How long have you been drawing?
As a little girl of eight I immigrated to Canada in 1956 with my family. In order to survive there, I floated on my intellect by doing well in school and kept my emotions hidden deep inside myself. The only place I permitted them to come out was in the fairytales that I drew and later on, as a teenager, in the love stories.
When did you realize that you wanted to become an illustrator?
From the time that I could hold a pencil in my hand I knew that I wanted to become a commercial artist. Very early on I discovered that I was also good in portraits and drew movie stars (from photos), classmates, friends and family.
Have you studied formally? What?
As soon as I had finished highschool in1967, I left Canada, moved in with my grandparents and attended the AKI (Academy of Art and Industry) in Enschede. The AKI was at that time committed to abstract art and, as a realist, I did not fit in. So I quit school and travelled through Europe, the Middle and Far East for 2 years. In 1971, I came back and finished the AKI, graduating in 1975 in oil portraits.
Who are your clients and how did they find you?
My mentor at the AKI, Reinier Lucassen, gave me my first commissions in portraits. I was commissioned about 10 portraits a year, by word of mouth mostly. In1990 I started working officially as a full time freelance illustrator and (fast) portrait artist. I perform all over the country as a fast portrait artist for all sectors, and I illustrate for advertising agencies, licensors of copy-righted cartoon characters, business concerns, publishers, industrialists etc. I advertise in various newspapers, the Yellow Pages, professional journals and I also get a lot of work from people who have either seen me or my work somewhere, have come across one of my flyers, or by word of mouth.
How do you start a job and where do you seek inspiration?
When talking about a commission with a client, I often instantly see pictures in my head, relating to the topic. I sketch various ideas, but usually the first one is the best. My inspiration comes mostly from inside because my memory has collected innumerable impressions throughout the years. But I still look intensively at everything around me.
In what media do you prefer to work?
The media I use are very diverse: pencil, coloured pencil, chalk, fineliners, PMS markers, oils and water colours, but also combinations of these. I don't really have one favorite medium with regards to illustrating, though I prefer oil paints in my free (personal) work.
When is a drawing finished?
An illustration is finished when I have a good feeling about it, instinctive. I am not one to endlessly fool around with it, it1s like ikebana: beter to leave out than add too much...
What work have you been most satisfied with?
For me, the commission to illustrate two books for a well-known cabaret artist was the most satisfying job ñ like the icing on a cake - especially since the person in question is expremely likeable. We had a great deal of fun working together and the results show it.
What kind of project would you still like to tackle?
The one thing that I would still like to make is an illustrated book of my own poems for children.
1] 'Polar Bear': Robert Bateman, Internationally well-known Canadian wildlife painter, from his book: 'The Art of Robert Bateman'
2] 'Mountains': James Siers, photographer from New Zealand, from his book 'Dramatic Landscapes'
3]'Stretching': Hans van Manen, Dutch choreographer, from his book 'Portraits'
portrait by Janna Dekker
