Our champion designer c0y0te7 evokes wonderful worlds inspired by cartoons, comics and pop culture. Have a look at his brilliant artwork, and find out how the shrewd French designer comes up with his wicked ideas for smashing designs. We’re sure that we’ll be seeing his creations adorn many a Christmas gift this year, so it’s well worth checking him out.
In a few words, can you tell us who are you and where do you come from?
Hi, my name is Patrick and I work for Zédouard. My artist’s name here is c0y0te7. I live in Taverny, a small town near Paris. My creations are mostly digital designs to be printed on different media. I also make traditional designs and animations. I’ve always drawn since I was a child, so I’m very passionate about drawing. I still continue exploring artistic possibilities today and further develop my techniques.
The name of c0y0te7 suggests your penchant for an animal. Does it work as an inspirational force or a particular state of mind for you?
Originally my nickname came from the cartoon character “Wile E. Coyote & The Road Runner”. Coyote was the nickname I was using on MSN, video forums and online games. Since it was already in use, I modified it to c0y0te7 in reference to James Bond, the agent 007. I have since continued to use it to sign my graphic designs.
Coyote’s character fascinated me during my childhood. I like the silent side gag as it’s easy to understand, very powerful and nifty. The Coyote was never short of ideas to tinker with gadgets. Just like the work of coyote, there are twists in my work as well. I used to create and transform my toys with bits of salvaged cardboard and plastics. The result was not always conclusive, but that did not stop me. Now I still have a good mind to seek new solutions by tinkering with the tools I already own, and it motivates me to realise more or less far-fetched idea.
In the end, c0y0te7 is the fusion of two characters using inventions and surprising gadgets in their adventures. Coyote corresponds to my fun side and 007 on my more serious side. It’s like a code name.
If I’m not mistaken, none of your designs apart from your logo actually represents a coyote. Why is this?
I’m not really trying to create a brand that attaches its name or symbol to products. My approach is rather artistic, I try to create things that capture the attention of people through their humorous or poetic intent. The coyote may be the theme of a future creation without giving it priority, though.
Does the number 7 also work as your lucky number?
It’s simply a hat tip to the secret agent, even if my name is now associated with it. It’s not like I now I put seven sugars in my coffee, blow 7 kisses to say hello or stretch 7 times every morning before I try 7 versions of each of my designs. I actually still don’t drink any coffee at all.
Looking at your designs, you could think that you’re scrolling through key events in popular culture. Video games, TV series, manga, fictional characters and the like are all there. Where did you get that urge to illustrate? How do you choose them?
These are cultural references that come naturally. I am in line with the French tradition of Club Dorothée. I was influenced by anime mangas, and that’s largely the source of my passion for drawing. Science fiction, fantasy, poetry, humour, video games – these are the things that I draw on. Other times I like drawing attention to certain topice in order to speak to the public. And when nostalgia hits me, I get inspired by themes of my own past blended with popular culture. Here I like to address a variety of topics.
What motivates me to start a design may be the desire to develop an interesting idea, concept or experiment with a graphic style. I love when drawings can say something, when something stimulates the imagination of my audience, even if it’s just to look at my image. That’s magical.
The titles of most of your designs are in English. Does stuff in English sell better in France these days?
This is a trend that I have observed when trying to draw a picture for an international audience. I often named it after the drawing in English and retain the name for an international audience. And sometimes when the title is related to the design concept, I just translate it squarely.
Do you begin to sketch a design in pencil before scanning? What software do you use to create your designs? Do you prefer drawing on paper or on screen?
I do research on paper, noting ideas and visual elements I need to illustrate. It’s either a white A4 sheet or blank sheets in one of my old school books. On the same paper, I do pencil sketches in quick succession. These are very small (approx. 3cm per sketch) to help me organise these elements in a composition. It is mainly a phase of visualisation, and I often write the title and imagine how it might turn out. If I think the concept is worth the candle, I draw directly on the computer. I use Adobe Photoshop CS6 with Wacom Bamboo Fun most of the time.
I realise all my T-shirts designs with separate opaque colours and halftone frames to degrade. This allows for better management of screen printing for my clients, and it look better with transparency effects on fabric for direct printing. What’s more, it reduces the weight of my PNG files to allow for faster download times, even in high resolution.
Lovely! And by the way, how did you come across Spreadshirt? Why choose our platform?
I am active in some design competitions for T-shirt designs, and this lead me to discover the site from other artists. After trying it out , I continued to use it as the quality of prints and T-shirts is very good, and the service also.
You also do portraits. What makes you choose a character over another?
It’s the same principle as with other subjects. If I find an interesting idea, I realise it.
Next to drawing, do you have another occupation? Or can you live in your designs?
I am a full-time freelance artist. The opportunities are vast, and today it is partly thanks to sites like Spreadshirt that you can make a living.
And finally: what design best fits your personality?
It is difficult to summarise my personality in a single design. I know sometimes I’m humorous, other times serious, and yet on another day I can be a little dreamy or even quite the mad scientist.
Square Root: for its clever word game
July 1969: a dream mixed with humour
Draw or Die: a serious side
Lost Anchor: graphic experiments
