06/01/2020
Design Artist Henry Rivers in the Interview
Who is the man behind the Henry Rivers airplane trolley editions and what motivates him? In the interview, he talks about his life and his art. And also about how his designs found their way onto VanDeBord's airline trolleys!
VDB: When did you start drawing and painting and how long did it take for you to find your own distinctive style?
Rivers: Art has always been an important part of my life - as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories go back to my grandmother's watercolor group. I believe I reduced the average age there by at least sixty years!
My current style began to develop when I was enrolled in university for architecture. Students were encouraged to draw in very focused perspectives and use details in the background very sparingly. I used to enjoy the challenge of this restricted technical format. But even today, you can still see a similar approach in my work, where I reduce details in the background to the essentials.
VDB: Where does the fascination with retro motifs and minimalism come from?
Rivers: A large part of my inspirations comes from Art Deco advertising. I've always been attracted to its clear geometry, the dramatic landscapes, and the small, charming figures set in contrast to them.
Regarding minimalism: I am a precise artist and always remember what my art teacher preached to me. I should try to lose myself in my paintings. With minimalism, I find it immensely satisfying to reduce a design to as few details as possible while still conveying exactly the desired feeling.
VDB: Have you been to all the places you've drawn?
Rivers: Not all, but in fact, many pictures are based on places I have already visited. This is especially true for those places where there was a certain scene or atmosphere that I absolutely wanted to capture. To give an example – the beach of Ipanema in Rio – one of my favorite places in the world. It's simply permeated by a magical atmosphere! Other times, particular architectural styles inspire me. In Copenhagen, for example, I fell in love with the Art Deco lighthouse of Knippelsbro and had to create a picture of it immediately upon my return.
VDB: What were your thoughts when we suggested putting your artworks on the surface of airplane trolleys?
Rivers: I am always excited when I hear how creative companies have great ideas and implement them. So, I was quite thrilled when I discovered what you have already been doing and what you plan to do in the future. You simply have a fantastic concept! There are so many products on the market that keep imitating each other, so it is refreshing to come across a truly innovative product.
VDB: Do you remember what first went through your head when we ambushed you with the idea for new designs for airline trolleys?
Rivers: I must admit, it almost seemed too good to be true! You, like me, are inspired by the retro glamour of travel, so the suggestion was really perfect. When people ask me today where my artworks appear, I always tell them about VanDeBord. It always amazes them.
VDB: We are absolutely in love with the Henry Rivers Special Editions - how do you like the finished airline trolley editions?
Rivers: Naturally, I am biased, but I just love them! Looking at my works just on the computer screen can sometimes be a bit boring, but seeing the finished images on your unique airplane trolleys really brings me joy. I am looking forward to the moment when the first California Trolley arrives at my place in the very near future, and I have already thought about where I will place it in my apartment. I firmly believe that it will be a great place for my artist supplies!
VDB: Could you tell us something about your working process! How exactly does the development of a new design of yours take place, especially for airplane trolleys?
Rivers: I always start with sketching in a small size. Usually, I fill a few pages of my sketchbook with about a dozen smaller sketches and experiment with different compositions. I do this until I feel that the design works. After that, I move on to larger sketches, in which I can represent more details. Then, I look at many photos on the subject to get more clarity on what each detail will look like, what kind of palms might be on this or that beach, what kind of surfboards work best, etc.
The last phase involves creating the illustration on my computer. I scan my final sketches, arrange them in Photoshop, and start overlaying shapes in spot colors.
Once I have drawn all the elements, I usually let the illustration rest for a few weeks. When I return to the image later, I spend a few sessions experimenting with various color schemes and adding textures to achieve the exact desired atmosphere.
The design for airplane trolleys posed new challenges because I am used to working with a 3:4 aspect ratio, but trolleys have a much narrower aspect ratio. That means that most details of my original drawings would be lost if I simply cropped them.
First, I pull out my sketchbooks again and try to rework the respective composition for the different format. I then decide which elements need to be minimized and which need to be moved. Then, I go back to the computer and adjust the digital graphic files for the new layout. By the way, it's also quite fun to select a stylized, iconic detail from a motif that then finds its own place on the back of the trolley.
VDB: Henry, thank you so much for the interview and of course for your beautiful and inspiring designs!