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Guy Billout, a French surrealist artist and illustrator, is known for his thought-provoking artworks that challenge the laws of logic. Born and educated in France, Billout moved to New York City in 1969 and started his career in advertising. He gained fame after his work was published in the New York Magazine, which allowed him to express himself freely in his illustrations. Since then, he has worked with several big US media outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many more. He is also the author of several book illustrations.

Billout's style is characterized as clean, spare, and precise, with a surrealist element that portrays a parallel dream world. His works often incorporate some ironic element with lush colors and exquisite craftsmanship. In 2016, he was inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame, and he has been described as "more than an illustrator, a compassionate poet of the absurd."

If you are interested in Guy Billout’s works previously posted on Bored Panda, you can click here.

More info: Instagram | graphis.com

Bored Panda has reached out to Guy Billout to find out more about his surreal work. We wanted to know how the artist decided on themes and subjects for his illustrations. Billout told us: “Most of my commissions are editorial and corporate illustrations, which means that my power of decision is about how to serve a theme or topic formulated by somebody else. It is quite different when I am given carte blanche, which allows me to develop my own themes. The way I decide about my own stories or subjects is empirical, or based on improvisation. To give you an example, I have worked for a series of illustrations for The Atlantic Magazine for which I was granted total freedom of interpretation.”

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    Next, we wanted the artist to discuss the role of surrealism in his work. Guy Billout said: “Many illustrations of The Atlantic series already mentioned, which I consider as my best work, are more about 'What’s Wrong with this Picture?' than surrealism. When I am looking at my photos for an idea, I am looking for a 'mistake' to derail the reality captured by the camera, in other words, looking for a visual pun, a gag. If some significance or poetic overtone is revealed in the final image, it is not intentional.”

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    Asked about particularly challenging projects Billout had to work on in his career, the illustrator answered: “The most modest assignment for an obscure publication and little money is more challenging than doing a book, for example, with total freedom. With any story written by somebody else, I am always afraid to be unable to find the 'right' visual solution, the 'perfect' idea.”

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    Then we were interested in how the artist adapts his art to suit different audiences, knowing he has worked with a wide range of media outlets and clients. Billout told us: “I have been trained and developed as a commercial artist, getting my clues from the expectations of my clients (as long as they don’t tell me what to do), with little awareness of my audience. However, experience shows me that this relative adaptability is less interesting than being on my own, free of any expectation.”

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    We wanted to know how Guy Billout stays inspired and motivated as an artist. He said: “I have been mostly dependent on the deadlines, and the demands from my clients to motivate myself. It is a little more difficult to incite me to draw without that pressure.”

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    #12

    Meet Guy Billout's Brilliantly Ironic Illustrations That Transform The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary (New Pics)

    Guy Billout Report

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    FlatEarf2.0
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why the fvck would you say something like that. Just what the hel1 is wrong with you to say someone needs to die

    Snake Queen
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Snek, for those who apparently don’t know, is a misspelling on purpose b/c snakes are immensely derpy, hence the name snek instead of snake. For future reference, if someone misspells something (on purpose or not) no one likes it when someone corrects it.

    Dodo
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Snake queen probably knows the difference and which one is the right one here

    Thegoodboi
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Snek: "Ssssorry my dude, I'll call you a tow truck.."

    Adam Wardwell
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Next you'll see the news reporting that the cia/fbi confirmed all the derailments were reptilian induced... pun intended!?!

    Evan H
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It doesn't take much to stop a train. Even leaves on the tracks can stop a train (leaves pulverized under the wheels can become a slick oil-like substance, the equivalent of a car driving on ice).

    Erik Markward
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Funny story- I used to think baby snakes were called 'snuks' when I was little. I proceeded to take one tread off of my dad's radio control tank and call it my snuk.

    Bentley Shaw
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Snake Queen Would U Rather Have Humans Die In The Trian Wreck Or 1 Single Snake die

    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    This comment has been deleted.

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    #18

    Meet Guy Billout's Brilliantly Ironic Illustrations That Transform The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary (New Pics)

    Guy Billout Report

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    Thegoodboi
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dammit Bobby, what did I tell you about playing with the ball filled with stardust...

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    #22

    Meet Guy Billout's Brilliantly Ironic Illustrations That Transform The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary (New Pics)

    Guy Billout Report

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    #42

    Meet Guy Billout's Brilliantly Ironic Illustrations That Transform The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary (New Pics)

    Guy Billout Report

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    Why?
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”

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    #53

    Meet Guy Billout's Brilliantly Ironic Illustrations That Transform The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary (New Pics)

    Guy Billout Report

    #55

    Meet Guy Billout's Brilliantly Ironic Illustrations That Transform The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary (New Pics)

    Guy Billout Report

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    Mary Peace
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It was a difficult parting, but they both knew it was the only way.

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