We covered Rudi de Wet’s work last month and intrigued by his extensive portfolio, we jumped at the chance to glimpse at how this outstanding and hard working individual makes magic. Rudi de Wet’s work has found a seemingly perfect balance where art meets commerce, allowing his style to fit well with commercial projects and giving these projects a personalised or custom made appeal. As an illustrator, typographer and graphic artist based in Melbourne, but a native of Cape Town, he continues to illustrate a variety of projects from print, gallery exhibits, to animation broadcast spots and even toy designs like the Bare and Doggy Style projects.

Your projects are quite varied. How do you typically work and what is your process?

The process usually depends on the job. After I have a clear understanding of what’s required, I start with a rough drawing which almost always needs to be approved by the client before I can begin the final art. With everything approved, I either ink up the rough with a technical pen, or scan it and redraw it in photoshop. More recently, depending on what is required, I sometimes just draw digitally. Once I’ve got it illustrated on the computer, I tweak, colour and texture the image to get it just right. It’s definitely a labour of love.

You work with exhibit galleries, publishers, editorial magazines to agencies & studios including the likes of Fallon London, BBDO, Junior Advertising and recently some photography collaboration illustration. What projects do you find most exciting to work on?

Overall my experience with agencies and studios has been good. With deadlines it can be stressful at times, but that’s all part of it, right? I wouldn’t say that I have a favourite project… my favourite is usually the one I am currently working on… until I finish it of course. I was really happy with the response to the interior artwork I did for The Furnace in Sydney. Mainly because it’s something that becomes part of the daily life of the people who work at the agency. It feels good to know that they feel better in their work space because of the artwork around them. I would definitely love to do more interior work like this in the future.

Having first worked in a studio and then moved on to freelance, have you learnt what environment suits you better? What’s your current work space now?

I suppose I prefer not to think of myself as a freelancer in the broader sense. Technically, yes, I am working for myself, but I prefer to think of myself as a fully functional studio that offers a specific kind hand crafted illustration. Currently, I have a separate studio space at my house, it’s Victorian terrace so I have amazing high padded ceilings with awesome wooden floors which definitely helps make the space feel better. I do sometimes feel like I live at my work, which is something I would like to change in the future. At this stage, I do prefer having my own space, and definitely miss days when you could have other crazy creative people around you just for their humour, inspiration and motivation, but I seem to get more done in my own space. 

From living in Cape Town, South Africa you are now working in Melbourne, Australia. What do you feel fosters your appetite for creativity in both places?

Cape Town and Melbourne are quite similar creatively. Both cities are awesome and have amazing creative scenes. I think both cities are easy places for a creative person to live in because there’s always something changing or inspiring events going on wherever you look. It’s easy to find inspiration.

Your work has been impressive over the years. Anything we can look out for from you in the near future?

Thanks guys! It’s good to know that people are taking notice of the work. I can’t say too much about what I am currently working on… but right now the plan is to keep producing work and keep doing what I have been doing, see how far I can take it. I definitely feel like I have still got a long way to go before I’m at the level I want to be at though. 

 

As a typographer, designer and hand drawn illustrator, your work successfully fits well with both commercial campaigns and artistic projects. What would you like to share with other fellow African designers who are hand drawn typographers or illustrators just getting started?

Well, I think that overall the standard of work coming out of Africa is incredibly good, it blows my mind and it’s totally inspiring. There are SO many talented creatives/musicians/artists, all doing amazing work in Africa. I suppose the best advice is simple, just keep working and making work that feels right. Get your work out there so that people can see it. Be patient… and don’t become complacent. It takes time. Try also not to sell yourself short, it is after all your job and you should get paid properly for what you do.

Thanks Rudi!