Milestone for animal conservation-focused artist

Six years ago, Mornington Peninsula Magazine spoke to artist Nathan Ferlazzo, so a catch-up was well overdue to update our readers on his creative prowess and his family’s business efforts to raise much-needed money for animal conservation by creating works of art. Kate Sears speaks to Nathan about his passion for drawing animals and the growth of his family-operated business, Marini Ferlazzo.

How did you get started on your artistic journey?

I’ve had a passion for drawing since I was four years old, but when I graduated Year 12 in 2002 I didn’t think I could make a living from being an artist, so instead I studied multimedia and graphic design. I then worked as a graphic designer for several years before starting the Marini Ferlazzo wildlife illustrations in 2011. I would attend markets and sell the originals.  Now I wish I had kept some of those and just sold prints.

In 2014, together with my mum, Clare, and sister, Simone, we officially launched Marini Ferlazzo at Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. We started the retail website and began approaching stores, hoping they would stock our cards and bookmarks. The response was overwhelmingly positive and since then we have been able to expand the range, which customers have loved because it allows them to access the illustrations without having to purchase an expensive print or original artwork.

Since we last spoke in 2018, you’ve added colour to your nib and black Indian ink creations. What inspired this evolution?

I have slowly introduced colour to the collections.  This is all done digitally. I scan my ink illustration and then use a digital pen and tablet to colour the artwork. This gives me a tremendous amount of flexibility in designing the products. I began adding colour because there were multiple requests for it and it was time to try something new.

As an artist, what challenges have you overcome?

The biggest challenge is creating new collections that are the same but different each year.

Finding the balance between creating something new but also something familiar can be tricky. We want our customers to instantly recognise my style of illustrations, but also give them something new each year so it doesn’t feel like it’s just more of the same.

Your new kookaburra drawing is spectacular. It took you over 180 hours to complete, the longest you’ve ever spent on one drawing. How was the process?

So the kookaburra was one of three new illustrations I tried a new technique with.  Instead of using pen and ink, I thought I would draw the entire illustrations digitally using a digital pen and tablet. This ended up taking about five times longer than a standard ink drawing, which I was not expecting. I love how these illustrations turned out.  They have a different look to them. I was relieved to finally complete them, but I won’t be doing that technique again – back to pencil and ink.

Back in 2018, Marini Ferlazzo had donated $25,000 to various wildlife conservation groups around the world. You’ve now reached an amazing milestone of $200,000.  How does this huge achievement make you and your family feel?

Reaching this donation amount makes us very proud to have been able to affect the on-the-ground work of these conservation organisations. Their biggest hurdle is getting funding to complete their important animal welfare and conservation projects, so we’ll continue to try to find new ways to help them raise these funds.

Be in awe of Nathan’s illustrations on socials @mariniferlazzo, and next time you’re searching for the perfect gift, make sure to give a gift that gives back to our beloved flora and fauna.