Meet Benny Douet

Hi! Welcome to the Roar "Meet the Artist Series" thank you so much for taking the time to sit with me and chat about all things art, career, business, and you! So, with that in mind, would you like to tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hello, I'm Benny, I was born and raised in South West London. For the last couple of years I've been working remote from parts of Asia with London as a sort of base camp! I'm also planning on moving to Brighton in the coming months! I've been in my career full-time for roughly two years now.

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Roar: When did you know you wanted to be an artist?

I was incredibly lucky to have parents who recognised my natural inclinations early on which always made the path down the creative route seem possible (Basically they could tell I was a bit weird!) I always loved being lost in my own imaginary world from a really young age! After University I felt really drawn to the idea of creating my own style and getting lost in my strange worlds again, so freelance was something I wanted to try out. Seeing other artists who were able to make a living from creating weird illustrations and animations made me realise it could be possible to blend everything I wanted to do.

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Roar:Tell us about the journey to get to where you are today?

When I was 14 and chose Art as one of my specialist subjects at Teddington School, I felt like I was in the perfect environment to explore and develop my creativity. My art teachers were so patient with me! They were so passionate about what they did, which made it easy for me to find a space to explore. Shout out to Ms Reidy and Mr Rueben!

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Later, I studied Animation at Bristol School of Animation (UWE), where my eyes were opened to the magic of the medium. Watching the end-of-year student films projected on the big screen and seeing so many distinctive voices bring their stories to life was an inspiring experience.

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‍When it comes to the people who have influenced my career the most, I have to start with my mum, dad, and brother. They have never questioned my path and have always given me the confidence and belief to keep creating. One of my closest friends, Archie, has also been a huge source of inspiration. His animation skills constantly amaze me, and he has been my number one collaborator on many projects, both past and future. More broadly, I’m lucky to be surrounded by friends whose creativity and various artistic pursuits continually inspire me.

‍There are, of course, countless artists with distinctive and unconventional styles who have helped pave the way for creative individuality within the industry. Thanks to freelance creatives and art directors willing to take risks, there is now a real appreciation for unique artistic voices. I think that shift has been massive in the last 5-10 years. I love, for example, that we can now see a 3D stop-frame style illustrator doing editorial covers! That's wild!

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Roar: Why did you want to be part of the Roar Next Gen roster?

I had been a huge admirer of Roar for years, and in my eyes they always had a certain class and prestige about them. The whole agency felt very personal, and you could tell the artists were carefully handpicked. When the opportunity arose to be part of Roar Next Generation, I knew it was a fantastic chance to be mentored by an agency that felt like family.

‍I had heard first-hand accounts from artists, some of whom I had followed for years, about their experiences at Roar, and it sounded like the perfect fit for me. In what can otherwise be quite a solitary profession, having a team around you, being able to bounce questions off Skye, and working together towards career goals seemed priceless.

‍Of course, the administrative support is a factor, as it allows you to focus more on the work itself, but the family aspect was always the most important thing to me.

‍My main goal from being with Roar is to create a body of work and contribute to projects that we can look back on and be genuinely proud of!

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Roar: Tell us a little bit about the tools you use to create your work; how it works, how they help you work, and just a little about the process etc.

If I’m working digitally, I love using Procreate on the iPad. It feels like the closest thing to a real drawing experience, especially with a paper-like textured screen protector. I also have to give a shout out to True Grit Texture Supply, whose paper overlays I use regularly to help recreate the feel and character of my physical work.

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Roar: How do you prepare for your working day?

The way the day goes depends a little on where in the world I am! But almost always my day would start with either a trip to the climbing gym (where hopefully I'll see other climbing buddies) or a run or swim. I'll cook up a quick breakfast, then I'll usually head to a cafe, have a really strong coffee and get to work. The ideal day finishes with a movie night with friends, where we browse for a longer length of time than the film itself. When I was staying at my friend's place in Bangkok for many months, I loved a routine of finding new hidden cafes, eating extremely spicy street food I couldn't handle, then meeting friends for the evening. If it's deadline day, everything I just mentioned goes out the window!

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Roar: Do you have pets? 

 Not anymore.

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Roar: Least favourite subject matter to draw?

Nothing!

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Roar: Favourite subject matter to draw?

American suburban homes and interiors!

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Roar: How has AI impacted your career (if at all) and have you changed your approach to the way you work because of it? 

Luckily, not much, I don’t think. Mostly because the clients I work with, and the clients I want to work with, value human-made art. If anything, it’s made me think more about the importance of world-building and doubling down on a weird, niche style that feels uniquely my own.

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Maybe I'm a bit naive but I’m fairly confident the art world will continue to push back against it. It’s pretty clear that, outside of a few corners of the internet, nobody really wants AI-generated imagery replacing artists.

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Roar: What would you want to say to anyone who thinks that AI is a harmless tool esp. if they are a commercial "artist"

Think carefully behind the true reasons why you'd rather use AI than create something yourself. I can think of a few!

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Roar: Who is an art director that you appreciate? Perhaps they gave you your first job and/or they let you have free control over the project? Gave you invaluable advice etc.

There's so many brilliant art directors I've worked with. Somnath Bhatt from Bloomberg Businessweek gave me my 'first big break', and that gave me so much confidence. Som also gave me great Delhi reccos! Som is a legend! Having also worked with No Ideas studio (Devin Washburn and Philip DiBello) on several projects for The Baffler, I'm always grateful for the creative freedom and trust they give me to cover really interesting literacy fiction pieces and off kilter articles, I really get to let loose creatively. 

