Free friday - how to be more creative

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A question I hear a lot:

'How do you get ideas and how do I get more creative?'


Here's 10 tips to help you on the way to boost that creative mind!

1. Write everything down
Keep a little log where you jot down every idea or though that you have throughout the day, when on the bus, in bed (keep a journal on your bedside table!), at work, etc. Most ideas come unexpected.

2. Keep a visual archive
This can be a box or binder that you stuff with pictures you love (from magazine, flyers, newspaper, etc) but also transparent covers (every cover with a different theme) that you pin on your wall.
Want a more digital version? Use Evernote or Pinterest.

3. Experiment
One of the assignments I got in art school was to fill one spread in a sketchbook (old books work great too) every week with an experiment. This can be: try a new material, collect everything you find on the street during that week and glue in onto the pages, draw a plant a day for one week... well you get the idea. Keep in mind that this is an experimental book, you do not have to show it to anyone, you can do whatever you like in it, it doesn't have to be pretty or 'good', just play!

4. Focus on detail
Drawing, designing or creating starts with looking closely to the world around you. Want to draw a bulldog? Investigate the Bulldog, get books, pictures (google!), background information on you subject. You might discover new things you never knew about bulldogs that you can implement in your drawing. 
An example: Let's say you want to do something on the theme 'stressful life'. When investigating 'stress' you find out that chewing gum makes the mind more relaxed (actually true!). This makes you think of a little product you can design: packages for relax-gum.

5. Start small, in you own environment
You don't have (you don't HAVE to but if this is your passion, go for it!) to change the world with your designs. Start with what you love, hate, what irritates or fascinates you. The closer a subject is to you, the more passionate you'll be about it and the more you'll get out of it.
An example: The instant comfort pocket box, I came up with after a rough breakup, when I needed a little pick me up.

6. Do not keep an end product in mind
When starting a project, start at the beginning. First investigate the subject, then start sketching. Focus on every step in the process and on that step alone.
If you think about what you want it to become all the time, you only get frustrated and forget about the steps in the middle that you need to develop a strong end product. Result? 'I never get on paper what I have in mind'. So make sure you do not have a totally finished product in mind when you start, just embrace the experiment on the way!

7. Train yourself in drawing
Do a drawing a day. Want to get ideas on what to draw? See Keri Smith's list or the 'what to draw list' at Pikaland.

8. Do things different
Take another road to work, draw with your left hand, draw with a huge brush. Do things different than you'd normally do. This triggers you mind to think the other way.

9. Combine
Make combinations. Wanna draw a bird? Combine it with something opposite (a car, a sewing machine,  robot legs). This can also be applied on themes: 'Green and rough', 'outer space and your fingertip', and so on.

10. Work hard and practice
Being creative almost never comes out of nowhere. Practice a lot, work hard, as simple as that.
(Keep in mind that all those illustrators and artists you admire had lots of education, mostly 4 years or more, that's loads of practice!).

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Een vraag die ik vaak hoor: 

'Hoe kom je op ideeen en hoe wordt ik creatiever?'


Hier zijn 10 tips om je creative mind een booste te geven!

1. Schrijf alles op
Hou altijd een klein opschrijfboekje bij de hand (op de je nachtkastje, in je tas) waarin je ideeen op kan schrijven. De meeste ideeen komen op de meest onverwachte momenten.

2. Houd een visueel archief bij
Dit kan een doos zijn waar je plaatjes in bewaard, een map of insteek hoezen die je boven je bureau hangt (per hoes een thema). Wil je een meer digitaal archief? Gebruik dan Evernote of Pinterest.

3. Experimenteer
Tijdens het eerste jaar van de kunstacademie kregen we de opdracht om elke week een spread (dubbele pagina) te vullen in een schetsboek (een gewoon oud boek werkt ook goed). Dit mocht alles zijn wat je wilde: materiaal-experimenten, elke dag een plant tekenen, alles wat je gedurende die week op straat vond inplakken. Onthoud dat je het boek aan niemand hoeft te laten zien en dus totaal los gaan gaan met experimenteren, het hoeft niet mooi of 'goed' te worden, het gaat om het 'spelen'.

