Artist Interviews 2025

Cole Cameron  
By Laura Siebold



Cole Cameron is a cartoonist and graphic artist who explores vintage Halloween aesthetics in his work. His love for pumpkins and skeletons shows in each one of his cartoons and animations. This issue is just made for Cole and his supernatural art, and I am so happy we get some insights into his work and creative mind. It’s time to get spooky, as Cole leads us through his world of Halloween nostalgia, defined by black and orange and a little bit of witchcraft.



Can you please define the essence of your cartoons and animations? Please go into detail.

I would say the essence I put forth into my cartoons and animations could be best described as the feeling of “Halloween Nostalgia”. For the longest time, I’ve been such a fan of classic Halloween cartoon specials from the 90s, 80s, and even older cartoons, going as far back as the 1930s. Something about seeing vintage Halloween cartoons, decorations, imagery, and content overall gives such a warm feeling in my spooky heart. The feeling of a time when life felt a little simpler, and the magic of Halloween, especially when you’re a kid, felt more alive and fun. I feel like that is what I try to convey in my artwork and animation. To make people feel like they’re kids again, eagerly waiting for Halloween, to have fun, get dressed up, have a Halloween party/parade at school, and then join friends and go out trick-or-treating. To keep the magic and spirit of Halloween alive in everyone.



When did you first think of yourself as a creator? What led up to this moment?

If I had to pinpoint a time in my life where I considered myself as a creator, it would have to be when I first began taking commission orders. It didn’t start off as a big business or anything. But it felt good to be working a job I enjoyed–to make artwork for others. As time wore on, and I kept posting on social media, my following began to grow and grow. Quite faster than I anticipated. More and more people began to take notice of me and my spooky little drawings and animations. I think in the time of a single year, I had grown from maybe 5k or 6k followers to 50k followers. And my fanbase has only been growing ever since.



Your style is playful and dark at times. How did you find your niche in the graphic art scene?

Ever since I was a child, Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. The fun, the dressing up, the candy, and most importantly, the supernatural aspect of the holiday seemed to intrigue me. I think in my early years of drawing, I only drew basic stuff like ghosts, witches, monsters, pumpkins, and the like. Nothing quite specific. That is, until in my late teens, that I discovered a sub-section of the Halloween community: Vintage Halloween enthusiasts. People who enjoyed classic Halloween media, cartoons, artwork, postcards, and classic traditions that have been quite forgotten in the 21st century. Where at one moment, the vibe can be fun and pleasant, and at the same time, surreal and dark like most vintage Halloween cartoons (great example being the Fleischer Studios Bimbo Cartoon “Swing You Sinners”). After that, I felt like I found my niche, and I fully embraced the lifestyle of a Halloween Enthusiast. Even to this day, I wear nothing but black or orange, or a mixture of both, in my attire, and I view every day as a beautiful, crisp, October afternoon. And I still continue to draw works you’d think might have come from a Halloween greeting card from the early to mid-1900s.



When did you begin your artistic career, and have you been part of a creative group, or do you prefer to work by yourself?

I have been drawing for years, but I would pinpoint that my actual artistic career began in 2020 during the pandemic. That was when I opened up commissions and began accepting orders. It felt great to be paid for my artwork. But though I assume people think I do this not all by myself, they’d be quite mistaken. I am but one single spooky man, and I have no assistants, no board of directors, nothing. I am my own boss, artist, producer, animator, editor. I'm an art studio of only one artist. And I do admit, I do like working by myself. I get to have creative freedom of what I get to draw and post. I have friends who give creative feedback for some of my works, but that’s pretty much it.



Besides the obvious Halloween vibe in your cartoons and animations, what kind of subjects and themes do you like to explore?

Excluding Halloween specifically, I love to explore the subjects and themes of the supernatural and paranormal, specifically with ghosts and witches being my primary focus. I love to listen to ghost stories, old or new, while I draw, and would live in a haunted house if I could. Regarding witches and/or witchcraft, my love for this historical practice I utilize in my work is due to the fact that I am a practicing Witch myself. When I found out witchcraft/paganism is a relatively popular modern practice, I felt more comfortable in exploring the craft myself. I’d even go as far as to say my artwork itself is my witchcraft. I can use the magic that the universe provides with my imagination, my intentions, and hands, to create something new for others to enjoy. Between my love of the supernatural and my art found in the craft, they have fueled my desire to draw anything in the realm of the otherworldly.



Where have you mostly been exhibiting your work?

My work primarily has been exhibited on Instagram. As a result, I've built quite a following there. However, I do also have a Carrd website as a portfolio for the time being, and people can view past examples of work that I have done for myself or for clients. I recently received an exciting offer to present my work for an art museum in California. My hope is that the opportunity to present my work in a gallery would broaden my in-person exhibited art portfolio.



What is one of the most important lessons you’ve learned throughout your career?

In the few years of experience that I have gained from working as a freelance artist/animator/graphic designer, I have learned that taking breaks to replenish my artistic well is an important form of self-care, time and booking management saves me from some headaches, knowing my worth is mandatory, and infusing daily doses of self-positivity is an investment.



Who or what inspired you the most to this day?

Looking back, I have a lot of people and artists that have inspired my art, but my mother and my grandmother were my biggest influences. My mom was the first one who kickstarted my love for Halloween and drawing. When I was a toddler, she would draw very basic things for me, like jack o lanterns, pumpkins, ghosts, bats, witches etc. She was the one who gave me the push to pursue this as a career and go to college for animation. My grandmother was an artist, and it was she who really pushed my artistic vision further. She would draw as well as teach me to draw when I was struggling. One of my major influences in creating illustrations is that she would draw in MSPaint, print them out on copy paper, staple them together, and make me little books that could be read, or colored, or both. As I got older, we made our own home and yard-Halloween decorations from gravestones to It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Sadly, she passed away in 2024 from cancer. It is impossible to forget her or her influence on me as an artist.



What challenges you in your profession? Can you give us some insight into projects you are currently working on?

Certainly! A daily challenge I face almost constantly is burnout and artist’s block. As of right now, I am currently catching up on orders, I made my first big contract deal with a book company, working on adding new designs to my online store with Teepublic, and I have planned a small storyboard animation collaboration I am finishing, and posting on Halloween this year.



What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as a cartoonist/animator/graphic artist to this day?

I would say my greatest accomplishment as a cartoonist/animator/graphic artist is that I have been able to make a modest living for myself by just doing what I love to do, and that I am passionate about it. It’s really all that an artist can ask for.