This post marks an all-new “conversations with an artist” series where we’ll be talking with various artists from around the world, trying to showcase their work and learn a bit more about them.

For this first-of-series conversation, we had the honor to talk with Rie Rie, a brilliant designer from Depok, Indonesia. Rie is a great and cheerful person, we really enjoyed talking to him.

Graphisutra: Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
Rie Rie: I’m just a guy that lives in Indonesia – Depok is my hometown. I’m 26 years old and I’m a freelance graphic designer, working with vector and painting illustrations as well. My zodiac is Gemini, and I’m blood type B, lol!

Graphisutra: Do Gemini’s or Blood Type B have anything to do with your love for design? :)
Rie Rie: Hahaha I don’t think so. But a mix of them equals “a highly curious person” and “high amount of idealism” :D

Graphisutra: Haha fair enough. How did you get into design then?
Rie Rie: Umm, when I was a teenager, I wanted be a comic artist. Actually, I can’t really tell why I’m so in love with graphic design. Most important though, I do love everything about Visual Arts since I was kid. Everything just suddenly happened, or people call it “fate” :)

Graphisutra: There goes my next question (what did you want to be when you were younger). What part of the day do you find yourself being most creative?
Rie Rie: Night :)

Graphisutra: do you have any favorite artists and/or design magazines?
Graphisutra: (that you draw inspiration from?)
Rie Rie: Yes I do, I’m a big fans of Fatoe, Ida Belogi and Kai a.k.a Ukitakumuki. :)

Graphisutra: How would you describe your design style in a few short sentences?
Rie Rie: Complexcity behind the simple. At a first glance, things seem simple, but looking more carefully reveals the complexity behind it.
Graphisutra: :) Can you show us a work of yours that you’re particularly proud of?
Rie Rie: Wait a minute.
…
Rie Rie:

Graphisutra: That’s an amazing piece! Do you remember where did you get your inspiration for it?
Rie Rie: Umm, actually, I made that artwork for my fiction story (FYI: I’ve been writing a novel for almost a year now, but it’s not done yet)
Rie Rie: Basically, I just translated from the story I’ve made into visual artwork.

Graphisutra: *thumbs up* for it
Rie Rie: hey thanks :)

Graphisutra: For the curious out there, can you tell us which programs do you usually work in?
Rie Rie: I do it almost all with Adobe Illustrator for the vector artwork and Adobe Photoshop for the digital painting :)

Graphisutra: Which would you say are your favorite colors? :)

Rie Rie: #594A42, brown.

Graphisutra: Anything upcoming you’d like to taunt the readers with?
Rie Rie: My graphic novel! :D Just wait and see my graphic novel.

Graphisutra: We’ll be expecting it :)
Graphisutra: Anything you’d like to say to our readers?
Rie Rie: May the vector force always be with you all :)

Graphisutra: Haha, good one!

Graphisutra: Well, hate to hold you up anymore – had fun talking to you Rie, thanks again for taking the time to do this!

Rie Rie: Yeah me too, and million thanks for you two.

All images are used with permission and are copyright Rie Rie, unless stated otherwise.

For more of Rie’s amazing artwork, visit his deviantART profile at http://tracelandvectorie03.deviantart.com