Here at Spencer’s, we love the hilarious, retro-inspired art of Steven Rhodes, who’s developed a wide fan base for his designs. He’s created some iconic t-shirts with sayings like “Let’s dig for treasure” and “Let’s run away from our problems” that we can’t get enough of, along with other merch that showcases his unique brand of humor.
We had the chance to ask the Brisbane, Australia-based illustrator and graphic designer some questions on our Instagram stories in September 2018, and wanted to share his outlook on life, art and pop culture with you on our blog. After all, he loves Stranger Things, we love Stranger Things. He loves being irreverent, we love being irreverent. Read on to find out about his artistic process, how he gets his ideas, what he thinks about haters, and his advice to aspiring artists.
Where and how do you come up with the hilarious ideas for these shirts and designs?
I basically keep a list of any random ideas that pop into my head that I think will suit the theme of my illustrations. Generally just things that make me laugh or get me thinking. I write down the idea in my phone so I don’t forget it and maybe do a real quick sketch in my notebook. I get a lot of ideas laying awake in bed at two in the morning.
Do you get a lot of hate or criticism for making things that are seen as “offensive?”
Not as much as you might imagine. There’s always a few people out there that think I have an agenda to turn people into Satanists and destroy the fabric of society. I think most people are mature enough to understand that they’re meant as a joke and a parody of the nostalgic and innocent kids’ books we grew up with. But haters gonna hate.
What’s your favorite t-shirt that you’ve made so far?
I was pretty happy with how “Don’t Talk to Strangers” turned out. I just like everyone’s facial expressions and the subtle dude being abducted in the background.
How long have you been doing art? And when did you start doing the art you do now?
I’ve basically been creating art since I can remember. Drawing and painting have always been my creative outlets. I started submitting designs to Threadless about 10 years ago and that got me more interested in digital illustration. The first design I made in my current retro “Sinister ’70s” style was “Science!” which was designed in 2016, so not that long.
Are there ever days where you hate being at work?
Now that I’m a freelancer I definitely struggle with the administration side of things! Ideally I just want to spend my time designing, but without all the emailing, invoicing, accounting, etc., I guess I don’t get paid. And I like getting paid.
Would you ever consider making little comics or zines based on the shirts?
I’d definitely be keen to do some sort of picture book or a compilation book of all my stuff. I can’t imagine the amount of work it would take to make a comic. I spend about two days on my designs so I have complete and utter respect for comic book artists. That would take me forever to draw! I work pretty slow. Haha.
What’s your favorite kind of pizza?
I like the basics. Margherita or pepperoni. I’m a very basic guy.
What inspired you to create all these amazing wild retro children?
I think “Let’s Summon Demons” was the first one that was pretty popular and people responded to. I grew up in the ’80s so this type of aesthetic really appeals to me. It makes me think of nostalgia and childhood and it’s just so fun combining that innocence with the occult and horror themes. Just so many possibilities for ways to traumatize Timmy!
Do you have any advice for aspiring drawers and artists?
I think the best way to improve is to make something every day or as often as you can. With every piece, you discover a technique that worked well, or an area you need to improve in (I suck at drawing hands). With each illustration, you refine your process and your style and find little time-saving techniques and shortcuts. Eventually it starts to feel like second nature.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Apart from sleeping, my wife and I are hugely into mid-century modernism so we spend a lot of weekends in antique shops looking for cool vintage stuff. Our apartment is all decked out ’60s style. We also like to head to the movies a lot too.
What’s your favorite Netflix show?
I’ve got a pretty soft spot for Stranger Things (obviously). I’ve been enjoying all the classic movies that are on Netflix lately. Dirty Harry, Roadhouse, Smokey and the Bandit, and Showdown in Little Tokyo.
Now that you’ve got the inside scoop on his artwork, visit Spencer’s for hilarious and fun Steven Rhodes merchandise!
