.”

MD: So speaking about what people like, does commission work make things easier as you know exactly what people want?

NH: “Some pieces I do get to go a little nuts on, like when I did this custom piece on a character called “The Abolutionator”. The person who requested this grew up on horror movies and the 90s and fuckin heavy metal. So I knew I could have fun with the piece. A big hulking motherfucker, with blood all over his hands and just brutal. Those types of pieces are fun but sometimes you have to draw things where you have to dial it back a bit. You have to look at things objectively.”

Photo by MacabreDaily

MD: Would you then say, being in this type of “family-friendly” environment here at Frank and Sons sort of hinders your art because you can’t showcase some of the crazier pieces you’ve done?

NH: “Here’s the thing, it hones your eye. You can get away with your style but you learn to appreciate other styles and avenues to get your artistic vision out there on paper.”

MD: So is it safe to say that there are some very ‘Not Safe For Work’ type art you have done?

NH: “Oh Yeah! I did a fetish Frankenstein, and a few others that have gotten me in some trouble here.”

MD: Let’s talk about that, you mentioned some backlash you had from management about a few pieces.

NH: “Well look, since we’re in the front of the whole collectible show and one of the first booths you see when you walk in, I kinda have a responsibility to be the “face” of the show, ya know. The management gave us a great spot and we’re very thankful for that so we can’t put up some of the crazier paintings I do right there for everyone to see. I still have them in my booth, they’re just not visible unless you venture inside of it. It’s understandable. It really teaches you to use different tricks and be more creative. Sort of like how Roger Corman did things. It forces you to be well-rounded.”

MD: Your artwork does tend to be on the darker side of things a lot of the time. Even when you draw cartoons and anime, there seems to be something sinister under the veil of cuteness. Where does that come from?

NH: “I grew up in a cult, dude. I used to go to this crazy church when I was a kid where people would perform rituals to get others’ souls and spirits sort of like possessions. My grandpa and a few family members would attend and take me. It was in Riverside and there were no crosses, no Bibles, or anything like that. It was a shack where they would meet and hold these rituals. It was a sect of Catholicism or at least that’s what I was told. They used to stand in a circle and rattle off the names of dead people to invoke their spirits into being. It was called “Giving Life.” For a kid, this type of shit was terrifying and it really raised questions about the sanity of my family.”

MD: Wow, I had no idea about that part of your past. That’s scary and intriguing and we will have to dive deeper into that at another time man. I had no clue.

NH: “Yeah, my mom and my grandpa would take me and my mom suffers from mental illness so being a kid and waking up to find your mom mumbling over you while you’re sleeping talking about “Satan is coming for you.” was fucking nuts.”

MD: Man, that was intense, thank you for sharing that with us. Back to your artwork and style for a sec. Were there various areas of trial and error that you went through before you started making a profit off your work?

NH: “That was actually one of the mistakes I made early on. I used to have my work at this place called ‘Spitfire Interiors’ and take these gnarly pieces in but they wouldn’t sell. Giant fly women with maggots and wings, the whole nine yards and then I’d wonder ‘Why doesn’t anyone want to buy my work’, well, I learned you have to play to your audience. Nobody is putting that type of shit in their living rooms. You see artists like H.R. Giger or Clive Barker selling some super dark and disturbing pieces but they didn’t start that way, they had to grow their brand and what they do so they could, in time, do whatever they wanted and it would draw attention.”

MD: That begs the question of whether or not your artwork has shifted to whats a business mindset instead of an artistic one?

NH: “It takes both and I’ll tell you, I have been super appreciative that I get to do this in the first place so for me to be like ‘Oh my poor artistic vision is being hindered’ doesn’t really bode well. You do your stuff to make your money and then you do stuff that is more passion projects and things you’re into. Hopefully, the two mesh and you can do a bit of both. Keeping balanced is always good.”

MD: How do you battle artistic blocks in your creative process?

NH: “I tend to just do what comes naturally to me. I rather be a John Carpenter than someone like Steven Spielberg or George Lucas. I want the audience to see my art and know, ‘Hey, that’s Nick Hernandez’s work’ ya know? Having a distinctive voice is important. I love that Carpenter controlled every aspect of his filmmaking down to the calligraphy he used for the credits in his films. He did all his own music. I loved that he was so distinctive. I know that’s not painting but to me, motion pictures, in the right hands, turn into a painting.”

Our conversation with Nick naturally evolved into a discussion about horror directors and how their creative visions connect to the artistic process. We chatted for some time and plan on visiting with Nick again soon. His passion is undeniable—he could talk for hours about the things that inspire him, from the gym and artwork to horror films and great music. These influences fuel Nick Hernandez as he continues to refine his craft, creating dark, brooding pieces that are so strikingly fresh and thought-provoking, that they can be downright unsettling—in the best way possible.

We sincerely appreciate Nick taking the time to speak with us while he worked, and we’re truly grateful to see an artist of his caliber giving back to the horror community. His unique and stylistic approach to artwork not only showcases his immense talent but also enriches the genre in a way that is both inspiring and unforgettable.

You can find Nick on his Instagram page right HERE. He is also at the Frank and Sons Collectible Show in the City Of Industry on Wednesdays from 3pm to 9pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 6pm and 10am to 5pm. Be sure to let him know that Macabre Daily sent you!

Nick Hernandez’s custom lighters. Photo by MacabreDaily

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