Maruga Koops
When I draw I am in my happy place. So I am very lucky I can draw for a living. When I was young
I really liked to draw cute characters and I still do! I often ask my daughters to model for me. My inspiration comes from nature and ordinary things that happen in my life.
Where do you live?
I live in Utrecht, the Netherlands
Where have you lived?
Before Utrecht, I lived in Amsterdam, and I grew up in Abbekerk it’s a tiny village almost nobody even heard of in the Netherlands.
What medium do you use?
Procreate is my favorite medium to work with. And I love to make rubber stamps which I digitalize and use in Illustrator.
How do you stay inspired?
By looking around me while I take a walk, I love to walk in the park when I have a creative block. I always get new ideas during or after a walk.
Do you work traditionally or digitally?
Digitally mostly
What color combination are you most excited about right now?
Pink and green (it’s my all time favorite)
Why do you like being an illustrator in 15 words or less?
I can do what I love most, draw!
If you weren’t an illustrator, what would you be?
Hmm not sure, it’s my dream job but I think I would be a plant mom raising little plant cuttings to full grown plants.
What illustration job would you love to get (your dream job)?
Design my own line of stuffed animals.
Name something you do in your spare time.
Read a book, take a walk or go to the beach, dancing or having a drink or dinner with family or friends.
Where would you like to travel to next?
I would like to visit Aruba with my family. It’s where my mother was born, and I really would like my kids to see where their nana grew up, and where part of their roots are from.
What podcasts do you like?
I like crime podcasts, creativity, and news podcasts. And I always listen to the Dutch illustration podcast
What show have you binge-watched?
I don’t have time to binge-watch — I’d rather work on an illustration — but I am currently watching Downton Abbey all over again.
What’s your favorite movie?
Muriel’s wedding and In to the Wild, sorry can’t choose…
Who is your favorite cartoon character?
Buttercup from The power Puff girls
What is your favorite cheese?
Roquefort or any other blue cheese I actually kind of a cheese monster…
If you could name a nail polish, what would you name it?
Brownie
Do you wear shoes when you do art?
Not in summer, in winter I wear my Uggs all the time!
What do you listen to while you work?
I listen to the radio or Eilen Jewell
What’s your middle name?
Thalida
What do you wish your middle name was?
Anything but Thalida ;-)
If you could eat only one food, what would it be?
Oatmeal
How do you stay in shape?
Taking walks and work out at home
How don’t you stay in shape?
During holidays I eat and drink what I want and skip working out….
What is your current favorite font?
Black rabbit
How do you take your coffee?
With lots of milk and foam so a good Latte Macchiato I could not do without it!
What question would you most like to be asked?
Shall I make dinner for you?
Client List
Clavis
Design House Greetings
HarperCollins
Legacy Publishing
Leopold Publishing
Penguin Random House
Rebel Girls
Sellers Publishing
Tree-Free Greetings
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