Iris Esther
Maerten Lankelma
Back in 2015, Maerten initiated this project under a different name Het Houtlokael with a series of cumstomisable products, mostly lamps. In 2017 the idea for a lamp with interchangeable pictures started to take shape as a side project. This idea gained more and more traction over the following years to the point where we are today; working together with a group of talented artists from all over the Netherlands and beyond. As this no longer feels of a project of only one person, it was decided to rebrand the project as Luminae lights.
Iris Esther
Iris Esther never went to art school. From the age of 4 she’d spent her Wednesday afternoons with two independent artists who taught her the art of free expression through drawing, painting and sculpting. “This tiny artist house with a smoking chimney all year ’round is my happiest childhood memory”.
When visiting her grandfather who was an aspiring artist, she would sneak upstairs to his loft studio. Mesmerized by the half-squeezed tubes of paint and hundreds of brushes, she would wonder around for hours between the endless rows of old paintings.
For almost two decades Iris worked as an illustrator and fashion stylist for numerous high-end fashion magazines like Elle, Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan. She won the Elle Talent Search for new Fashion & Illustration Talent.
Bijdehansje
“The magical, fairytale (like) designs of Bijdehansje take you back to childhood"
"The nostalgic illustrations make you dream away"
My love for nature, children and animals play the leading role in my creations.
Positive drawings that give you a happy and warm feeling.
By using watercolor and applying, among other things, the 'veil technique' I create a harmonious balance between light and dark.
Saskia Mendez
Sasika
My name is Saskia Mendez and I work as an illustrator where I usually call myself Sasika.
Now you might be thinking that is a typographical error? No, that's not it. I'll explain why. I was born in Den Helder and have been around for a number of years.
In 2013 I graduated from the Amsterdam University of the Arts. From an early age I have been mainly involved in drawing and at the academy I was often busy making illustrations that related to my roots.
My father and his native Chile were always a great source of inspiration and above all; what happens to you when you start building a life in a new country far away from your roots.
I love stories, cultures, meeting new people and try to express this in my work. I work with different materials and often combine them. Lots of gouache and pencil, but also with ink, ecoline and marker.
Lotte Drouen
My name is Lotte Drouen and I live in the always colorful Utrecht with my husband and two beautiful children. I am originally a historian, but have now been working as an illustrator for more than 5 years. When I am not busy with paper, watercolor and brush, I prefer to go to a good coffee shop, stroll through second-hand shops and markets or visit family and friends. At home I love coming up with new DIY projects or working in the garden to add more and more color to our house. I hope to publish my own picture book in the future and of course make many more people happy with my colorful products and birth announcements!
Esther Bennink
I can't stop creating cosiness. It started because I couldn't find the warm, soft, comforting, touch of magic pictures I was looking for deep down. So I started making them myself! I love creating worlds that evoke feelings of cosiness, security and wonder. It just makes me happy!
Since 4 years, others can enjoy this explosion of cosiness too. I started with a few cards, but now I have a large and wide range with all cosy (and mostly sustainable) products.
Ann Galland
In 1999 Ann Galland started her own creative studio “Klein Duimpje” in Wilrijk. The passion for being artistic could be expressed in this way, in addition to the attention and education of the four children the family had grown since her marriage in 1991.
Initially, courses were mainly given in the field of doll making, seasonal table figures, wool wrapping and felting. In addition, after a few years the technique of dry felting became more and more popular. Over the years, Ann has taken courses with a number of international authorities in the 'felting trade', both in 'doll making' and in wrapping, wet felting and prick felting. It remains a fascinating challenge to continue to delve into various techniques and try to combine them.
La Scarlatte
By blending textures and organic shapes, I create a beautiful combination that moves rhythmically and sometimes repeats as a pattern. My work embraces every organism and object; it offers a place for people to wander carefree spaces (where even death is beautiful), and tales of forgotten worlds can be discovered. You can often find me exploring the dunes and woods near my house or looking for small critters by the sea.
I believe creating is not limited to one material, so I love experimenting with things other than paint or computers.
Mark Janssen
Mark Janssen studied at the Art Academy in Maastricht. After graduating in 1997 he established himself as a full time illustrator in Valkenburg a/d Geul, where he has an art studio. Mark makes illustrations for both children's books and picture books. From his first children's book Mijn vriend de sjeik van Ulf Stark (Lemniscaat, 1997) to 2021, he illustrated up to 500 children's and picture books for Dutch, Belgian and Chinese publishers. Many of his books have already found their way abroad and have been translated into twenty-one languages.
Marjolein Heij
Appeloogje
I started discovering watercolor in 2018 and it has never left me. Working with my hands, the effect of watercolor, the patience and relaxation it brings, made me want to do more with this.
Now I can take on beautiful drawing and painting assignments for other web shops and stores in addition to the work for my own web shop. From June 2024 we will expand this to include watercolor workshops.
I get my greatest inspiration from nature and from the imagination of my daughters (the apple of my eye) and I hope to be able to inspire others and, above all, to let them enjoy my work.
Hannah Illustreert
My name is Hannah and I make colorful and cheerful illustrations to dream away. I like to be in my own world full of romance, sweet animals, flowers, clouds, sunbeams and moonlight. I can spend hours daydreaming through nature and with my illustrations I invite you to come with me. Daydreaming is allowed!
In 2016 I graduated from the University of the Arts in Utrecht. Afterwards I held various positions within and outside the cultural sector. My love for creating was never far away and crawls where it can't go. In 2021 I decided to fully pursue my passion and since then I have spent all my time creating meaningful illustrations. From art prints, greeting cards, children's books, birth announcements to wedding invitations. In all my work you will find a piece of my dreams.
Nicole Corstanje
I love to capture silence. To old it for a while in the midst of everything else around us. I create silent and colorful worlds on paper. Sometimes warm and light, sometimes raw and dark. In each work I try to find the essence of a feeling. That fraction of a second, when everything falls into place. Finding those moments requires slowing down, listening. Just like working with pencil, gouache and watercolor does. The smell of paint, the sound of cleaning my brush in water, morning sunlight while drawing outside....This slow hand work truly brings together my head, heart and hands.