Behind the scenes: April & May

A new job and an invitation to an illustration exhibition in Taiwan

Hello friends,

I’m back. It’s been a busy few weeks! In April I started a new job as a graphic designer at a Dutch children’s book publisher, went to Bologna, almost forgot I had to do my taxes (oops) and I made a series of illustrations for an illustration exhibition in Taiwan. In this post I’ll talk about all the things that have been going on behind the scenes, some thoughts I’ve been pondering on and some of the things I loved this month.

Taiwan Illustration exhibition

A while ago, I was thrilled to find an invitation in my mailbox to an upcoming illustration exhibition in Taichung Taiwan, around the theme ‘Home’. They gave me full freedom to either select works I had made previously or to create something new. After going through my work I felt I didn’t have 5 illustrations that fitted the theme, so I decided to something new. My cosiest memory of home is baking with my mum. On many a Sunday we baked an apple pie together and I fondly remember her telling me off for nibbling away at the strips of dough she had set aside to create the checkered pattern on the top of the pie, or for sneaking tiny pieces of apple coated in sugar and cinnamon and then proceeding to do the same herself. (Sometimes she would shout ‘open wide!’ and spray whipped cream straight from the can into my mouth, resulting us both to double over with laughter. Good times.)

My starting point was the writing cat illustration I made for J is for Journalling, as it was a sort of self portrait, and taking it from there, adding a narrative of a girl baking with her mum for a birthday party. I especially love the tiny white kitten on the bench, making a drawing for her sibling. I used a mix of media and collage, as it helps me to be less precious. If I make a mistake or if I don’t like the colour I’ve used, I will just cut out a piece and glue in a new one. The fancy Terazzo kitchen tiles are inspired by my friend Lilla Turi’s fabulous kitchen in Budapest.

Mixed Media & Collage

Making room for drawing again after a bit of creative block

Coming back from Bologna, my head was so full with all the things I’d seen there. I was both inspired and intimidated. I was also a little annoyed with myself for feeling this way. The life of an illustrator can be such a paradox sometimes. When I’m busy, I long for days that are filled with playful experimentation, but when I have all the time in the world I find myself staring out of the window, not knowing where to begin. A lesson I need to relearn constantly is that to get somewhere I just have to start. To be okay with the first few drawings being terrible, but with a brain full of glorious illustrations seen in Bologna this was hard. To clear my mind I made a list of all the things I want to work towards this year. I’ll share it here with you as I wrote it in my notebook, mostly for me, to keep myself accountable, and a little bit for you in the hope that it might help you as well.

Drawing Year:

• Committing to drawing as much as I can, as often as I can.
  Even if it’s not fun at first.

• Go to as many Patreon Zoom sessions as I can

• Draw from observation but also just playing around

• Draw from observation at home and outside

• Start simple → Black and white or monochrome, one material

• Really look

• Don’t be scared. Make this drawing project the biggest priority this year, above all else, even reading and writing.

• Write about drawing, about my frustrations, the small wins and the progress. Analyse and be critical, but also be kind.

• Start tomorrow, first thing. Good excuse to buy yourself some flowers.

• See what works that day - if black and white is not my jam, go for colour, it doesn’t to overwhelm me.

• Note everything down.

• Be curious. When I feel myself tense up ask why. Why do I feel this way? What is underneath this feeling? Remember that fear is not only the mind killer, but the killer of joy as well.

• Remind myself why. Why am I doing this? To learn, to grow as an artist, to enjoy creating for the act of making something, to connect to myself, what I like, what I don’t like.

• Before you begin: The first few drawings will suck and it won’t be fun to do. Do it anyway. Don’t quit. You’ll be proud. You’re building something.

Some drawings from this month

So, that’s my list for this year, exactly how it poured out of my mind onto the page. Lucky for me, I found a partner in crime in my friend Puck Koper, she’s been encouraging me to go out and draw with her. Chatting with Puck made me realise that my knowledge of the Dutch children’s book scene is sparse and could do with some sprucing up so I’m preparing a deep dive into Dutch illustrators and writers, such as Fiep Westendorp, Marit Tornqvist and Max Velthuijs and will be sharing my findings with you here. 

‘Water is voor vissen’ by the brilliant Puck Koper

Next time we’re diving back into the illustrators ABC with M is for Mark Making. Thanks for being here and see you in the next one.

Maris

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Links / Things I’ve been loving

DedMay or Draw Every Day May, a challenge hosted by Frances Ives on Instagram, gently encouraging your daily drawing practice. Also check out her Patreon where she shares her DedMay sketches

Rise Raise Riso, a fundraising for medical aid for Palestine

My friend

Bruno Valasse

has his first authored and illustrated picture book ‘Shine’ out now with Tundra books. Absolutely stunning, congratulations Bruno! He has just started on Substack with a newsletter called The Hideout, where he talks about his process making the book.

Biofilia, a gorgeous meditation on nature by my friend Cathy Elliot.

Experimenting with acrylic paint on my gelliplate after seeing Emma Carlisle’s Patreon video with Marsha Valk

Marit Tornqvist’s beautiful work (more on Marit later!)

Dead Boy Detectives on Netflix

Annie M.G Schmidt lecture by Astrid Sy (Dutch only, luister hier)