Denny Busyet is a master of the 80s and 90s retro aesthetics. One look at his artworks and you are transported back in time, listening to your vinyl records or feeding your hard-earned coins to an insatiable arcade machine.
So how does Denny do it? Well, keep reading and you’ll soon find out what gets him in the groove!
How did you become an artist?
I love to draw! Since I was a kid I always liked to draw everywhere I went – even on my school books which are full of random drawings 🙂
Then in senior high school I learned how to use graphic design software and I knew I wanted to become an artist and pursue this career.
I don’t actually have an art degree, so I am mainly self-thought and I’ve been asking certain friends questions on how things work.
What does your studio look like?
Well I don’t really have a fancy studio haha, just a basic one mixed with my collectibles room. That’s a room full of my toy figurines, vinyls, cassettes, and other retro machines.
What inspires you to create?
I want to inspire the viewer to reminisce about the good old days and deliver that bittersweet feeling of nostalgia through my artwork. Anything related to retro themes inspires me a lot.
How did you develop your art style to be so reminiscent of the 80s and 90s aesthetics?
I’ve been trying a lot of art styles in the past, not just the 80s and 90s. Finding an art style requires a lot of time and it can be quite the journey.
I believe my current style emerged from one such long process. Of course, the fact that I was born in the 80s and grew up in the 90s makes me naturally enamored with these eras so it’s easier for me to understand what I’m trying to do with my artwork and develop that even further.
What does your creative process look like?
“Time flies but memories remain”. These memories are always in my head and are my best references when creating an artwork.
For example, when I was kid I liked playing in the arcade. I fondly remember the whole process: the scenery, the building, kids queuing up to buy more coins, etc.
So a good start is to list all these things I remember from my real life experiences and then start transforming it into a design.
What do you enjoy the most about being an artist?
Just the fact that I get to create art, because that’s what I love doing the most.
What would you say is your biggest success so far?
Being able to create my own personal artwork and share it with the world. And as a bonus, having people actually buy it – that’s an amazing feeling 🙂
On your website it says you’re a synthwave enthusiast. How much does music influence your art?
When I discovered synthwave for the first time, it was through the movies. I fell in love with the music created by Timecop1983 and The Midnight.
It’s a perfect combination with the retro themes I am working with. I can’t create a design without listening to music.
So yeah music really means a lot to me – it’s a big influence and sets the right vibes for my work.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not creating art?
Mostly playing video games 😀
What are your plans for the future?
Using a company like Displate to handle setting up your art shop is nice, and it really helps artists sell their work. But in the future, I also want to open my own shop.
Instagram: @dennybusyet
