CasaJordi’s Artist Interview
Casajordi is a graphic designer who hales from France and has been printed an impressive seven times with DBH. His work plays with narrative and fantasy while still having a deep feeling of atmosphere. He is a master of composition, which gives his work balance but still allows for rich detailed elements. His work can be seen on book covers, T-shirts and laptop cases across Europe. We sat down over a croissant and coffee and got to know this master of Photoshop a little better.
 |  |  |
Casajordi’s Montages of Color and Compostion
Q: Bonjour Casa, tell me what living in France is like? Is it really all green and red like in the movie Amelie?
A: Of course!! And everybody sing “la vie en rose” with a bottle of red wine and a bread baguette! Seriously, I live in the south, just near the Spanish border (frontera). Life in France, it’s about enjoying the pleasures of life! Good food, Art, movies etc etc but French people are sometime “angry”! There is always something wrong!
Q: I visited France twice when I was a young gentleman and I remember the amazing food. There was an abundance of independent stores selling amazing cheeses and meat. My mouth is watering just thinking about it, do tell us what is your favorite French dish?
A: Ahaha :-) My favorite French dish! Maybe the “boeuf bourguigon” but only for the winter! And all the desserts! Like “st-honoré”, “mille-feuilles” and others. I love them at any time!
Q: Do you freelance full-time or do you have another full time job?
A: I work with an “agent” for my illustration (http://www.patricia-lucas.com/), and for the rest of the time I’ve worked since I was16 years for a free newspaper, I work with computers to create digital advertising.
Q: Your work is beautifully detailed and I feel like I could almost get lost in the worlds you create, is that intentional?
A: Yes! I like when you see different elements in my work at different times. Sometimes, details are very small, like an eyes on the wall or something behind a windows etc… It’s like a small world. I’m fascinated by Gulliver’s Travels, where your vision of the world is very different.
Q: A lot of your work seems to be strong in concept, is that where your shirt designs begin?
A: Sometimes I already have a solid idea about the concept and execution. Sometimes the concept is collateral. Like when you are drawing an elephant than somewhere in the middle you realize that the elephant looks more like a rhino, then you decided to create a totally new species.
Q: You are a master of composition and placing unlikely elements together, did you have formal training for this?
A: I did three years of “Arts appliqués” but I have always had the “passion” to create. With scissors and paper first, and then a computer after.
Q: You use a lot of images gathered from 3rd party sources. Here at DBH we encounter a lot of artists using images that they don’t have rights too. As a professional how do you ensure the images you use are free from legal issues? Our community would appreciate your advice.
A: Big question!!! Usually, I work with very old picture. In France, after 70 years, the rights are free. But you know, I transform the images so that they are difficult to recognize, I make them my own. If you use the image with no modification, it’s not good. You must use just some part of picture, like a puzzle. Sometimes I use 6 or 10 different parts to create one single character or person. One eyes, one mouth, different hands, etc… I’m Dr Frankenstein!
Q: When you’re not designing and generally not being creative, what do you get up to?
A: I am always creating in my head! But I love all things that help me to escape, like reading a book, watching a good movie…
Q: If you had to name one source of inspiration, who/what would it be?
A: All surrealists (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrealism)
Q: Which of the 7 printed designs you have at DBH is your favorite and why?A: The ‘Red Dream’ because it is the one that looks very simple, but there is a lot of details hidden within it.
Q: What is your process when designing a T-shirt, does it start with a sketch?
A: Yes, I have the “idea” first; next I have the “direction”, followed by a feeling for composition and finally I decide the colors.
Q: Finally, if you found a new species in your garage would you keep it all to your self or would you call in the scientists to poke and prod at it?
I’m not crazy!! I cried first time I saw “E.T.” the movie ;-)
You can follow CasaJordi’s blog to see his newest pieces at : casajordi.blogspot.com/
Good read. Well presented.