ABOUT: OTR

OTR is one of the most dedicated artists when it comes to the stickerscene in Holland. With his own style, his passion for stickups, anti-style and his creative vinyls, will be known across the stickerscene. There will be an stickerexpo in Zwolle, the Netherlands, that is being hosted by OTR. So this is his story.

Let's start off with a beer. What beer would you say is your favorite?
I don’t drink myself actually, but if I need to get some beers for a party I always go with De Klok. I don’t know why actually

Where did your journey in art began?
I started writing graffiti when I was a bit younger and trying to escape daily life problems. I quickly noticed that there are a lot of stickers in my city. A lot from writers but also from sticker artists specifically. Growing up in Zwolle there where a lot of names to look up to. Same was always a writer I could recognize wherever I was, same counts for the Groenteboer with all them crazy carrots going all city. But talking about stickers I have to give a big shoutout to Tanukie, as he was the first sticker character I would see on most public spaces in the city and even further into neighborhoods. I’m also a big fan of the works of HSSL and Straatkabouter. Both are local artists that often uses vinyl materials. Their stickers are everywhere and are never the same, but still you could recognize it from it’s style.

What attracted you to be a part of the stickerscene?
Tanukie was the first artist I met in person and he kind of was the guy that made me do characters. Before that I already was making stickers but it was more of a side thing. I always saw stickers on the streets too, but never thought about “Hey, somebody put that up here” or even about meanings of stickers.

What inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your artistic skills?
Right before my first trade with Tanukie I came up with a simple character under a old name that no longer exists, and after that I just started drawing different kinds of characters to see what I like most. Until I came up with the character I have now. But I have to say, the character did change over the years as most do. But what’s still the same is the glasses and the eyebrows. And of course the round shape. But at the start my character didn’t even have a neck. That’s what I really like about my character. I’m always trying out new mouths for example, or emotions too.

If you would have to describe your artistic style, what would you say?
I hate perfect shit, as I think nothing is ever perfect. It’s just how you look at it as a individual. How I see glasses in my character, one another could see it as a mask for example. I like to draw my characters simple but clean, and fast but recognizable. But out of the 100 characters I draw there’ll be maybe 2 characters where I think: “Wow, this one looks just like I imagined”. Some people told me my character is too simple to compete/stand next to other characters, but luckily that’s not what I want to achieve with my stickers. As long as the sticker is not gonna end on the streets, I just give less of a shit about it. For me it’s really important to be out there on the streets, and not be a internet drawer. Not that I have anything against that, it’s just not what I want.

Can you share some of your favorite or most significant artistic projects or pieces you've created?
The biggest project that I’m working on everyday right now is a sticker exhibition, but I’ll talk about that later on in this interview. I have to say, there are some crazy 228 collabs I got to jump on that still run through my mind every now and then. But next to this character I do a whole lot more with stickers and just overall printing. I love the concept of putting something up in a public space knowing people will see it. Sometimes it will make people happy, sometimes it will make them mad. Even though my character doesn’t show a lot of story, it’s still a little protest against payed advertisement and stupid propaganda that nobody has asked for. My art is making people happy or in other cases think about something. For me that’s more worth than an advertisement where they’re trying to get your money.

What do you like the most about what you do ?
The interaction my sticker makes with other artists but also regular people. I’ve had multiple cases where people would talk about my sticker trying to describe it, while they don’t know it’s from me. It’s a kind of attention that is great to get. But also meeting up with people in person to just trade and talk about stickers is great. I always get inspired.

Are there any artist you look up to?
Beside this sticker hobby I have a big heart for antistyle graffiti, because it opens a lot of doors in the world of styles. I’m always amazed by writers like Sigma, HZS, Xeevr, Pohen and Yok (just to give some examples). Another great artist is Garfield Goth Christ, a good friend of mine. This dude is all about fun and experiment and always down to think with me about new ideas. I also got to mention Tanukie once again, because in my eyes this man can adapt every type of style and is just an amazing drawer overall.

Everyone has their way of working. How do you approach the creative process, from conceptualization to completion?
If we’re talking about simple collabs/starters I just go with the colorway, or not, without thinking about it. But with the more advanced 228 collabs I do make a sketch sometimes. But besides that, I don’t really think about how I’m gonna make my character. I do love themed starters, like movies or games. It’s a nice challenge to see how everybody pushes their characters into the same theme.

How do you stay motivated and overcome creative blocks or challenges in your work?
I draw every day, even if they aren’t stickers. I’m always thinking about making things too. Everyone says this but it is very true: it’s a form of therapy. You can put as many emotion in it as you want, in what kind of way you want. For me a creative block would be another project I’m working on, but never a day that I don’t make something.

Word is that you are holding a stickerexpo, can you tell us something about that?
Yes! I had this idea running thorugh my mind for a while now and I finally found a place and the time to organize it! I dare to say it’s the first ever Dutch sticker exhibition and it’s gonna be in my hometown Zwolle! We’re gonna cover a wall completely with stickers. It’s gonna take place at Kattegat Zwolle, a place where they organize a festival every year with lots of music, art and activities around it. We will make the wall into a photobooth-like space where people can make pictures with the wall. Next to that you will be able to buy stickers and maybe even be able to win something…

Not every art, is for everyone. How do you handle critiques or feedback on your work, both positive and negative?
It’s always nice to get feedback but I never ask for it. It’s not important for me to become better at drawing. What’s for me a good drawer, can be absolutely shit to another one. I don’t like it when it’s just talking shit about my work to uplift yourself, I think that’s very unhealthy and not the way. I never see the ‘stickergame’ as a ratrace but more as a community where almost every sticker counts. No matter how ‘good’ or ‘bad’ you can draw.

The most thing I like to see in an artist is progress. What are your long-term artistic goals, and where do you see your art career heading in the future?
So as I already said I don’t have any goals about skills, but more about my personal being in the future. I would love to have a studio at some time where I can work on everything in the same place. What’s also a goal is to discover the world with stickers, so travelling to different countries to meet up with artists like you, as I’m already doing right now.

Some artists feel they have a deeper meaning regarding their artwork. Does your art have a deeper meaning to you?
Not really. For me it’s a way to say I was here and you saw me and thought about me. For me it’s great to be ‘famous’ without people knowing it’s me. If I want to do something with politics or activism, my character isn’t the first thing I think about.

Do you have anything else to you would like t share with the world?
Keep making the world a better looking place. And if you want to send stickers for the exhibition, DM me!