Aiden ‘SNZ’ Ruddle was born in 1997 and hails from Queensland, Australia. A self confessed computer game and skateboarding nut, Aiden’s current work can be divided between his clean, technical creations – often turned into patches, stickers, t shirts and the like – and his free flowing, liquid like creations.
Both aspects of Aiden’s art could also be readily assigned to his interests: skateboarding for his free flowing works, and the digital realm of computers for his clean designs. All of which hint at the pop culture landscape that Aiden has been immersed in: The Simpsons, slime, pixel art, Pokemon, weed culture and Big Daddy Roth to name but a few.
(Picture below of some art by Aiden)
With Aiden merely at the start of his career, yet already showing talent and maturity beyond his years, now is the perfect time to get to know the man, his art and his life by reading the Art Talk below….
Basics/Getting to Know
Name + D.O.B?
Aiden Daniel Ruddle “Snz”
25 August 1997
City, State n Country you currently call home?
Springfield Lakes, QLD, Australia
City, State n Country you’re from?
Charleville, QLD, Australia
Describe some memories from some stages of yr life ….basically trying to piece together your pivotal moments. Concerts, art, action-figures, romance, school, crime… ANYTHING.
* age 5 – beginnings:
Well I guess I was always a kid who would draw & was good for my age. I would always be known as the “best drawer” as a tacker hahaha if there was a colouring in competition, I won it. I literally made something crafty out of anything I could find to pass time (coming from a tiny little town definitely was a factor), But it was really being looked after by my grandma while my parents were at work.
We used to make these Indians out of toilet paper rolls & my sister, Cousins & I would make paper costumes to put on these horrible plays for the family haha.
Alongside cartoons and cool toys this is really where my creativity started.
* age 10 – continuations:
Oh, the PlayStation 1… Holy shit this was probably when my life began honestly. I feel blessed to be in the era of Crash Bandicoot & Spyro. Not to mention Tazo’s, Pokemon, Yowie’s & army parachute dudes hahaha, I’ll never forget throwing those off the roof & watching them hopelessly spiraling to the ground; good fun.
My childhood was my entire inspiration leading up to what I create now.
I could ravel on for hours on it.
(Pictures below of Aiden as a kid.)
* age 15 – getting serious:
My parents split when I was going into grade 4 & this is when I moved to “Springy.”
I started street skating with a group of really good dudes who I wish I spent more time with now still. I’ve always been shithouse at shredding but I’d always be the one to try impossible shit that would draw a laugh from everyone else when I completely totaled myself haha, we would fish and had our own secret rope swing in the local lake & we would always find funny shit to do.
I was still never really serious about my art then but around this time I started listening to “heavy music” embarrassing now but bands like “Bring Me The Horizon” & “System of A Down” thinking I was heavy bahah shit.. But this got me starting to draw cartoons with piercings & tattoo’s in classes.
Later creating a tribute to that with my “Stretched Simpsons Series” I think I had a lot of art practice at school, to me it was having a laugh and drawing funny shit, writing pointless raps and having no responsibilities other than getting home before the street lights came on.
(Picture below of Ralph from the ‘Stretched Simpsons’ series by Aiden)
* age 20 – young adult: (not 20 yet but yeah)
It’s really been the last 2 years of my life that I’ve gotten serious about my work & social media presence.
Grade 12 was when I started using illustrator and Photoshop (usually to make funny edits of my mates and I) Then furthering to do a Diploma in Graphic Design after school which really boosted everything. This was when I started doing crossovers & hit the “wow people are really digging my work on Instagram & shit.” At the end of the year I completed my first proper portfolio, it’s a parody of those “Little Golden Books”; it came out sick I plan to do a book every year now.
My latest venture that’s pushed me forward has been the “Decks for Change” movement. My work was selected to be in 5 exhibitions reaching each end of Australia, then my work being auctioned off for charity; It was a time haha. & now here I am.
(Picture below of Aiden today)
Personal motto?
“A beer can never be too cold dude.”
Favorite band(s)?
House Vs. Hurricane, Hellions, August Burns Red, Counterparts, Grizzly Adams, I Killed The Prom Queen, Parkway Drive, Trophy Eyes, Bliss n Eso & 360.
Favorite TV show(s)?
