Graphic scenes
An illustrator’s horizons widen as his work moves from page to gallery walls
Infinity and beyond: Stuart Ruels’ sketches and illustration
That first solo exhibition produces a variety of emotions in the artist. stuart ruel’s glass of opening-night fizz is half-empty. “a lot of the work i’m showing is personal,” says the 23-year-old illustrator from london, “and i’m a bit conscious of being vulnerable.” ruel’s illustrations, which have appeared in magazines and on record sleeves, are being shown in his debut show alongside his sketches. the red bulletin: How did you get into illustration? stuart ruel: i read a lot of X-Men and Spider-Man comics for the pictures, and copied them. Being a comic book artist is still in my mind.
Words: Paul Wilson
You do record sleeves? i think it’s true that they’re dying out on bigger record labels, but at indie labels they still want hand-rendered art. i’ve worked with British underground hip-hop artists, like serocee, Kingsley Zah and Cally. illustration is best in context, serving a function. it needs the music, or the text, or whatever, to back the art. Are you always sketching? i draw a lot on the train: it’s free life drawing. People don’t say anything. a lot of drawings are half-finished, because people realise and move. Friday night people might say, “That’s cool,” because they’ve had a drink. others ask me to draw them – not that often, but it’s nice when they do. Recto/Verso by Stuart Ruel is at The Book Club, London, from March 8-April 29. www.wearetbc.com