We are excited to share another artist spotlight with you! Today we have the pleasure of interviewing Marieke van Rossum aka @malovaro_
Hello! Please can you give us a brief little introduction?
Hi all, my name is Marieke van Rossum. I’m from the Netherlands but since September 2019 my husband and I live in Bolzano Italy. I studied photography for one year, then switched studies and graduated as a Creative art therapist in 2008. I have worked with children organizing after school activities for about 11 years.
Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to find a new job here, especially since the pandemic started. The plan was to continue my Etsy shop from here, on which I sold epoxy jewelry, but unfortunately that didn’t work out. (Something to do with the postal service here being somewhat untrustworthy.)
But because of that I’ve had a lot of time to focus on what I really want to do and rediscovered my love for illustration.
What inspires you?
I’ve always been fascinated by the imagination of children. No rules, everything goes! That is why children’s books are also a great source of inspiration for me. The wonderful thing about children’s stories is that you can make anything you want come to life. That makes most of them timeless.
Reading has always been a big part of my life. When I was young Milestones were celebrated by picking out a new book at the bookstore. Even today, bookstores are in my top 3 happy places, alongside garden centers and being surrounded by nature.
What is your favorite thing to draw?
I love to draw different characters and unexpected scenes. That’s why Friday doodle club is a great way to spark my imagination. I like to hide funny details and jokes in my drawings to raise questions and let the onlookers use their imagination and make up little stories for themselves.
What art goals do you have for this year?
As I am fairly new at the illustration game I would love to continue my journey and see where it takes me! I am working on a portfolio and website to share more of my work. My ultimate dream is to have one of my books published someday.
What techniques/supplies do you use?
Lately I mostly use Procreate. But I also love to experiment with ink, watercolors, different sorts of paint and my trusty markers.
What advice would you give to another doodler/artist?
Stay close to yourself and your own style!
I stopped drawing years ago because I was too focused on comparing myself to others. I was in awe by the many incredible illustrations I came across and told myself I could never draw like that. I tried to copy the styles I liked but never managed to be satisfied with my own creations. At one point I just gave up because I didn’t see any improvement. I convinced myself that either you can draw or you can’t. But I definitely learned that that isn’t true! In search of distraction during the very strict lockdown here, I decided to give it another try and develop a character based on my then two year old niece and her day to day adventures. This character came to life quite easily and received encouraging comments, that I regained some confidence and haven’t stopped drawing ever since.
Where can people go to learn more about you or see more of your work?
You can find me on Instagram @malovaro_
