Have you always been drawing?
Yes, if my parents are to be believed. My mother used to stick all the drawings I made in a book and wrote down my age and the title beside them. When I was three, I made a peculiar drawing entitled 'lady with a jam jar on her head'. It is a pity that the book has since been lost. I would have loved to leaf through it again.
When did you realise that you wanted to become an illustrator?
First I wanted to become a prima ballerina. But when I was no longer allowed in the selection class when I turned twelve, I thought: 'then I will draw for the rest of my life'.
Have you studied formally? What?
Industrial design, in the department of product design at the (then) Academy for Industrial Design in Eindhoven. But, things took another course...
Who are your clients and how did they find you?
They usually call me on the telephone. People that have seen work of mine somewhere, have visited my Web site or have looked at dutch-illustration.com. I have a broad client list and do not really occupy a particular niche; they include publishers, newspapers and magazines, museums, companies and government bodies. The only thing I haven't yet done is to illustrate children's books.
How do you start a job and where do you seek inspiration?
I have agoraphobia, so I have to fill a white sheet up as quickly as possible. I read the text for which an illustration has to be made and, if necessary, ask for clarification from the client. Sources of inspiration: life itself; I am always fascinated by the typical poses of people, a strange position of the feet, wonderful double chins, and so forth.
In what media do you prefer to work?
Since I bought my first Apple in 1994, I prefer the computer. I have become much more adept with that piece of equipment. Before then, I only made 'clear line' drawings. Very secure lines, and then I would colour in the spaces as perfectly and completely as possible.
I don't do that anymore. 'Fun scratching' is what I call my technique these days. And you can easily eat biscuits while you work without worrying about the crumbs falling into the wet paint. I still always begin with a pencil.
When is a drawing finished?
When I think: 'Phew, that's it'.
What work have you been most satisfied with?
Well, it can always be better. Fortunately, because then at least you are never finished. A number of illustrations made for the Haarlems Dagblad spring immediately to mind. They involved difficult subjects such as murder and incest, which I thought I wouldn't be able to handle. But it intrigued me enormously to visualise what I thought about the subjects.
I also love it when a client spontaneously bursts into laughter upon seeing a drawing of mine. It means you have been able to create a little magic, in my view. Then I am satisfied. 'Mission accomplished'.
What kind of project would you still like to tackle?
Something interactive with a lot of animation. The plan is actually already finished. Now I only have to win the National Lottery to finance it.
1] G.H. Breitner: portraits of Geesje Kwak 1893
2] Edward Hopper: all his work for dramatic light and use of colour.
3] Valerio Adami: a.o. Pantzerkreuz Potemkin 1970, timeless graphical compositions.
4] my (late) cat Harley Davidson: no comment
portrait photo: Fiel van der Veen
