nieuws van nederlandse illustratoren bij dutch-illustration.com

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Have you always been drawing?
Yes, I always enjoyed drawing, However, during my childhood I drew to tell stories, not to make nice pictures. In that way I filled lots of drawing pads with comic strip adventures of Ninjas. I even remember winning a prize in the fifth grade of primary school with my drawing for the Red Cross. While other children simply drew a sick child, I drew an action scene where a badly wounded patient was hurriedly carried into hospital on a stretcher, panicky nurses, infuses and all. I wish I still had that drawing.

When did you realize that you wanted to become an illustrator?
I discovered that when I started working at the Comic House studios at the age of 19. When I had finished my HAVO, I was allowed to help in making the VPRO children's serie 'Mannetje and Mannetje'. The atmosphere at the Comic House studio was so inspiring that it was a pleasant circumstance to get paid for my work as well.

Have you studied formally? What?
I only completed the HAVO. School was a sort of prison for me, because I cultivated my own specific interests at an early age and all the educational material that was pressed on me just weighed me down. When I finally finished the HAVO and was free from tedious schoolwork, I was able to immerse myself in the actual practice from which I learned much more.

Who are your clients and how did they find you?
Usually my website functions effectively as a 'billboard' to attract customers. But person-to-person advertising is in fact the best publicity. If you have satisfied customers, they will not only keep coming back but also probably advise other people to come to you as well. I work on a regular basis for magazines such as Esquire, SQ Magazine, Computer Total and FNV Bouw Magazine. Together with a partner I also design retail displays, I design logos for small-sized and medium-sized companies, make animations for TV etc. Actually I am a handyman in many areas. At the moment I am trying to filter this fragmentation down to just a few specialties. metin seven
How do you start a job and where do you seek inspiration?
I usually start up my 3D software and begin, without making sketches first. Instead of sketching I prefer looking around in my 3D program for a form that I can use. Most times I already have quite a good visual idea in my head that gives me sufficient direction. Inspiration always comes indirectly, for example, from books or internet. However, I never start looking for inspiration before I have made a sketch myself first, because I am afraid that my work will then resemble someone else's too much.

In what media do you prefer to work?
I enjoy working with 3D on my computer most of all. I drew in 2D for two years, mostly pixel graphics for games and TV, but 3D is much more of a challenge and is therefore less boring in the long run. Besides computer work, I like working with pencil or charcoal on paper, but that falls under the category of hobbies.

When is a drawing finished?
When the deadline monster stands in front of my door exhaling flames and demands that I hand in the work. When I make something for myself I can take the time for it, but lately I have had it with work that takes me a week to develop, which is quite common in 3D work with a lot of detail. I have been searching for a nice, stylized visual story-telling form in 3D, with the emphasis on clarity and a strong concept.

What work have you been most satisfied with?
I am most satisfied with work that has a successful and surprising concept. I notice more and more often that the eye-appeal of an illustration is less important than the content. Even though a person can draw fantastically well, I am prone to yawning when the concept is boring, whereas an untidy concept of a brilliant idea can be very impressive.

What kind of project would you still like to tackle?
It would be great if the characters of my FigureFarm.com project were to be realised in tangible form and be available for a large public. Then I would buy a few of them and place them side by side on my desk, like a proud father.

sources of inspiration

sources of inspiration:
1] My dear wife Natasja

2] The works of Dave McKean bowl me over time and again with their impressive depth.

3] Lorenzo Mattoti: pure visual poetry. The flowing lines, forms, compositions, colors, great stuff for dreams.

4] Pieter Hogenbirk: a personal friend. His work and his way of life are both an example for me

portrait: selfportrait

translation: Ellen van Boggelen-Heutink

to the website of metin seven



		Have you always been drawing? Yes, I always enjoyed drawing, However, during my childhood I drew to tell stories, not to make nice pictures. In that way I filled lots of drawing pads with comic strip adventures of Ninjas. I even remember winning a prize in the fifth grade of primary school with my drawing for the Red Cross. While other children simply drew a sick child, I drew an action scene where a badly wounded patient was hurriedly carried into hospital on a stretcher, panicky nurses, infuses and all. I wish I still had that drawing. When did you realize that you wanted to become an illustrator? I discovered that when I started working at the Comic House studios at the age of 19. When I had finished my HAVO, I was allowed to help in making the VPRO children's serie 'Mannetje and Mannetje'. The atmosphere at the Comic House studio was so inspiring that it was a pleasant circumstance to get paid for my work as well. Have you studied formally? What? I only completed the HAVO. School was a sort of prison for me, because I cultivated my own specific interests at an early age and all the educational material that was pressed on me just weighed me down. When I finally finished the HAVO and was free from tedious schoolwork, I was able to immerse myself in the actual practice from which I learned much more. Who are your clients and how did they find you? Usually my website functions effectively as a 'billboard' to attract customers. But person-to-person advertising is in fact the best publicity. If you have satisfied customers, they will not only keep coming back but also probably advise other people to come to you as well. I work on a regular basis for magazines such as Esquire, SQ Magazine, Computer Total and FNV Bouw Magazine. Together with a partner I also design retail displays, I design logos for small-sized and medium-sized companies, make animations for TV etc. Actually I am a handyman in many areas. At the moment I am trying to filter this fragmentation down to just a few specialties.		How do you start a job and where do you seek inspiration? I usually start up my 3D software and begin, without making sketches first. Instead of sketching I prefer looking around in my 3D program for a form that I can use. Most times I already have quite a good visual idea in my head that gives me sufficient direction. Inspiration always comes indirectly, for example, from books or internet. However, I never start looking for inspiration before I have made a sketch myself first, because I am afraid that my work will then resemble someone else's too much. In what media do you prefer to work? I enjoy working with 3D on my computer most of all. I drew in 2D for two years, mostly pixel graphics for games and TV, but 3D is much more of a challenge and is therefore less boring in the long run. Besides computer work, I like working with pencil or charcoal on paper, but that falls under the category of hobbies. When is a drawing finished? When the deadline monster stands in front of my door exhaling flames and demands that I hand in the work. When I make something for myself I can take the time for it, but lately I have had it with work that takes me a week to develop, which is quite common in 3D work with a lot of detail. I have been searching for a nice, stylized visual story-telling form in 3D, with the emphasis on clarity and a strong concept. What work have you been most satisfied with? I am most satisfied with work that has a successful and surprising concept. I notice more and more often that the eye-appeal of an illustration is less important than the content. Even though a person can draw fantastically well, I am prone to yawning when the concept is boring, whereas an untidy concept of a brilliant idea can be very impressive. What kind of project would you still like to tackle? It would be great if the characters of my FigureFarm.com project were to be realised in tangible form and be available for a large public. Then I would buy a few of them and place them side by side on my desk, like a proud father.

		sources of inspiration: 1] My dear wife Natasja 2] The works of Dave McKean bowl me over time and again with their impressive depth. 3] Lorenzo Mattoti: pure visual poetry. The flowing lines, forms, compositions, colors, great stuff for dreams. 4] Pieter Hogenbirk: a personal friend. His work and his way of life are both an example for me portrait: selfportrait translation: Ellen van Boggelen-Heutink