4. Focus op details
Tekenen, ontwerpen en maken begint met het goed kijken naar de wereld om je heen. Een bulldog tekenen? Haal boeken in huis, kijk plaatjes op google, onderzoek het karakter van de bulldog. Zo ontdek je dingen die je nooit hebt geweten over je onderwerp die kan gebruiken in je ontwerp.
Voorbeeld: Laten we het thema 'een stressvol leven' nemen. Als je 'stress' onderzoekt kom je tegen dat het kauwen van kauwgom stress verlaagd (echt waar!). Hierdoor krijg je het idee om een klein product te maken om stress te verlagen: leuke verpakkingen voor 'relax-kauwgom'.

5. Start small, in your own environment
Je hoeft de wereld niet te veranderen (tenzij dit je passie is, dan zeg ik: ga ervoor!). Begin met je eigen fascinaties, irritaties, verdrietjes en geluksmomenten. Hoe dichter een onderwerp bij je staat, hoe makkelijker je ermee aan de slag kan en hoe meer je eruit kan halen.
Voorbeeld: De Instant comfort pocket box deze bedacht ik nadat een relatie uit ging, ik me behoorlijk down voelde en wel iets opbeurends kon gebruiken.

6. Denk niet aan het eindproduct
Als je een project begint, begin bij het begin. Onderzoek eerst je onderwerp, ga schetsen. Focus op elke afzonderlijke stap in het proces. Als je gaat nadenken over wat het moet worden, wat je in je hoofd hebt (ken je dat? 'wat ik heb bedacht krijg ik nooit op papier'), vergeet je alle belangrijk experimenten en stappen die je nodig hebt om bij een goed eindproduct te komen. 
Dus zorg dat je geen duidelijk eindproduct in je hoofd hebt en omarm het experiment van het moment!

7. Train jezelf
Teken of maak iets elke dag. Geen idee wat je kan tekenen? Haal inspiratie uit Keri Smith's lijst of de 'What to draw list' van Pikaland

8. Doe dingen anders
Neem een andere route naar je werk, teken met je linker hand, teken met een supergrote kwast. Do dingen anders dan normaal. Dit helpt je hersenen om de andere kant op te denken.

9. Combineer
Maak combinaties. Wil je een vogel tekenen? Combineer het met iets tegenovergestelds (een auto, naaimachine, robot benen). Dit kan je ook toepassen op thema's: 'Groen en ruig', 'in de ruimte en je vingertopje', enz.

10. Werk hard en oefen
Creatief zijn komt bijna nooit zomaar uit het niets. Oefen veel, werk hard, zo simpel is het.
(Onthoud dat al die illustratoren en kunstenaars die je bewonderd meestal een lange opleiding van minimaal 4 jaar hebben gehad, dat is superveel oefening en werk!).

Liekeland

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When visiting Urlaub last weekend, a lovely package of cards by Liekeland was waiting for me. Aren't they beautiful? You can find more of her lovely products in the Liekeland shop!

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Toen ik afgelopen weekend bij Urlaub was, lag daar een pakketje met kaarten van Liekeland op me te wachten. Mooi he? (en lief, dank Lieke!) Je kan meer van haar prachtige producten vinden in de Liekeland shop!


Online Illustration workshop!

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As of today I have a fun and inspiring illustration workshop available in the shop: Illustration beyond the 2D
Originally, you could do this workshop online at Camp Pikaland but I am now able to offer it in my shop (for a sharper price too!).

What will you get?
+ a well designed and easy to follow PDF file with self study material/ instructions for 4 weeks, devided in 4 chapters, one lesson each week.
+ access to two inspiring video's
+ 1 technical tutoral for making panorama boxes
+ inspiration and a creative boost that will give you a new view and skills on illustrative possibilties.


Sounds good? You can find the workshop here and read more about it.

