Chumwizards is the name under which Nicolas Demus, a cartoon artist and storyteller with a degree in animation, creates narrative-driven illustrations that blend playful visuals with introspective themes. His ongoing series Live Outside the Box takes the phrase “think outside the box” as a prompt to explore personal growth and stepping beyond comfort zones.
He works across traditional and digital media, often returning to acrylic paint, watercolor markers, and pens, and presents the series primarily through the platform Manifold. Within his practice, the series Tone Deaf uses AI imaging and digital editing to reflect on his view of where society stands and the direction it is heading. One of his prints, While You Were Sleeping, explores what imagination and creativity get up to while a person sleeps. In his own words, he cites Bill Watterson as his greatest artist inspiration.
