Nate Bear, HUMAN
Character designer & illustrator turning brands into creatures worth caring about.
Not a bear in a skin suit — I’m an actual human illustrator and character designer specializing in mascot design, GIF & sticker animation, and editorial illustration. Based on the Jersey Shore, drawing from a home studio with my wife, our two kids (12 and 2), and our dogs Poppy (a fearless Cavalier) and Magic (a skittish Papillon mix) — both equally fluffy, cuddly, and professionally lazy.
My work blends retro cartoony-ness with bright colors and dynamic expressions, seen on ADWEEK covers, Ad Council x GIPHY campaigns, and character designs for the Doomlings card game. Past and present clients include DreamWorks, Disney (via a set of Mickey and Friends Smols vinyl figures I designed for Culturefly), Random House Children's Books, Time Out, and Nickelodeon.
Beyond client work, I love collaborating directly with brands to create unique product lines with a unique artistic spin. That includes the Opposocks Artist Series with Pals Socks, a Mighty Wallet (as seen in NYT Wirecutter), a Caribou Lodge yoyo series that sold out in one night, and Bear Beans, an artist series coffee collab with Denim Coffee. I’m always on the lookout for awesome brands dedicated to sustainability and amazing product quality. If that sounds like your brand, let's talk collaboration.
Side projects and gallery work pop up along the way too, from small resin figure runs like Boo-Bears to the occasional art print in a group show. When I'm not working, I'm usually still making or collecting art — designer toys, prints, and possibly bread tabs.
CLIENTS
CONTACT
Thank you! Can't wait!
Testimonials
“Nate is a great collaborator and team player. He's super talented and creative and really fun to work with. Highly recommend him.”
-Tatiana Figueredo, CEO at Techfest Club (formerly Imperative and Everist)
“I hired Nate as an artist for several projects at an editorial website I was the Creative Manager for. He was enthusiastic and easy to work with, and always came back with great work.”
-Valerie Fischel, Creative Director at Clinique (formerly at YouBeauty)
Press
