FAQ

Are you available for private commissions and commercial work?

Yes! I love working with clients and bringing their ideas to life.  Please send me a detailed email about your private commissions or commercial projects and we'll get the ball rolling from there.

Do you license your work?

Yes, I do license my work. Some pieces may not be available for licensing, so please email me with the titles of the pieces you’re interested in licensing and how you would like to use them.

 

Do you sell your originals?

Yes, I sell my original pieces as long as they’re not being used in an ongoing project.  If you’ve fallen in love with a piece, please email me and I’ll check on its availability for you.

 

Can I pay for artwork in several payments?

Art should be enjoyed by everyone. I’m happy to work out a payment plan with you so that you can own your very own piece of Nathalie Rattner art.

 

Do you teach art classes?

Due to my current schedule, I’m not able to teach any workshops or classes, but I’m always happy to answer any questions other artists may have. I believe it’s important for artists to learn and support each other so that we can reach new heights in the field.  Please feel free to email me any questions you have and I’ll do my best to answer them.

 

Do you create artwork other than pin- ups?

Yes.  Pin-up art is my specialty, but I love creating artwork outside the genre.  I’ve had a wonderful time working with companies and clients to create advertising art, family and children’s portraits, and pieces with many other styles and themes over the years.

 

 

 Why do you create pin-up art?
For me, pin-up is a style that encompasses a well-rounded representation of women as more than just objects to be ogled.  A pin-up girl is self-aware, smart, assertive, strong, independent and in control, which is an empowering attitude that I think all women should have.
I love working in retro styles while giving them a modern twist because I believe it shows men and women at their best, in both mind and body.  Pin-up is a little slice of fun and beauty to get lost in, and it is also a style that all women can see themselves in and embrace in their everyday lives. Plus, let’s face it, pin-ups are fun to look at and a heck of a lot of fun to paint.

 

What is your favorite part about being a pin-up artist?

I love making women feel beautiful.  Art can be a powerful medium and hearing the reactions of my models and wonderful clients when they see the finished pieces brings a lot of joy into my world.

 

How do you create your pin-up art?

Taking inspiration from techniques used by one of my favorite artists, Degas, and after years of experimenting with many different mediums, styles and techniques, I have come up with a hybrid of my favorite mediums that allows me to create realistic pieces that have a dream-like soft quality to them.  I think experimentation is very important, so I make it a priority to keep trying new things and pushing my style to new heights.

Pieces are created in two different ways. Some are created from scratch without reference or inspiration photos. Over the past few years I have been working more from scratch and without any reference material which has become my favorite method of creating as it allows me to let my creativity really run wild.

Other pieces are created from figure study sessions where models come in and pose for me or reference shoots that clients send me.

For pieces where figure study images are used, once an idea hits me for a new piece, I’ll take one of those figure study images and use it as a guide in terms of how the model’s body moves in a certain pose and where the shadows and highlights hit. From there, if I’m creating a piece with a high percentage of negative space, I start deconstructing the pose to find the minimum arrangement of key elements and lines I need to keep. However, if I’m after a more classic pin-up feel, I start painting little studies to try out different wardrobe ideas, hair color, styles and anything else that the theme requires. Once I’ve come up with a solid concept, the watercolor will start flying.

I begin by laying down an undercoat of color with ink, watercolor, gouache, dry pastel or charcoal, depending on the overall look and feel I’m after.  Next, dry pastel, charcoal and graphite are ground into a fine powder and rubbed or painted onto the watercolor paper or wood board with a series of small brushes and sponges. Depending on the desired effect, the pastels can be used dry or with the addition of a watercolor medium, which helps them to act more like watercolor.  Details and lines are then added in with white, black and colored pencils, ink, acrylic and gouache to add highlights and depth to certain areas.

 

Here's a short video showing how I create hair using Pan Pastels and a set of different shaped brushes by Silver Monza. Click the links below to see the video on my Instagram page. 

 

 

 

I also like to work with colored pencils. Below is a step by step process of the creation of a cherry drawing using Prismacolor pencils on white paper.

 A portrait of one of my favorite tv characters Miss Fisher ( played by the wonderful actress Essie Davis) from the  Australian show Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. Drawn with Pan Pastels and Prismacolor pencils.