Literally ANY cartoon from the late 90’s – Early 00’s.
Favorite sport(s) + teams?
Anaheim Ducks, Springfield Meltdowns, Milwaukee Beers.
Favorite movie(s)?
Have to say “The Other Guys”, “Zoolander”, “Happy Gilmore” & “Me & My Mates vs. the Zombie Apocalypse”.
Favorite books and comics?
“Purple Parrots Eating Carrots” & “The very fat fuckin caterpillar” hahah
Art Questions
Favorite other artist(s)?
“Guissepi”, Dale Bigeni, Xavier Davies, Hoang Tran, Luke Pelletier & “Butchovision”.
Worst aspect of the contemporary art-hustle?
Not too sure man? It shouldn’t be about money, or fame, or any shit like that & I welcome anyone to have a go but I guess lately I’ve been seeing a shitload of either copied or half-arsed attempts to rip off other artists & it really stirs me up… They’re only in it for the dosh & straight up they’re work comes out like shit because they can’t see past the dollar signs covering their eyes.
So I guess just putting up with some people haha but you get that anywhere.
Best aspect of the contemporary art-hustle?
Don’t want to sound dumb as fuck.. But the people man hahah. The mates I’ve made through my work & met through events & arts has been absolutely killer.
The support you get & the chats you have with people from the other side of the world is untradeable.
Do you consider what you are making to be ‘art’, ‘design’, re-hashed crap?
Honestly I let people call it what they want. I refer to it as “art” because everything I do is expressive even if it doesn’t reflect to anyone else…
They’re pieces for myself & I make what I want, It’s just a bonus people dig it too.
(Picture below of some art by Aiden)
When and why did you first start making ‘art’ (drawings, paintings, anything)?
I’ve always drawn just out of instinct I guess? I’ve just always had a knack for drawing cartoons.
I reckon I came out of my mum’s womb & probably did a little scribble on my birth certificate haha. But now I really make it to bring joy to myself. Like I was saying before each piece is for me man, I draw it so I can have a little laugh & it takes me back to a time when shit was good, it’s simple.
I’m not saying my life when I was little was always good, there’s a fair bit of shit I wish never happened but hey… It just takes my mind to humor & it makes me smile, that’s all I ever want my art to do. Evoke joy.
What did you draw as a pre-teen child?
I feel this was my prime. My first ever creation was called “Monkey Man” looking back now it was pretty well Paul franks head on a stick body haha. Then I created my own Pokemon & Simpsons characters & I went through a stage where I drew these weird skull things with mohawks; they were pretty rad & of course the old army S’s haha!
What did you draw as a teen?
Another great creation of mine called the “Meatball” & the “Meatball Society” came into existence. They’re these ugly little bald dudes haha they were like my tag man, everybody loved them.
That & anything with piercings & tattoos. Alongside 3, 4 second portraits.
Any pivotal artistic moment/influence?
In terms of what I’m creating now a pivotal moment was when I drew a Hipster Nigel Thornberry, & that was like wow that’s mad this is my jam hahaha, was a good day.
(Picture below of Nigel Thornberry by Aiden)
Why + when did you decide to go in on the art hustle?
Never really struck a defiant time man. It really seemed destined to be honest, I just kind of flowed into it. And I guess I really got my head into it about 1 1/2, 2 years ago.
Describe the method of making a ‘SNZ’ piece? (dot point all o.k.)
* your traditional art?
– Find inspiration, just watch tv, scroll through facey, read art magazines until I randomly think of an idea. (hit up a quick sketch on my phone so I don’t forget)
– Then pencil (not always), Then pens/paints
– Then have a giggle at it.
(Pictures below of Aiden working on some art)
* your digital art?
– Find inspiration, just watch tv, scroll through facey, read art magazines until I randomly think of an idea. (hit up a quick sketch on my phone so I don’t forget)
– Find Reference images
– Go for gold
(Pictures below of Aiden getting his digital on)
* your products – such as stickers and patches?
– I have all my printers & what not sorted now so that eliminates that aspect
– Then I chuck an order, simple as that
* your prints?
Same as digital art.
* your clothing?
