Interview with Karolien Vanderstappen
We found Karolien Vanderstappen and her beautiful illustrations while strolling around the internet looking for inspiration.
The woman from Brussels, Belgium, has not only a nice sense of humour, but a good hand for drawings with a twist as well. You can now find her artwork for sale in her ARTFLAKES-shop.
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Why and when did you start making art?
I think making art is a state of mind.
I can’t connect a date to it. Maybe fetuses are already drawing things on the wall of the uterus… What I mean, I always liked to draw since I was a child and I still do. Concrete: I followed drawing classes in the weekend form the age of 8 till 18. I started to go to art school when I was 18.
What kind of art do you make?
Illustrations: collages with papers, old magazines, acryl-paint, pencil, color pencils, ink, lino, etching. I like to combine a lot of techniques.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
From daily life, her thoughts and emotions. When I’m sad, a drawing can help me to see things in another perspective, just by making something absurd. I also like to draw animals and have a big encyclopedia of animals. Words and stories are also an inspiration.
What does your usual workday look like?
I have another part-time job as a teacher in art. Three days a week I’m working at home as an illustrator. I start my day with tea and breakfast while reading my emails. I can easily decide to go running in the parc or have a coffee with a friend and continue my work in the evening. It gives me a feeling of freedom. The combination of teaching and working at home is perfect for me.
How do you spend a perfect sunday?
Sleep late, having a brunch with my boyfriend, going to the South-market in Brussels or to he flee-market on a sunny sunday. A pic-nic in the parc is also nice.
What is your favourite taste of chocolate?
I’m trying to make ’fondant’ my favourite cause there’s no milk in it (I’m allergic to all milk-products). But in fact… I still prefer milk chocolate of Côte d’ Or.
And I’m dreaming of a soy-milk-chocolate-factory!
Show me your favourite artwork (from your own collection or another artist)
‚How to offer a ride’ is a picture of ‚The Janfamily’, it’s one of my favourite books. Unfortunately it was stolen last month, during a workshop that I gave…
Whom should we interview next?
The pidgin who was in my bedroom last week! Why?
Or Lieke Romeijn (photographer), Caro Gaedechens (illustrator), Stipontwerpt (graphic designer), Frau Grau (illustrator), Sara Fanelli (illustrator), Andre da Loba (illustrator).
If you could have coffee with a famous artist – dead or alive – whom would you choose?
Dead:Henry Darger I would be a little bit scared too to meet him,
Alive: Miranda July (alive), she’s such a multidisciplinary artist, I’m curious to meet her thoughts and fantasy.
What is your philosophy of life?
1. It’s not about status, splendor or pomp. It’s about love, to gain the ability to love and to be loved.
2. Vive la fantiasie, vive!
Thank you, Karolien!