Artist of the Month - @azaazelus

StickerApp: Hi, Gaetan! You're our August Artist of the Month, and we're thrilled! Tell us about yourself: Who is Azaazelus?

Gaetan: Hey, I'm Gaetan Sahsah, aka Azaazelus (though I'm slowly phasing that out, haha). I'm a 34-year-old illustrator from France who loves drawing cool, colorful characters and stuff. I work with all kinds of clients, as long as they connect with my art style.

As for dreams, I'm actually living one right now, to be honest. I get to draw every single day for a living, and that simple idea fuels everything I do. I'm incredibly grateful for that.

StickerApp: Amazing! Tell us about your creative journey. How did it begin?

Gaetan: As far as I can remember, I've always drawn. I always loved creating characters and adventures on paper. Then I went to art school, but it didn't click. It was too "arty" for me; I felt outside the vibe. I was lost and wanted something radically different, something more concrete that could break the omnipresent conceptual feel.

So I learned pastry-making and became a pastry chef. That experience completely shaped who I am as an illustrator. I discovered a side of me that loved organization, consistency, and hard work. I wouldn't be drawing professionally today without those years in the kitchen.

All that time, I kept drawing in my free time. Eventually, it became my main activity around 2022.

StickerApp: Nice. Was there a pivotal moment in your career that completely changed the direction of your career?

Gaetan: The first year I could fully live from illustration was a turning point. I made massive progress. I focused 100% on my art style and put all the effort I used to give to cooking into drawing. Waking up with only illustration and client projects on my mind, that was the best feeling of my life, and it still is to this day.

StickerApp: Oh, love this! What or who drives you forward as an artist and creator? What are your biggest inspirations?

Gaetan: Honestly, illustration itself inspires me. I've always been an illustration geek. Even as a kid, I'd download and organize folders of illustrations I loved. Nothing's changed; I see a cool drawing, and I want to make cool things too.

I only feel love and admiration for the work I see. There are so many talented illustrators out there right now; it's an amazing time to be creating. I love this era for that.

StickerApp: That's very wholesome. What's your number one piece of advice for those starting their creative journey?

Gaetan: This is personal and might not resonate with everyone, but here goes: Treat your drawing time seriously, like there's a client waiting for it. Finish your illustrations. Staying in that "not good enough to finish" zone is a trap. Just draw, repeat, and take it seriously. That's when I made the most progress.

StickerApp: How would you define your style, and what are your favorite techniques?

Gaetan: I love clean lines. I almost draw like I'm doing vector work, but it's all hand-drawn. I like that clean aesthetic paired with flat, bright colors, like old comics. The Simpsons was a huge influence growing up, honestly. I watched that show on loop on VHS and DVDs.

I draw on an iPad using Procreate, best feels when drawing! I color and arrange in Photoshop on desktop, and do all lettering work in Illustrator. Switching between tools keeps my day diverse.

StickerApp: Cool! Tell us about the design of your September Thank You card. What was your inspiration?

Gaetan: Back-to-school season! September's the theme, and it's always this weird mix of stress and excitement. I moved around a lot when I was younger, so back-to-school was always chaotic and stressful. I wanted to capture that energy in a fun way.

StickerApp: Nailed it! How do you use stickers for your business and personal brand?

Gaetan: I don't make stickers as much as I'd like to, honestly, but it's on my to-do list. As a fan of the medium, I want to produce and sell sticker packs. I'm exploring the idea of selling them through Patreon, like some of my favorite illustrators do, just for the joy of sharing stickers and collectible postcards.

StickerApp: That's a stellar idea! Why do you choose StickerApp as your sticker partner?

Gaetan: Because the quality is insane. I made stickers with you a few years back, and they're still on my thermos. They've survived the dishwasher countless times and still look perfect. That's rare, that's real quality. Rumor has it, you can use them as a bulletproof vest, but I would not recommend trying that.

StickerApp: Haha, if you try, please let us know! Lastly, what are your goals moving forward?

Gaetan: I'm working on event posters for September, plus developing that sticker pack we talked about. I'm also creating a new series of prints for Drool, my print shop. That's going to be cool.

Thank you so much for chatting with us, Gaetan! Keep up with Azaazelus, head over to his Instagram: @azaazelus.