Interview with Sjoerd Wenting
Please welcome Sjoerd Wenting to our blog! We asked him to join us for a little interview this week. Sjoerd Wenting is a Dutch designer based in Utrecht, Netherlands. He is working under the name Stark Wark Onderwerp. Wenting specializes in illustration and graphic design. About his work he says: “I try to achieve a level of authenticity by combining analogue drawing methods, like painting and pencilwork, with digital influences.”
Read more about Sjoerd Wenting in our interview! By the way Wenting’s works can also be found on Artflakes.
Why and when did you start making art?
Well, I have always been interesting in drawing and getting my hands dirty. Attending artschool in Utrecht surely boost things up for me. I can’t think of a direct answer to the question “why”, It’s more like; Why not? Drawing and making stuff is a second nature for me, there’s not a single schoolbook from my childhood that doesn’t contain a large number of drawings scribbled down.
What kind of art do you make?
I personally wouldn’t directly label it as art, coming from a illustration/graphic design background I feel my designs work best in collaboration with a text of some sort, displayed in a magazine, book or even placed alongside each other in a series.
Where do you draw your inspiration from? How do you come up with the ideas/concepts for your works?
Mostly it just hit’s me doing routine stuff like getting groceries, watching the telly, browsing on the internet or watching a lady fall of her bike.
How does your usual workday look like?
I wake up, feed the fishes, smoke a cigarette, turn on my computer, start drawing, get distracted, start all over again. Then I try to get stuff done for my paying costumers. When I’m done earning my rent, I try to see what’s what on the numerous design blogs I follow. Get inspired and make plans for the next day.
When you are not working, how do you spent your spare time?
Because I spend most of my time sitting behind my desk, I try to exercise a lot. At least two times a week in the gym, and in the weekends I play for my field-hockey club.
Ninjas or pirates?
Neither.
Who is your favorite artist? Do you have a favorite artwork?
Folkert de Jong, a dutch contemporary artist who’s main work consists of big styrofoam constructions.
Whom you think should we interview next and why?
I couldn’t think of anyone on artflakes, simply because i don’t know any. It’s al new for me!
If you could have coffee with a famous artist – dead or alive – whom would you choose and why?
I would like to drink a cup of coffee with Gerrit Rietveld (1964), dead unfortunately. Because he’s one of the most known designers in Dutch history, and was supposed to be a really nice guy. You probably know his “Red Blue Chair” but his oeuvre contains many great works. The artist collective he participated in, “De Stijl”, is one of my biggest inspirations.
What is your philosophy of life?
A life philosophy would only suit a person that matters, to be frank, I’m not there yet.
Thank you, Sjoerd!