As unexpected as the wave in the photo, are some travel buddies. You know that they might show up, but you are a little surprised when they do. And they make you laugh, just like this wave. 

In the photo you see how I illustrated Marieke, made with watercolors. But what is Marieke’s favorite material and what inspires her? Read about it here. 

And on the road again! From seeing her artworks on Instagram to holding some originals in her home studio. I got to meet the friendly Marieke Nelissen in Den Bosch, where I learned more about the world of children’s book illustrations.

One of the illustrators that I really wanted to meet up with, was Philip Hopman. I was very lucky that I got invited at his beautiful home to paint in the front yard. 

Together with Tracey English I sat down in a store and I watched her doing her thing with paper and scissors. Here you can read her answers on the 7 questions.

Today I spend my day sleeping in, painting, reading, drinking smoothies and chill around. People know me as a person with a busy schedule and here I’d like to share a little lesson about that.

In the ode to the travel buddy I told you that I recognize different types of travel buddies. This is about the planned travel buddy, with whom you’ll be prepared for the unplanned. 

Very colorful illustrations make me happy and meeting the creator of these colorful creations made me very happy as well. I met Tracey English in a lovely store where we sat down to create a big paper mess on the table.

“Come back to me when the weather is getting better, then we’ll sit in the garden and draw a tree or a chicken or something”. 4 months later I sat in the sun next to him: Philip Hopman kept his word.

I travel together, I travel alone. But even alone is not alone. I always have travel buddies around and this is to all the travel buddies!