We’ve managed to pin down the elusive and humble Karmo Ruusmaa. Known for his caricatures of big names like 50Cent, The Game, and Isaiah Thomas, he’s usually keeping a low profile, avoiding the spotlight at all costs.
But today, the Estonian caricature king is opening up, talking about his love for basketball, the secrets behind creating killer artwork, and the little empire he’s building.
You started drawing back in primary school without any guidance. Can you remember what those first moments were like?
When I look back, I remember getting a lot of praise from my teachers and classmates in first grade. Naturally, that felt great and gave me the initial push. From there, I just kept pouring more time into drawing, and, well, here we are today.
You’re not just an illustrator – you're also the creative director of Ballzy, an Estonian streetwear brand with stores all over the Baltics. Did your work and hobbies collide,
or did one come before the other?
I’m honestly really happy that my job is also my passion.
I’ve been obsessed with basketball, sneakers, and, of course, basketball sneakers ever since I was a teenager. That passion led to the creation of GOONS, a small streetwear brand we launched.
It did pretty well, getting into some European chains and smaller street shops, but we didn’t have much retail experience. Then, the guys from Sportland reached out with their know-how, and that’s when Ballzy was born.
We started with a single showroom focused on basketball gear and then expanded to Finland. When the pandemic hit, we shifted our focus to leisurewear – especially shoes.
Now, somehow, we’ve got an entire chain of stores. It’s been one wild ride, for sure.
Basketball, bikes, sneakers, illustrations, comics, cartoons... You have so many hobbies.
What’s the common thread tying it all together?
It all comes back to basketball. I fell in love with the game as a kid, and that love has stayed just as strong over the years. My art started reflecting that passion, and when you put emotion into what you create, it connects with people. Once your work makes its way into the basketball world, and you get a little lucky, a business can grow from it. But comics and cartoons? They’ve got a special place in my heart, too. It’s all part of Karmo’s universe.
You’ve got nearly 100K followers on Instagram. For Estonia, that’s superstar status!
How did you grow such a huge following?
Oh, hell no, I’m not a superstar. The term "superstar" is kind of sketchy, especially here in Estonia. My niche is pretty specific, but once your work hits a wider (virtual) room full of hardcore fans, your community starts to grow. Most of my followers – about 70%—are from the USA.
I’ve never really done any self-marketing; it’s more like the followers just found me on their own.
It’s said that you were working a shift at a small sports store when an advertising agency walked in and offered you a gig. Then, K1X, the German clothing brand, scooped you up. Sounds like a classic sliding doors moment, right?
Oh, for sure. A lot of luck was involved. There was no social media back then – phones still had buttons! But somehow, they found me, hired me, and I remember submitting a test task on paper, which I had to scan and send in. No digital back then – just pen and paper.
How did your time in Germany shape you?
Germany changed me in ways I can’t even explain. It opened my eyes and gave me a whole new perspective. No university can teach you that; I’m sure of it. That’s why I always tell younger colleagues to spend time abroad – to see how big and full of opportunities the world is. And when you’re surrounded by people living and breathing the same culture, all working towards the same goal – that’s a special experience.
You’ve mentioned before that after high school, you didn’t quite find your place. Estonian Life Sciences University was too "earthy" and the Academy of Arts was too "artsy." I had a similar situation. I found the University of Tartu too rigid and EKA too artsy for me. What’s your take on this now? Do you think you need a university degree to succeed in a creative field?
As an artist, I honestly don’t think you need a university degree to make it in the real world. What you need is to find that one thing that lights a fire in you, and from there, you can build any kind of art. Take photography, for example: you can’t be good at photographing everything. You need to pick a niche, dive deep, and refine your craft – whether it’s weddings, sports, or animals. But let’s face it – we all need to make money, and we often end up doing things we’re not passionate about. I still face that dilemma. University can definitely give you a foundation, but artistic growth can happen faster today through online resources, web lectures, and practical tutorials. More schools are offering this nowadays too.
You’ve worked with big names like 50 Cent, The Game, and Isaiah Thomas. Is there anyone on your wishlist that you’d still love to collaborate with?
No wishlist. Honestly, I’m just grateful for the opportunities I’ve had so far.
Inspiration comes from...?
The world around me. Music. And other artists.
One of your best-known works is "Last Supper." It’s so popular that even AliExpress is selling fakes of it. Can you tell us a bit about how it came to life?
Man, I’m starting to feel like a one-hit wonder because that was ages ago. Honestly, it’s a bit weird that I even finished that project since I’m usually pretty impatient and get bored after about an hour of drawing. That’s why I tend to stick to smaller projects that I can knock out in under 60 minutes. But "Last Supper" was different—it was all about remixing something iconic with something I love, and bam, this piece was born. I wouldn’t really highlight it myself, though, since it’s based on something that was already legendary. There are plenty of other phe- nomenal works out there too.
What makes a picture a great picture?
A great picture is one that makes you stop and stare. In today’s world, that’s tough to achieve, especially with AI making everyone a "great artist." But even a simple sketch can be amazing if it has form and flow. But to get it just right, you need to practice – and a lot of it!
Is it true that EA once offered you the chance to design the NBA PlayStation game? That’s huge!
True story. They asked me to design the world of NBA2K, including the fields and murals.
Sadly, I missed the chance because my communication was slow.
Looks like I need a manager who’s faster on the draw!
I, along with at least 16,000 other Estonians, am hooked on your Politics & Bullshit channel, where you share your caricatures of daily happenings. The tone is spot on – mocking but still light and fun. Tell us more about the channel. Do you do it for fun, or is there a paycheck involved?
Honestly, it’s just for my own social catharsis. I get this urge to express all the craziness in the world. I didn’t expect anyone to care about these drawings, but people seem to love the uncensored vibe. It’s all freedom, no rules. If I were doing political cartoons for a media outlet, I’d have to follow a lot of restrictions, and all that freedom would disappear. I’ve had political parties ask me to draw their rivals, but I try to stay neutral and balanced. Above all, I want to keep the freedom to do whatever I want.
What’s your favorite way to unwind?
Riding my motorbike, walking, reading books and comics, or just chilling with my family.
Basically, doing nothing.
What does the future hold for you?
I’ve been working on a few major projects for quite some time now — fingers crossed they’ll drop in 2025! I’ll spill the beans once they’re out.