Interview with illustrator and typographer Rudi de Wet
Rudi has made a name for himself in Australia in recent years after a stint at Junior in Brisbane and then freelance illustrating in Melbourne. And you can see why! Now back in Cape Town, South Africa, he’s found his niche for funky hand lettering and he’s now servicing agencies and clients around the globe. His work above was just a selection of the enormous variety in Rudi’s work.
He now has a stack of awards to his name aswell! From 2010 alone, there’s a Qantm Desktop Create and a BAD Silver, 2 BAD Bronze and 2 BAD Finalists. Rudi is among the awesome talent represented by The Jacky Winter Group.
You definitely have to check out the larger images of his work! The image size of some of the projects above just don’t show the detail in his illustrations. Pop over to his site! I love Rudi’s use of “filters” to view the different categories of his work.
KW Doggett‘s 2011 calendar – Rudi was among 12 artists from The Jacky Winter Group selected for this project.
The Furnace Interior Artwork. All the artwork is hand painted on the walls and floors. Awards: Gold for Illustration & Type at Qantm Desktop CREATE: 2010.
How have you got to where you are today?
I studied a BA in Fine Arts majoring in Illustration and Graphic Design at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. Towards the end I started working with some friends and helped start Am I Collective. I worked hard and incredibly long hours but learn’t a lot.
After being there for a couple of years, I moved to Australia and spent some time at Junior Advertising in Brisbane. I met some amazing people there and decided after doing a lot of advertising work that it wasn’t for me and that it was time to go on my own and focus on my illustration.
After that, I moved to Melbourne, spent a few years there and started setting myself up. I have recently moved back to Cape Town and continue to do a lot of work for some amazing clients in Australia and overseas.
Typography for Nova Radio, Y & R Paris
Awards: D&AD Poster Advertising Winner 2009, Bronze Cannes Lion 2008.
Photographic illustration with Lulu from Vivien’s Model Management Melbourne.
In a few words, describe yourself…
I know what I want, but I can be quite indecisive in getting there!
What are you spending your time on at the moment?
Well apart from some really great work, I spend quite a lot more of my time on studio admin, it seems to be never ending! And then when I have some time to spare I really enjoy breaking away to for a surf.
Do you have a ritual for getting into the creative mindset? Or a creative process?
It usually differs slightly per job, but if it’s a job for an agency/studio then I usually get given some sort of scamp and references of the their idea that they have presented to the client. I would then usually first draw a detailed rough for approval before I start with anything final.
If it’s personal or exhibition work the process is slightly different and more experimental but I usually prefer it when there is some sort of theme or restriction.
Clearasil Dreams – Cinema Media Campaign with Houdini Sydney/ Euro RSCG.
What or who inspires you?
Galleries, travel, music, walking, going away for weekends in the country. And then of course all the people and things that are always around me.
What are you most proud of?
My family and friends.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I’ve been thinking about this one for a long time now, but can’t pin point that one childhood dream. I know at some point I wanted to be a ninja turtle… Michaelangelo to be specific.
But when i look back at all my books from school there was always some crazy hand lettering going on in the back of them, so I think I’m in the right place for now!
