This year I started with a slow, quiet start. Although I would like to get started on assignments and new ideas right away, I notice that I needed some time for myself first. Now I am slowly starting work again, and that feels good.
I have already made a lot of plans for this year, but I also want to make more conscious space for myself. Last year I noticed that it was sometimes difficult to plan & also have space to breathe a little. I often jump from one idea to the next, which gives me a lot, but sometimes also becomes too hectic. That is why I want to set more priorities this year and focus on what really brings me happiness. I want to make time to experiment and discover new materials and forms in which I can cast my work.
More long-term creative collaborations
For my illustration work, I want to look for more long-term assignments this year. I think it would be nice to work with clients that I can build a deeper connection with. Although short term projects have their advantages, they also often come with a lot of deadlines, which can be hectic. Long term collaborations provide me more peace. It remains difficult to find assignments that fit perfectly, but I hope to work with regular clients more often this year. I also want to sell more of my own work through cozy pop-up shops and art shops. Do you know shops where my work would fit well? Let me know! I would be very grateful.
Residency abroad
In addition, I think it would be great to do a residency abroad. Such an experience would not only bring me into contact with new techniques and people, but also really take me out of my comfort zone. I like being at home, but working in an unknown place for a month feels like the perfect way to grow. A residency in a country like Japan, Iceland or Portugal appeals to me enormously. Both with and without riso print seems fun to me. Other printing techniques also seem super educational. Hopefully I will find a creative, well-fitting residency this year. And again: Tips are more than welcome!
New plans for Studio Misprint
For Studio Misprint and my workshops I also have some new plans. Giving workshops always gives me a lot of satisfaction, especially when participants are happy with what they have made. At the same time I notice that being social all day quickly exhausts me, partly because of my high sensitivity and sometimes difficulty with social stimuli. That is why I want to try something new this year, without adding extra workshops: 'open studio' days.
One Sunday a month I want to open my studio for creative afternoons. People can come by with a punch card to work on collages, drawings, books or other creative projects. Not a real workshop, but a joint afternoon in which everyone can be creative in their own way. Everything is welcome - from knitting to painting. It seems to me a nice, accessible way to create together. This also offers a nice opportunity for people who are interested in a creative riso print workshop in Utrecht to get to know my studio.
In addition, I am working on creative craft kits to bring the fun of riso and collage to people's homes. These kits will include misprints, stencils, pictures, blank cards and more. This way you can also get creative at home in an easy and fun way.
More depth in riso printing courses
This year I want to offer more long-term courses, because then I get the chance to build deeper connections with participants. Such connections do me good and inspire me. My focus is on courses in which people can discover their own style and learn how to dare to experiment. It is nice to be able to guide people in this and really get to know them.
Reflections on the past year
Last year was both a good and challenging year. As a freelance illustrator, I feel the tensions in the world directly, because they influence the kind of assignments I get. The news of the past year – and the new far-right Dutch government – has been hard on me at times. I often think back to my zine Stardust , which is about the desire to change the world. I still have that feeling. The world can feel overwhelming and hopeless, but I want to share those feelings, so that others can recognize themselves in them and hopefully also find comfort. My work often revolves around themes such as happiness, inclusivity and feeling. This year I hope to find the time (and funding) to process my feelings into a new book again.
Experimenting and space for myself
For myself, I also want to experiment more this year. I am going to work on learning to code better and see if I can make more interactive and playful work, including using the laser cutter. In my workshops, I often emphasize that it is important to dare to make – even something ugly or bad. I want to do that for myself too. Social media sometimes makes me a perfectionist and gives me the tendency to compare myself to others. This year, I want to make room to be myself in the creative process and let go of the fear of 'wasting time'. Riso print is already very good at that, but I hope to find more methods to get started with this.
I am very curious about what this year will bring me. With a mix of concrete plans and room for experimentation, I look forward to discovering new things, growing further and reaching new creative heights. My hope is also that I can contribute something to the world and the people around me this year, by inspiring others to be creative and follow their own unique path, without worrying about what others – or social media – think about it.
(photos by Lize Kraan)
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