Meet Natalie Frank | Multifaceted Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natalie Frank and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalie, what principle do you value most?

Authenticity and trusting the creative process go hand in hand. What’s the point of making art if you aren’t creating with your truth? I’ve decided to be 100% transparent, no filter, while answering these questions. I suffer from chronic imposter syndrome – a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their abilities and fear being exposed as a fraud. Any sort of validation or “success” won’t take that away. I’ll always have self-doubt. But I think there is beauty in being fully aware of that.

It’s hard to stay true to my creative vision and not let others’ opinions sway me in different directions. When you’re scared, unsure, and it feels absolutely crazy to attempt a career in a seemingly impossible industry, it’s easy to fall back on other people’s opinions. In almost every art form I’ve submerged myself in, I’ve been told that the path I’m taking is not traditional. They are saying I’m doing it wrong. Then I ask myself, how the hell do they know if they’ve never done it? Most of the time, those people aren’t artists and just think they know better.

Sometimes I physically cannot stop myself from creating a piece, picking up the paintbrush, or writing. Other days, I can’t get out of bed. Other days, I unwillingly take advantage of my master procrastinator skills. Although it doesn’t sound productive to the average person and they might only see negatives in my process, I know that is who I am and how I create. Trying to fight, hide or change my process to make myself seem more stable and less chaotic has only been detrimental to myself.

Part of this value is also recognizing that it’s challenging to find people who are genuinely okay with the way you choose to live your life as an artist, free from judgment. At the end of the day, truly all you have is your gut. And you HAVE to trust it. I recently just learned this.

It is essential to surround myself with people who listen and hear me out, even when I go off about my fears and uncertainties. Instead of telling me to stop or offering unsolicited advice, they acknowledge the rollercoaster of emotions and challenges that come with being an artist in general. They understand the vulnerability of putting myself out there and the fear of taking such a risk. They provide a space for me to navigate the chaotic process of self-discovery without ever ceasing to create. Finding individuals who can relate to the gambling nature of this artistic path is truly rare and precious.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I don’t fit in a single box because I embrace various forms of creative expression. I am a screenwriter, painter and most recently the founder of an “ARTwear” company called NO BRAND. NO BRAND is all one-of-a-kind pieces – sweatshirts, shorts, hats, etc. Each piece is a work of art done by hand by yours truly. It’s impossible to recreate anything exactly the same from the NO BRAND archives because it is art and doing the same thing again and again gets boring. That’s why I call it NO BRAND.
I’ve mentioned my doubt and fear so much so I can definitely say that I’m most proud of that fact that I haven’t given up. I never planned on starting an art/fashion company; it simply happened after I made a few sweatshirts for fun. Not knowing where NO BRAND would go or even where it is going, without any expectations allows me to break free from conventional rules and explore uncharted territories in the realm of fashion but mainly art (which is why I refer to it as ARTwear.)
I’m dyslexic, autistic, and have severe ADHD. Running a business, not just creating the pieces, is very discouraging. But I’m figuring it out and learning as I continue to understand and navigate the perplexing world of “business” that goes beyond the art.
Feeling misunderstood and undervalued for not having immediate success has forced me to acknowledge that most people have to start somewhere and that’s usually the bottom. The bottom isn’t so bad. I think about it like skateboarding and trying to learn a new trick. You have no idea how to do it, but you keep trying and trying. With each attempt you see progress, and it feels less and less impossible. You might actually land the trick, just gotta keep going.
Although I may not have initially envisioned NO BRAND, I’ve come to believe that I’ve started something truly special. People are showing interest in my pieces, and collaborations are starting to emerge. NO BRAND is here to stay. NO BRAND. NO LIMIT. ~ (shout out to G-Eazy).

*NO BRAND will be 1-year-old on July 28th*.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting LA for the first time, I would first take them to all the hot tourist spots like the infamous Paul Smith pink wall on Melrose, the Silverlake stairs and stop by the Silverlake Flea Market, the lamps at LACMA and probably Ripley’s Believe It or Not! or wax museum just to get that all out of the way. From there, I’d take them to some cool art galleries or pop ups – we love a good immersive art experience. We’d go to a show if a band we like happens to be playing. We’d be hitting up a private karaoke room and Shatto Lanes to knock down some pins. As for food and drink, I’m a sucker for HomeState. Their tacos and margaritas are dank. LA has so many cool things and beautiful sights to see, I’d be sure to pack up some markers and sketch books and have some down time at a viewpoint, secluded beach in Malibu or go for a walk through the Greystone Mansion & Gardens: The Doheny Estate. It’s so peaceful and beautiful.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
As a screenwriter, I won’t lie and say I haven’t thought about my Academy Award speech a trillion times, but I know I can’t name them all right now – Shout out to my childhood best friend and brilliant music artist, Caroline. Her persistent support and appreciation for all forms of art have been a constant source of motivation for me. She has shown me what true friendship and belief in an artist’s journey looks like. Caroline has never doubted me, although has heard me go on and on about myself doubt. I’m not sure my brand would exist if she never asked me one night when we were just vibing: “do you wanna draw on this crewneck?” Now, we have a merch collab. CAROLINE LOVEGLOW X NO BRAND.

(Joaquim Adrià Pujol, Marc Rosen and a lot of other people….you know who you are  )

Last but certainly not least, my father. He has never once asked the questions many fathers might ask their child who choosing to pursue careers in multiple art industries: “Are you sure you want to do this? Do you have a backup plan?” He believes in me and has never questioned any of my life choices. Only rooting for me.

Website: nobrandswag.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/no.brand.swag?igshid=MmJiY2I4NDBkZg==

Other: @no.brand.swag @nataliefrank_

Image Credits
Caroline Loveglow, The Cobrasnake, Noah Reardon