It feels like 2018 went very quickly! Maybe that's because it was a busy year with a lot going on. Some periods were quiet but other months were packed with live drawing events and other commissions. Now, New Year's Eve is just around the corner and I spent the last few days of 2018 in Leuven (Belgium) with my boyfriend for a romantic weekend away. Last year we celebrated New Year's Eve in Venice which was very romantic, but this year we decided to come back from our little trip to Leuven just before the end of 2018 and we're celebrating NYE with friends in our hometown Utrecht. Anyway, in this blogpost I will tell you what my year was like art-wise!
Live illustration events
I really like live illustration events and did quite a few this year! Live illustration means that I draw quick 10-minute fashion sketches or portraits of people. They get the illustration to take home as a unique custom-made gift. This is a very unique way to entertain your event visitors or to give something special and personal to your customers.
One of my favorite live drawing events in 2018 was the one for the Bijenkorf, which is a big fancy department store here in the Netherlands. I made illustrations for them during a special Member's Privilege Weekend. I also had a great time drawing for Reiss, IWC Schaffhausen, Peugeot, Sissy-Boy, Bloomon, Liu Jo x Grazia and many others!
Commissioned artwork
My other commissions were super divers this year! They varied from drawing an image for a fancy cushion brand to lingerie! Here are some of my favorites:
I made this illustration for Atelier 'Amaya, a French jewelry brand, together with 2 other illustration for their new website. The two others I can't share yet, but I will put them on my Instagram when their new website is online.
This is an image I made for the website Kaylies.nl!
Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes! That's what the brand Anna Diva stands for. And that's why they commissioned me to draw these beautiful ladies.
For Charlotte Rhys, a beauty brand from Cape Town, I designed this digital letterhead - a special eye-catcher for their online newsletter.
My first workshop
In the summer I gave my first fashion illustration workshop, themed Glamorous Dresses. I wanted to see how I would like it to give a real-life workshop. Well, I did like it very much but teaching was also harder and more intense then I'd anticipated. Still, it went very well and the participants were excited. So, a next workshop is planned for 27 January in Utrecht! Tickets are going fast, currently there are 4 spots left!
Artwork at MUS Concept Store
Since this summer, some of my original artwork if available at MUS Concept Store in Utrecht! These are all unique one-of-a-kind pieces made with black ink and gold. The illustration below is currently for sale in the store.
Nomination for the Viva 400 awards!
And last but not least, I was nominated for the Viva 400 awards in the category Creatives! It was a big honor to be part of this list and something I'm very grateful for, as you can see from my happy face on the picture with my boyfriend Leon below.
2018 was a great year and I'm very much looking forward to 2019. I will share some of my thoughts and goals for the new year with you in another blogpost soon. For now, enjoy the bubbles, fireworks and good food (in the Netherlands we eat a traditional pastry called 'oliebollen' during NYE) and just have a good time while celebrating the start of the new year.