– Find inspiration, just watch tv, scroll through facey, read art magazines until I randomly think of an idea. (hit up a quick sketch on my phone so I don’t forget)
– Find Reference images
– Go for gold
– Do some mockups
(Pictures below of some products from SNZ)
Odds n Ends
What role did toys play in your childhood?
A huge role! I have Tech Decks to thank for my interest & love for skate art & then just any toy that was sold at the local Toy World back in “the Ville” haha.
I probably owe my career to old toys man; shit.
Who was your 1st crush and why?
Hahahaha My first crush was actually on those aerobic ladies on TV just before cartoons started.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching them when I was little. I called them “The Chicky Babes” haha I’m pretty proud of the little kid I was.
Workstation?
My workstation is pretty much anywhere I have a pen hey. If it’s not just a random place in my surroundings it’s at my messy as all hell desk haha.
Which 1990’s era cartoon, would you most like to see in a tribute sex toy, and why?
Fuck I could have a field day with this but the first idea that came to mind was a Cat Dog Double headed dildo haha with the slogan “Make those pussies bark”
(Picture below of Aiden’s Cat Dog sex toy)
Who would win in a fight and why: an outer suburbs lad in town for the weekend beering it up Vs. an inner-city-takes-no-shit art chick?
Hmm that would be primetime man haha… I reckon it would be close IF & only if the lad had his mates cause we all know one on one you barely see their collars & fanny packs & those chicks are fucking fierce dude. They’re so beautiful but I’d hate to be on their shit list ahaha.
I’d very much enjoy that brawl though.
(Picture below of the fight in all it’s glory)
Does sex change everything?
As in gender or having it? I’d say it doesn’t change a thing personally (or it shouldn’t) either way. But it’s sad to say society as a collective still thinks different…
Please describe your latest dream in detail…
Well… It started & I was on a kind of beach house jetty. It was nice but it was like a cross between the sea captains jetty off the Simpsons & then a villa that my friends’ family owns in Bali.
I walk out of the cabin part with a cup of “juice” & Miley Cyrus & Jennifer Aniston rock up? I don’t know what that says about me hahaha. I whip out my phone then start listening to “Columbus” (Don’t know what song).
The jetty looks pretty gloomy, like it’s just rained & I go lay in this huge bed with like pure white sheets & blankets. Then I walk out & Miley runs up again exactly like she did before. This time I turn around though & Jennifer Aniston comes out of that weird room with the bed, everyone was fully clothed might I add… bahaha.
Then I see a dolphin curl up in the dark ocean & I wake up.
Made no sense at all but I gather I have a crush on Miley Cyrus & Jennifer Aniston bahah.
Have you ever tried psychedelics of any sort? And what was the experience like?
Naaa man, never.
Drugs – waste of time or gateway to the universe?
Naa I’m off drugs all together dude, I’ve seen too many people I care about completely fuck their lives up over even the minimalist of drugs.
I know a lot of people think I’m constantly baked because of my work hahaha but that’s not me… I just think they’re funny when you cartoonise them. (is cartoonise even a word?) but yeah drugs aren’t for me dude.
(Picture below of some art by Aiden)
Please describe what you think the Australian Psyche/Zeitgeist is today?
Personally I think it’s great. A lot of people stepping up & having a descent fucking go! It’s great to see.
A lot of people are “giving” these days too. Whether it’s for a cause or to just help out a mate.
But as a collective I think a lot more people are coming together to form a tightknit group which is rad. Well that’s speaking about the art & music world I see. There’ll always be assholes with their heads up their arse though.
What are your general thoughts on the rise of mashup + bootleg culture in the art world?
It’s both great & bad at the same time. More amazing artists are emerging all the time these days, but like I was saying before A FUCKLOAD of just half-arsed mashups are appearing with no care or pride taken in them.
I fear what it’s risen to be will be gunned down completely very shortly.
The Future
Any collaborations on the horizon?
I have got quite a big one in the works but I’m not going to plug it just yet; just watch my space dudes. Sus my snapchat at “aidensnzlmz” for the most updated news.
That & another big one that I’ll probably be working on for some time still.
Oh! I’ll be challenging artist Thumbs to a pokemon battle too.
Any major projects you want to hype?
Me & my mates are having a piss up this Friday, should be mint hahah.
Links
- SNZ – twitter
- SNZ – Instagram
- SNZ – online store
