Welcome to today’s Creative Crush Stuart Ruel, a very talented illustrator who is holding his first solo exhibition at The Book Club in Shoreditch, entitled Recto/Verso…..take it away Stuart!

Illustration. I deal with a lot of likenesses, so a fair bit of portraiture. I get to work on a lot of things that I’m actually interested in. I like my music and I am able to work on record cover art and comics, so I’m dipping my toes into strips and covers, I couldn’t ask for more really. The illustration community is a welcoming one, they’re generally a nice breed and I’m grateful to be a part of it.

Human beings, the stupid things they do, weird faces, Americana, breasts, hardship, mild racism, nice shoes, too many things. My work is figurative most of the time, so I normally use people to illustrate a concept or idea. There’s nothing like seeing someone you have to draw, because of their face or the way their dressed – like being a photographer – one day there’s a Buddhist monk, tomorrow there’s a Neo Nazi, people are odd and full of complexes and I’ll document them anyway I can. I think emotion is a quite a big part of what I do as well, in personal work anyway, thankfully not so much client based work. I’m kind of a sensitive guy, if real men are the ones that aren’t afraid to cry, then I’m one of those real manly men. I read a fair bit of literature and a lot of objects or devices from prose end up in my work and are used to similar effect. A shoelace might become relevant in illustrating my point for example, but it might be a reference to a shoelace written by Fante or Bukowski or whoever. In terms of art, I look at a lot of fifties and sixties illustrators, before style becomes more important than content; Bernie Fuchs, Robert Fawcett and Dean Cornwell. Those guys were incredible and most of their work still holds up today.

From home for most things. In Croydon, just outside of London. I suggest everyone visits there at least once in their life, beautiful scenery and the people are really friendly. Being comfortable in your working environment is a great thing because you can do what the hell you want, but it also means you can drink as much tea as you want, make as much mess as you want, have a little nap. I’ve had two cups of tea and eaten twice through the course of this interview alone. For personal work, I’ll crack out a drawing anywhere. I carry a sketchbook everywhere with me at all times, just in case.

Usually in pencil and digital colour. I’m not too concerned with process or style and only am when I feel it’s fitting for an assignment. At night is better than day, no interruptions and I listen to instrumental music only when I work, because words interfere with the drawing process and confuse one’s brain.

http://stuartruel.com/
http://stuartruel.com/blog/
Twitter: @stuartruel

Recto/Verso launches on Thursday 8^th March and is free entry from 6pm so check out his work! Thanks Stuart