Silvia Dekker’s bio

Where do you live?

I live in Leiden (the city where Rembrandt was born) in the Netherlands.

Where have you lived?

I grew up in a small village in the middle of the Dutch flower district.

What medium do you use?

My computer and pen tablet.

How do you stay inspired?

I try to read as many magazines as possible and am always looking for interesting new websites. I love to read vintage children’s books to our son, which we both like for different reasons!

Where do you buy your art supplies?

At art supply and computer stores.

Do you work traditionally or digitally?

I make pencil sketches first, then draw the final illustration in Illustrator.

What color combination are you most excited about right now?

Eau de nil with shades of pink, green and brown.

What blog(s) do you read?

Print & Pattern, Bloesemkids and many others

Why do you like being an illustrator in 10 words or less?

I love to design things that are available to everyone.

If you weren’t an illustrator, what would you be?

I would love to own a children’s farm with goats, sheep, free pancakes and a playground,
or a flower shop with a beautiful garden where people can sit, drink tea and have cakes.

What illustration job would you love to get (your dream job)?

I would love to design a toy doll house with dolls and everything in it

Name something you do in your spare time.

We like to go on long bike rides to the beach or the woods, I like gardening too.

What’s the strangest work experience you’ve ever had?

I designed a large blow-up sausage for in the swimming pool which you could only get by buying sausages and saving points! :) Another one was to have a pattern printed on the walls, ceiling and floor of an exhibition space and to stand in it and be entirely surrounded by my own pattern

What are you reading now?

Usually just design and children’s books

What recent book do you recommend for a good read?

Buddhism for mothers by Sarah Napthali

Where would you like to travel to next?

Japan

What’s your favorite TV show?

Gardener’s world, Project catwalk

What movie have you seen several times?

Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory (first movie from 1971)

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Little Nemo in Slumberland from 1905 by Winsor McCay

What is your favorite cheese?

Greek feta cheese

If you could name a nail polish, what would you name it?

Emerald forest glitter

Do you wear shoes when you do art?

Just socks

What do you listen to while you work?

A radio station that plays middle of the road kind of music because I get distracted by other types of music or when I have to change cd’s! When I’m not working I like the Velvet Underground, The Smiths and Spinvis.

What’s your middle name?

I don’t have one

What do you wish your middle name was?

Nova

If you could eat only one food, what would it be?

Bananas, I found out they’re a lot healthier than you might think!

How do you stay in shape?

We don’t own a car which is great for staying in shape! We go everywhere by bike or train.

How don’t you stay in shape?

I love tortilla chips

What is your current favorite font?

Pointedly mad

How do you take your coffee?

With milk, no sugar

Whom would you like to meet?

The people who created Adobe Illustrator

What question would you most like to be asked?

Would you like to be able to speak Japanese when you wake up tomorrow?

What recent illustration job have you enjoyed doing?

To design back to school stationery for Dutch department store HEMA

What was your favorite illustration assignment?

I love to design toys because it is so much fun to see illustrations become real products for children to play with.