For as long as she can remember, Sanny van Loon enjoyed drawing and making things. Born and raised in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, she works full time as a freelance illustrator. Colorful and cheerful, her illustrations have a handmade feel to them, adding a layer of intimacy to her work.
With her favorite mediums being gouache, watercolor, and ink, each of her illustrations begins with some pencil sketches. “First, I need a nice and healthy breakfast and some good music,” she says, describing her artistic process in an interview with Ballpit Magazine. “For me, it’s also important to feel comfortable in the place where I work. I’m really lucky to have a shared studio space with friends which almost feels like a living room.”
“Usually I start painting right away but sometimes I have no idea where to start,” she admits. “Then I collect some inspirational images and make some sketches with pencil first. I like to make color schemes in advance to decide what feel the illustration will get, but in the end, I never really stick to it and just improvise. After the coloring comes my favourite part: adding details until I’m completely satisfied!”
Her inspiration is as varied as her illustrations themselves, taking note from anything from vintage books, packaging, and flea markets to nature, museums, and Pinterest. “I’ve been drawing ever since I can remember so it’s hard for me to imagine my life without it,” she says. “I think being an artist really makes you look at the world differently. For example, when I’m traveling I see so many details, color combinations, textures and stories that it almost drives me crazy: I just HAVE to pick up my pencil and draw!”
Follow her Instagram page for more.