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Roar: How did you handle your worst client experience?

I try to stay calm, introspected and unbiased. Trusting your collaborator and if something wasn't right, not to feel undeterred or lose confidence but to continue looking for creative solutions. 

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Roar: What other artistic mediums motivate you?

Music, especially experimental ambient stuff and film scores. They really help me believe I'm creating a world or atmosphere and keep me in line with my aesthetic. Old media also really inspires my work, like old cartoons, anime and video games from the 80s,90s and early 2000s. 

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Roar: Who is your dream client to work for?

In terms of editorial, I'd love to work with The New Yorker, The Guardian and in print for The New York Times. In terms of animation it would be a dream to work with Hermès and Adult Swim - Off The Air. 

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Roar: What would your dream commission be and how would you approach / tackle it if it ever came to fruition? 

I think it would be a wild animation project with very few creative boundaries. Something like a music video or a commissioned short where I could really experiment and push ideas as far as possible. To feel a little bit like a film director! My approach would be to become completely immersed in the project and its world. 

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Roar: Do you have any words of wisdom, or advise for those in their career (any stage)

Keep believing in your work and stay excited about what you're making. It also helps to find people who have built careers doing something similar to what you want to do. Looking at their journey can make your own goals feel much more achievable, and it gives you a chance to ask questions and understand what steps you might need to take along the way.

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Roar: If you were not an artist, what do you think you would be doing? 

Probably something to do with rock climbing!

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Roar: How have the past years been as a working artist, have you found a difference in the type or consistency of work that has been commissioned over the years?

Because I’m still fairly early on in my career, I don’t have a huge amount to judge it against. Thankfully, I’ve been pretty lucky that the last couple of years have been fairly consistent, which has made it easier to stay focused and keep moving forward.

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Roar: Do you have another job other than the work you do as a commercial artist and do you think this helps or hinders your professional practice?

I do not but I'm potentially interested in tattooing alongside illustration!

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Share some artists that you think we should know about

Archie Taplin  

Mereida

Marcy Fraser

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Roar: What's your earliest art memory of why you wanted to become an artist? 

Weirdly, I don’t think there was ever one defining moment. It was more a gradual realisation that came from spending so much of my time drawing and creating while growing up. The more I did it, the more I realised it was the only thing I really wanted to pursue.

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Roar: What is your favourite way to decompress from your work and can you tell us a little bit about your version of work/life balance?

I usually decompress by trying to move! If I can that day! Climbing is a big passion, as well as running in the woods and playing footy. If I'm travelling I love outdoor adventures or exploring new cities, checking out art galleries and museums. Also time with friends like movie nights, silly game evenings or a gig!

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Roar: How many drinks (cups, bottles etc) do you have on your desk at one time? 

Coffee, tea, water on repeat. If I'm really feeling crazy the holy trinity will appear - breakfast tea, Earl Grey, followed by chamomile. 

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Roar: Have you ever felt imposter syndrome, and what do you do to fight those thoughts? 

Yes definitely. I try to think back to the reasons why I started creating and try working on projects that feel more personal to me in my spare time.

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Roar: What fictional character do you relate to and why?

Scooby Doo - often get lost on side quests and always hungry.

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Roar: If you had to suggest a book (or more than one) that helped you in your career what would it be and why? 

The Illustrator's Guide: How to Create an Exceptional Freelance Illustration Career by James Hughes was a really useful read for me. At the time, pursuing illustration as a career felt quite abstract, and the book helped make it feel more practical. It broke down the realities of freelance illustration and gave me a clearer idea of what building a career in the industry could actually look like.

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Some quickfire random Q’s

Roar: Your fave’s:

Book - I'm going to go for one I finished recently - Kafka on the Shore - Murakami, although it definitely has questionable parts!

Film - Princess Mononoke by Studio Ghibli. 

TV Show - a tie between The Twilight Zone (the 50s/60s one!), Twin Peaks and Avatar The Last Air Bender. 

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Roar: What do you listen to when you work? 

90% of the time - very slow, weird ambient music. 10% of the time - rewatching Twin Peaks, friend's voice notes and the occasional history podcast.

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Roar: Share your favourite recipe (if you cook) or if you're not a cook, maybe your favourite takeout? 

A mean tofu scramble! Fry up some onions and ginger, then add scrunched up extra firm smoked tofu, garlic, nutritional yeast flakes, paprika, turmeric, cumin. Serve on sourdough with olive oil and top off with some kala namak (eggy salt) and some hot sauce!

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Roar: Country you would love to visit 

Japan! USA! (specifically Yosemite and Washington State)

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Roar: Something you've been itching to draw but have not had an opportunity yet

Wine or beer labels!

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Roar: What is something you feel people should know earlier on in their career? 

One of the most valuable lessons for aspiring freelancers is that it is possible to make a living from a highly individual, unusual, or niche artistic style. Success doesn't always come from appealing to everyone; it often comes from finding the right audience or adapting your work to a specific area of the creative industries that genuinely interests you. I think a distinctive artistic voice can become a professional advantage.

Roar: STRONG AGREE!

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Roar: Favourite snack?

Has to be marmite toast, no doubts. If you disagree with this, you got your butter ratio all wrong.

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Roar: Any last thoughts for the readers? 

If you got it to this point and put up with my babble then fair play to you, I appreciate you! If you ever want to collaborate or work together please hit me/us up! And we can get weird!

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