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When I think of NEST New York, I picture perfectly poured wax, elegant glass and scents steeped in luxe tradition. It’s the dictionary definition of a “classical brand.” Which is why their latest holiday collaboration is the bold shake-up—and I’m here for it. [instagram-oembed url=”https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRKsJijjS2z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==” /] Enter Donald Robertson. I’ve been a massive fan of his work for years; my favourite piece, a family portrait of the Royal Tenenbaums that hangs in my living room, was one of the best gifts I’ve ever received from my boyfriend (now husband). The Canadian-born Dallas-based artist (better known to his followers as @Drawbertson) is the patron saint of maximalist pop art. His aesthetic is loud, playful and cheerfully current. But Robertson is no stranger to the collaboration game, having previously worked with giants like Smashbox Cosmetics, Alice + Olivia and J.Crew, to name a few. But this time, the ask was a little different. To pair that signature whimsical messiness with NEST’s pristine sophistication? “I’m very clever with my collabs because if you go in there like you say you’re going to reinvent the wheel, you can scare off these big brands,” Robertson tells me. He explains that his approach was highly respectful of NEST’s heritage. “They said they wanted to do something, but they were also like ‘don’t change a thing’… So, I didn’t change the colours and I didn’t move the logo. I didn’t even change the pattern.”
Courtesy of NEST New York
[cta affiliate=”skimlinks” align=”center” format=”button” url=”https://www.nestnewyork.com/en-ca/collections/holiday”]Shop Now[/cta] Instead, he worked within the existing framework, creating scenes featuring cartoon New Yorkers ice skaters and even “escapee Penguins” from the Central Park Zoo on the side panels. “I love the idea of working inside the box on a project like this,” he says, then joked (maybe) that the real reason he did it was that it’s been his go-to holiday candle for years, “I wanted to stock up on the candles!”
Courtesy of Nest New York
I chatted with the artist over Zoom to discuss the unique creative challenges of this collaboration, his Canadian roots and how he got his start with a major beauty brand. Tell us about your earliest career experience. What’s your origin story? “I was one of the originals at M.A.C when it started. It was Frank [Toskan], Frank [Angelo] and me. I worked on the creative. That was my claim to fame. That’s where the whole thing started. I was at the Ontario College of Art and I was starving to death… I went to Paris with my portfolio, and soon met Frances Hathaway [the makeup artist] when I was over there, and she said to me, ‘When you get back to Canada, go see these guys Frank and Frank, they’re starting this cosmetic line, and you can do drawings for them.’ And that was it!” You mentioned being a long-time customer of the NEST holiday candles. What was the best part about collaborating with a product you already love? ” “Well, literally the best thing about this collab is [that] I don’t have to buy it this year. I already have so many from when we were recording the videos, so it’s great! I have a stack and I don’t have to pay for it this year, which is fantastic. That’s the real reason why I did this collab, I wanted to stock up on the candles.” The brand’s specific red, gold, black and white palette served as your boundary for this project. Did you find those tight constraints helpful? “Yes. We all know the expression, ‘think outside the box,’ but sometimes I like the opposite—especially with collabs. It’s easier when something has a box with the box on top of me, and then I can work within it. And a really successful brand doesn’t think outside the box; it’s stuck in a box. But when you think of NEST, they’re very specific and you can’t really get too far away from what they are. So it’s helpful.” The packaging has so many little details. What’s your favourite small touch you managed to sneak onto the box? “Well, I couldn’t mess with the logo but I could mess around on the sides a little more because they were sort of free rein. So I had a good time. I had this lady [ice-skating] fall down and they went for it. It’s fantastic. And then I just added a little bit of holiday lights at the top.” Do you listen to music or other ambient noise when you’re painting? “Nope. I cannot stand any ambient music, or any music at all! I literally can’t. I sit in silence, and work in silence. My assistant says it’s so creepy, especially when I have people come to do work. She bought me a speaker, like a party box player thing, hoping I would turn on a little bit of music. But yeah, I can’t have it on for two seconds.” What’s your most iconic holiday movie scene to watch that gets you in the spirit? “Home Alone 2, when they go to Central Park. That gets me in the mood. All those characters, it’s the best.” Continue Reading
