New city, new studio

A bit about my workspace, then and now

Utrecht is the fourth place I get to call my home. After living in Amsterdam for 8 years, we decided to buy a house in a different city for various reasons. I really loved living in Amsterdam, but I fancied a change, and moving meant we could get a house with a small garden instead of an apartment.

I don’t mind ‘starting over’ in a new city, I actually really like it. Working for yourself can sometimes feel a bit monotonous, and where others might change their job once in a while, I decided to change my surroundings. And I love the feeling of exploring streets and finding new places to buy books or drink coffee. It’s a thing I enjoy greatly about travelling, too: trying to get lost in the streets and pretend I’m a local just experiencing the shops, people and atmosphere.

I don’t miss Amsterdam really, but I do miss my studio mates. I had a space back there with four desks, close to the Central Station, and rented three desks out out to other creatives. Over the years we’ve had photographers, fine artists, animators, graphic designers, illustrators, and I guess I’m forgetting a few. We really had a laugh, and it’s great sharing a space with other creatives who do things the same way but not really. We rarely worked together but had lunch and drinks together, and learned from each other’s experiences. It was real good fun.

A rainy day at my previous studio, my desk at the window. On the poster ledge a few of my illustrations, and a couple from other illustrator who also worked on Poster Scouts.

Everyone is different but I like sharing my workplace with others. I don’t have kids, so if I want solitude and peace I can work from home. My work doesn’t really require me to go to places or dress up: as long as I have my iPad and wifi, I can basically work anywhere. The trick is not to become that person who works from home in their pyjamas all the time.

A space outside my home means I get to meet people and exchange ideas on a daily basis. It also forces me to join the outside world and experience the city or weather. It’s great for my work/life balance, and I don’t end up like a hermit. And bonus: it has a really great pilates studio around the corner!

On the left: Moos the dog is visiting. On the right, the beautiful windows in our roof

I’m really happy to have found a place in Het Huis van Betekenis (The House of Meaning) in Utrecht! It’s an old building, it used to be a storehouse. Today it’s filled with creatives, mostly other illustrators. I rent a desk in the attic space, with more than enough room for the books I illustrated and posters I designed. I’m also very happy to have space for webshop orders (more on that later…). It’s a space for myself, but there’s always someone around, I just have to walk downstairs.

My new studio: an attic space in the House of Meaning

I always get a bit anxious when seeing fancy studios of other artists! Mine is not nearly as glamorous, but I intend to make it a cozy space for me to work in. It might need more plants, books, snacks, vintage trinkets… I tell myself to keep an eye out at vintage markets from now on. It’s so fun to make a space one’s own.

Thank you for reading! See more of my work on my portfolio or Instagram, or get in touch with me.