We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Stef Rymenants ("SR").
PLAYFULL SURREALISM The moment Stef Rymenants could hold a pencil he started drawing monsters, cars and beasts. After attending “Sierkunsten” in Antwerp he studied Graphic Design at the KASK in Ghent. For years he worked as an art and creative director in advertising but he always knew that drawing and painting was his real passion. Five years ago Stef had a “now or never” moment and chose to become a fulltime artist. Fortunately he has a head full of imagination and his work has always a playful and absurd twist. The subtile humor of the Belgian Surrealists is always near. His human figures and animals are puzzles made of black rimmed geometrical forms. They make you think of stained glass or the sleek shapes of Art Deco. The antique Greek and Roman worlds are also an inexhaustible source of inspiration for this artist. Rymenants makes drawings with black pencil on paper then colors them digitally. “Everything around me can lead to inspiration. A magazine, an old man on the street with a dog, a girl on a bicycle, birds in the garden or a cat in front of a window. I always carry a sketchbook with me to capture my ideas when inspiration strikes. If I really can’t concentrate, I walk to the city for a coffee. Watching and drawing people can really boost my creativity. And if that doesn’t help, I take a small nap.”
Stef Rymenants Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Stef Rymenants.
Designer Interview of Stef Rymenants:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
SR : I studied Graphic Design at the KASK in Ghent. For years I worked as an art and creative director in advertising but I always knew that drawing and painting was my real passion. Five years ago I had a “now or never” moment and chose to become a fulltime artist and illustrator.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
SR : A logo for a clothing company
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
SR : I like to start with pencil and finish everything digital
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
SR : I am definitely a "morning person".
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
SR : I always try to see the good things in design.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
SR : Last week in Vilvoorde (Belgium), in the monastery of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-van-Troost.The next one will be in November in Paris (France).
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
SR : Everything around me can lead to inspiration. A magazine, an old man on the street with a dog, a girl on a bicycle, birds in the garden or a cat in front of a window. I always carry a sketchbook with me to capture my ideas when inspiration strikes. If I really can’t concentrate, I walk to the city for a coffee. Watching and drawing people can really boost my creativity. And if that doesn’t help, I take a small nap.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
SR : I live in Brussels, Belgium. But I think I could work in most places.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
SR : Illustrating a book.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
SR : Moppetbooks Publishing, Raad van de Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie, Citizenne
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
SR : My personal work is what I enjoy the most.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
SR : Working on my career as illustrator/artist
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
SR : I have worked in teams for several years but now I prefer work alone.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
SR : A book that I recently illustrated (KinderGuides Moby Dick) for Moppetbooks publishing is coming out soon.Please check out www.moppetbookspublishing.com for more information.
DI: How can people contact you?
SR : By email: stef.rymenants@me.com