Thibaud, engraver and poster designer, takes us into the worl of printing and graphic arts. Image is also dedicated to be printed, engraved, linoengraved or lithographed and of course exhibited !
RC. Who are you ?
Hello, my name is Thibaud, I'm 22 and I'm a poster engraver. My headquarters is "Nantes City". I studied graphic arts during 6 years, which allowed me to start a project three years ago : the Stand'art. It's a moving artistic stand, specialized in the techniques of traditional printing (silk-screen printing, linoengraving, lithography...). Thanks to that, I had the opportunity to participate in few events and meet interesting people. And finally, I have found a profession that I've been practicing for a year now and I'm very passionate about. I am a master of art student in the workshop of the Nantes printing house museum where I have a huge chance to learn and develop all the techniques that I presented on the Stand'art. And also, I use there magnificent old machines dating back one or two centuries, completely steampunk ! If you are photographer, you can take incredible photos in this place !
RC. How do your creative ideas come up ?
I would say that there is no secret and I am not the first one to say so. Time, work, researches are needed. Graphic watch that I have learned during my studies helps me a lot today to find inspiration or even graphic styles. Otherwise for my work, I am inspired by pop culture, cinema. So usually ideas appear when I particularly like a work. It also happens, very rarely, going to bed (when everyone starts to philosophize about her/his life) when I have some inspirations… and I love these moments which give me the opportunity to write some ideas in my notebook "To do when I have time."
RC. What was your favorite project ?
It's hard to tell... I feel like each project is more interesting than the previous one. So, I would say that Stand'art is my favorite project. "It's like my baby", I want to see it growing, expanding as much as possible and giving people the opportunity to experiment with the techniques I show (I organise printing workshops that really enjoy the public.).
RC. Which method do you use ?
As I said before, I begin with a graphic watch. I always have ideas in a corner of my head, but then, I have to convert them into a graphic work. I often have a precise idea of the image I want to create. But it's not automatic. So I start by making some black and white sketches that I transfer to Photoshop in order to create some montages and try several compositions in order to find the one I prefer. On this basis, I can work in shades of gray at the light table, put on colours with Ps and correct some small mistakes, or I engrave it all if it's linography.
RC. Could you share technical tips with us ?
Since I use several techniques, I have nothing to say in particular. The answer is often the same : to devote ourselves totally in what we love. It is often the time we spend that makes us progress with a technique, at least it is my case, especially in linoengraving. The key word would be perseverance. For those who have not this patience, there is one technique that I find particularly efficient in no time, it is collage ! A lot of people use it now and artworks are nice, photography - graphic arts mixture. Works are pleasing or funny and it can suit amateurs.
RC. Which artists inspire you the most ?
There are so many ! But I should admit that some stand out from the crowd. The ones who glorify graphic design in their art like Yeahh Studios, a couple from Paris, who bring back to life the Jap culture of the 80s, with style ! In the same influence, but with more details, I greatly appreciate the work of the illustrator Paiheme. For printings and colors, I quote Bene Rohlmann and Grand Chic studio (from Nantes, yes !) and finally, for their extreme precision in illustrations and representations of the floating world, the Australians Andrew Fairclough and Andrew Archer, living gods !
RC. Do you have coming plans ?
Well, yes, there's no lack of projects. During this confinement, very timely for me, I took the opportunity to work on a second edition, a bit theoretical, dealing with graphic design and the poster in the cinema since the 2000s. You can meet me on the weekend of July 4-5 at the "Art de Faire" exhibition in Bressuire. I will be with friends who have their own world, really cool !And, it's still a bit confidential, I'd probably be at "l'Art est aux nefs" in Nantes, the first weekend of September. It will probably be the biggest event for me with the "Stand'art" and the "Escales" in Saint-Nazaire.
