“Christophe Szpajdel is a worldwide renowned artist specializing in handmade typography, calligraphy, and logo design for over three decades. Clients have included Emperor (1991), Rihanna, Metallica (2016), Mandy (2012, film 2019)”.
WAS THERE A PIVOTAL MOMENT WHEN YOU DECIDED TO FOLLOW YOUR PATH AS AN ARTIST?
Yes, when I created the logo of Emperor in 1991, then when I made the Rihanna logo for the VMA awards in 2016.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK FOR US?
Calligraphy, typography and logo design, all handmade using pencils, liners and black ink on white paper.
“Hungarian Quote” by Christophe Szpajdel.
Don’t run after a coach that doesn’t t want to pick you up, which means don’t insist on a project where you have not much chance to succeed.
WHAT DOES YOUR WORK AIM TO SAY?
Branding and identity in the music scene.
HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR WORK FITS WITHIN SOCIETY IN OUR PRESENT TIME?
Clothing companies, themed works where a metal looking logo is relevant.
Christophe Szpajdel – Star Of The Week.
WHEN LOOKING BACK, WHAT ARTWORKS COME TO MIND THAT MOST RELATE TO YOUR LIFE STORY?
The art nouveau and art deco vibe where vegetal motifs and sometimes animals like birds or wolves appear- a connection with my preliminary taste for nature.
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES?
Art Deco, Art Nouveau, oriental/Arabic/East European calligraphy, and medieval manuscripts.
“Self Love” by Christophe Szpajdel.
Basically the gift to prioritize what you really need, not necessarily what you would want but need as essential.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?
First, starting with quick pencil sketches and then lining them with ink, then scanning the inked sketch, reprinting it to have a large format, then line drawing the contours to have the same proportion and using an Artograph Lightpad, then correcting the symmetry of applicable and finally making a full-scale pencil daft on which I will work different layers of pen liners and ink to achieve the final design. Often this goes with client based work.
“A Smooth Sea Never Made A Skilled Sailor” by Christophe Szpajdel.
Its actually all the hardships that are giving you the skills of a good person, not only as a human being but as an entrepreneurs. Failures and the learning process resulting of them are leasing to Success.
WHAT VISUAL REFERENCES DO YOU DRAW UPON IN YOUR WORK?
I am taking into account music to have an idea of the style of logo that will be needed if it is the case of a band, but increasingly frequently, there are more and more clothing brands that seek a logo from me.
They send me some examples from the internet, which are close enough to what they are looking for.
Once I send them the first batch of sketches to choose from, they formulate their feedback, and I take it from there. This is the predominant trail of my creative process- client-based work.
ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS?
Devon Open Studios September 4-30.
Our exhibition with a group of 7 artists consists of myself plus Sam Goodwin, May Allerfeldt, Sarah Tansey, Ruth Sutherland, Noeko, Chun Lee (Troon Ri).
We are exhibiting at the Flavel in the picturesque town of Dartmouth, this is also known as the Pearl of Devon. This is going to be an opportunity to discover many other artists’ studios in Devon, Southwest of the UK.
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