I've been drawing ever since I was little and always told people I wanted to become a ‘tekenaar’ when I grew up (it’s the Dutch word for draftsmen). So the decision to become an illustrator seemed an easy one. I went to the Willem de Kooning Academy to study illustration, but after graduating I wasn't too sure about the path I had chosen and decided to give advertising a try. But here I came to realise how much of an illustrator I actually was. After this I was determined to make a career out of illustrating, and now I can't imagine doing anything else!

I've been drawn to fashion for as long as I can remember, and I think this fascination reflects in my illustrations. I often get inspired by a person's style or personality; that's why fashion and self-expression are often a driving force behind my work. Great painters and colorists like David Hockney, Matisse, or Ellsworth Kelly are a big source of inspiration for me as well.

Here's a look into my studio 🙂

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Whenever I have a creative block, I have to force myself to take a step back. For me this means quite literally going outside and doing something different. Once I return to my desk after a walk through the park or a museum visit, I’m often able to view the design problem with a fresh perspective.

Throwing dinner parties for friends! Cooking is still relatively new territory for me, but I love the learning process. It gives me the same feeling drawing used to give me when I was little; I can get lost in it and lose my sense of time. It doesn't matter how tired I am after a day of work, cooking will always give me energy.

1. @designershumor

2. @jahulie

3. @martinparrstudio

1. Boijmans van Beuningen

2. Cafe Binnenvisser

3. 't Nieuwe Diep

As I mentioned before, I'm a big David Hockney fan. A while ago I visited his big retrospective exhibition at the MET and I was mesmerized by the volume and diversity of his work. 

The variety in techniques, the mix of hyperrealistic and impressionism, and (of course) his stunning colors—it fascinated me all. There's a new exhibition of his that just opened at the Van Gogh Museum. I haven't seen it yet, but I have high expectations, and I'm almost certain that I won't be let down.

I have some exciting collaborations on the way, including a new campaign for Spotify. Besides these commissions I’m working on a personal project in which I try to focus on working with physical materials, as my commissioned work is heavily focused on digital. 

At the moment I'm working on a series of drawings and paintings which will hopefully be exhibited sometime this year.

Try to embrace the business side of being a freelance creative. They often don't tell you in art school that in order to have a successful artistic career it’s essential to become an entrepreneur. It’s essential to know how to market your work while at same time staying true to your creative views.