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Vanaf vandaag heb ik een super inspirerende nieuwe workshop in mijn etsy shop: Illustration beyond the 2D.
Deze workshop van 4 weken was oorspronkelijk online te volgen bij Camp Pikaland maar vanaf nu is ie ook verkrijgbaar in mijn winkel (en voor een scherper prijsje!).

Wat krijg je?
+ een mooi vormgegeven en duidelijk PDF bestand met zelf studie materiaal voor 4 weken, verdeeld in 4 hoofdstukken, 1 les per week.
+ toegang tot twee inspirerende videos
+ 1 technische handleiding voor het maken van 3D doosjes
+ inspiratie, een creatieve boost, nieuwe creative vaardigheden en een nieuwe kijk op de mogelijkheden van illustraties.

Klinkt goed? Je kan de workshop hier vinden en er meer over lezen.

Urlaub

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Due to my little bicycle accident I wasn't able to make it to the Urlaub opening. So I went to see the wonderful shop Ellen created last weekend.

I have to admit, my first thought was: 'how could I have stepped away from such a great concept?' I know, I know, I made the decision because sometimes you just can't do everything but... ooooh, for a moment I wished I was still part of this fun and well executed shop!

I made some pictures but please go and see this shop for yourself if you can, you won't be disappointed!

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+ Ik heb besloten om vanaf nu ook een Nederlandse vertaling toe te voegen aan mijn blog. Speciaal voor jullie, mijn vaderlandse vrienden, die liever in des lands taal lezen! ;-)+

Door mijn kleine fiets ongeluk kon ik helaas niet naar de opening van Urlaub. Dit weekend was het dus tijd voor een tripje naar Ellen in Utrecht...

Ik moet toegeven dat mijn eerste gedachte was: 'hoe heb ik dit fantastische concept achter me kunnen laten?' Ik weet het, ik weet het, soms moet je die beslissing nemen omdat je nou eenmaal niet alles kan doen maar... ooooh, op dat moment wilde ik dat ik nog steeds deel uitmaakte van die fantastisch en super ingerichte winkel!

Hier wat foto's maar ga Urlaub alsjeblieft zelf zien als je in de gelegenheid bent. Een superleuke winkel (en bovendien met illustratieve producten die ik nog niet kende, en dat zegt wat)!

Free friday - comfort

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I received the most lovely email from a elementary art teacher from Indiana USA, named Rebecca. She and her class of 9 years olds were inspired by my Instant Comfort Pocket Boxes and made their own witty versions!
I was totally touched by their beautiful creations and thought this is worth a free friday share ;-)

They make much more arty stuff over there by the way, you can see for yourself on their website (I wish I had an art teacher like that back in the days)!

SMART exhibition

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Some weeks ago I was asked to contribute in an exhibition in Minneapolis. The SMART exhibition ('a showcase of cleverness, surprise and delight, metaphor and juxtaposition') is curated by the fabulous Amy Ng who you might know from Pikaland.

Along with other illustrators an art makers I entered two illustrations. (Marloes de Vries joined with one of her fab illustrations too!).
The opening was last friday (I wish I was there, but unfortunately I live on a different continent). You can see the pictures and some words on it: here and here.
I think they did a wonderful job, don't you?

Also, all the artwork is available in the online exhibiton shop!

New originals!

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I spend the day making new photo's of my shop products, it was time for some 'freshing up'!

Also, I decided to list some original illustrations, one of a kind, the more 'grown up' work I make too. The portraits are made of gouache paint an black pen and are faces of familiar people or are sprouts of my imagination. Do you recognize some of them?


Slow comeback...

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Ok, so I had a little concussion.
I'm slowly recovering and trying to get some work done every day (it isn't going at all at the speed I'd like it to go... gosh, I'm way too impatient to be ill). Being behind the computer still makes my head a bit dizzy so I'm restricted to a small dose every day...
And thanks to everyone for your lovely comments and 'be better soon wishes', it helps!

Today a DIY example of what you do to make a money gift more fun. You know how sometimes people ask for a 'little envelop' when having a birthday party or wedding? Well, this might not be the most exciting thing to give so better make it a fun little design project!

