Meet Derek Rudy | Illustrator and Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Derek Rudy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Derek, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
I think the main challenge of every project is keeping yourself engaged throughout the process. Retaining that same excitement you had when you accepted the job. Every artist or designer will hit walls, obstacles and hiccups along the way ( If they don’t they’re not trying hard enough ). The simple but effective quote that has helped me through the years is “When in doubt, simplify”.

When using this quote, I re-evaluate what is needed and what is just fluff. Often times the elements that survive are those that got me excited about the project in the first place. However, I still think it is invaluable to keep on adding new elements and experimenting how it could look better. But it is essential to be honesty and critical of your own work. In the end you want the final piece to be easily digestible to a wide audience.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Ultimately my favorite art to create is a visualized story. If the viewer looks at my work, digests it, and story unfolds in their head – I’ve succeeded. Every part of the composition needs to be utilized to achieve this. The aesthetics of the piece are virtually irrelevant in my opinion, it’s all in the concept.

I started as a graphic designer at a concert venue. I had the opportunity to create commemorative posters for the incoming artists. Musicians that had inspired me for my entire life were now with in reach. All of the sudden I had a new audience, one that would push my limits and accelerate growth. I created a poster for the band Beach House and it went viral. From that poster I had dozens of people reaching out to me for illustrated work. It was the start of my current career.

Thats when the challenge truly started. Starting everything with a piece that millions of people saw; I had the wrong impression of what a freelance career looked like. The beginning of many self made artists careers is a balance between the work you put out and marketing yourself. Knowing your own strengths, audience and worth is essential.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am happiest when I am in nature. Taking in the subtle symphony of the trees swaying in the wind. Admiring the dappled sunlight dodging the canopy above. Finding solace in how messy a forest can be while still retaining such beauty.

Shenandoah Nation Park pops into my conscience thoughts daily. 105 miles of road crawl along the spine of these blue ridge mountains with out interruption. Every third or fourth mile you’ll find an overlook that you can truly lose yourself in. With the ever increasing pace of business, technology and media it is hard to find an escape from constant stimulation. Time stands still in nature. For me personally, it is the one true cure to burnout.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents deserve endless recognition for my success. My parents had two children and split before my mind started to record its memories. My brother and I would alternate which house we slept at every night. This sounds exhausting to most people but I think it’s one of the main contributions to why I am the way that I am. Each night I would have a distinctly different outlook on art, work and life.

My mother is a believer. Magic is still a very real thing to her. She seeks it out in any way that she can. Santa clause was a late revelation to her and it ended in tears. I still remember the stories she would tell before bed would do anything but put me to sleep. My imagination would be racing visualizing the tales that were just told. She holds the value of individuality over everything. It’s because of her that I was eventually able to take the leap from the corporate 9-5 and invest in myself.

My father is a creator. When he creates anything, he considers that to be a representation of him. He never half-asses anything. He would rather not start on something than to do it casually. It needs to be impressive and memorable. In 7th grade, I approached him for help with my science fair project. One month later my father and I (mostly him) created a wimshurst machine that generated electricity through a static charge. The machine was beautiful and intimidating. No one in my grade believed that I made it which is mostly true, they thought I tapped into Ebay as a resource rather than my dad. My father always tries to beat his last best. Something that I am so thankful that he handed down to me.

Website: https://www.rudyillustrations.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rudy_illustrations/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-rudy/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/derek.rudy.3/