How is it done? Simple: cut around the paws of the bunny (or whatever image you've got) with a craft knife, slide the money between his paws and, tada! You're done!


A little blog break...

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My lovely readers,
I'm taking a little break from blogging. Tuesday evening I had a bicycle accident (maybe I should start wearing a helmet, like this little fella by Gemma Correll). Luckily no serious injuries but I'm stuck to bed to give my bruised body and head some rest.
I hope to be back next week!

ps. for my students: The lesson tonight is still on.

Free friday - new bedroom

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Yesterday both me and M had a day off and M decided (hurray!!!) it was a good day to take out the hideous carped in the bedroom (remember that?). He sanded the floor underneath and I did the finishing decorations (finally finished the little crochet carpet too!)... result: a light and fresh room for sleep!

Ceci n'est pas une fraise

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Do you remember H&M launching their conscious collection a while ago? Strawberry Earth did a collab with H&M and opened a pop-up shop where you could have your H&M eco t-shirt printed with a design. I made one of the prints you could choose from and this is the result!

Eco Fab

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I'm not sure if it's always visible but when designing my products, eco- and human-friendly is getting higher and higher on my list. This applies to where I have my paper goods printed, the materials I use, the clients I work for and even the food I eat while creating.

Happily I'm not the only one. Eco friendly is becoming more of a 'natural state' for companies, shops and people. A few lovely examples:

+ Strawberry Earth ('don't just buy green, buy awesome') +
Share products made in a good way, by happy people and with care for the environment. They also support initiatives that make the world a bit nicer, good causes that rock!
They offer some pretty good eco deals every week too, from beauty arrangements to fancy products.
I'd like to add here that I've been working with the people from Strawberry Earth on several projects now and they are just as lovely as their message!

+Babongo+
A webshop with a green lifestyle. Don't expect boring stuff here, it's all just as designer worthy as eco friendly! Owner Nicole has successfully put together a lovely collection of home decoration, paper goods and accessories.

+Bookhou+
Two Canada based designers (John and Arounna) who make very pretty bags, totes, home ware, wood- and paper products. Most of the fabrics are 100% eco and handprinted by Arounna.
I bought my favorite bag here (even the strap is made of recycled leather) two years ago and I'm using it almost every day (and it's still almost looking like new).

+Eco-logisch+
An eco-friendly DIY store for your big and small projects in and around the house. From paint to wallpaper and isolation material to solar panels. Everything you can buy at a 'regular' DIY store, you can buy here eco friendly! And quite important: the prices are friendly too!

The illustration was made by me for ASN Bank (commission via Strawberry Earth).

Working on...

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... this cool fella for a new project!


free friday - seedbed

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One of my students, Mirjam, asked me to show how I make little dissolvable seedbeds. I make them out of newspaper, which when put in the ground, will recycle and dissolve. This way you don't have to disturb the little roots of your seedling, you can put it in the ground with pot and all!

1. Cut out half a page of newspaper (you'll have about an A4 size piece, maybe slightly larger).
2. Fold about 5 cm (2") of the long side.
3. Fold it into a tube and staple into place.
4. Turn the tube round and push the top part in a bit.
5. Now fold in the sides (like you do when wrapping a gift)
6. Fold over the top and staple in place (again, it's like wrapping a present).
7. Put in some soil and sow your seed! As they can be a bit wobbly, best to put them together in a little container (like a lunchbox). This also makes watering easier and less messy.

Have a good weekend!



control

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Do you know that feeling, when others notice what a control freak you are? (which I am, I just don't want to know it, let alone have others see it).
Made this little illustration on that today... ;-)

Queensday / coronation day

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Have you enjoyed our Queensday yesterday (if you are dutch or visited the Netherlands)?
I had, I must admit, the most boring (in a good way) Queensday ever, even though it was coronation day as well!
We stayed in Ilpendam and just watched TV, did some chores around the house and overall had a lazy day. Sometimes boring can be so relaxing (but... next year I think I'll go to Amsterdam or Utrecht again).

The first picture shows some smart artwork made by a five year old, I bought on a Queensday market a few years ago.


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