If you send me a message outlining what’s bothering you the most, I’ll follow up with a few questions to get a clearer picture of what you need. If I think I can help you, we can schedule some sessions. If I feel I’m not the right person to assist, I’ll let you know, of course. Wherever possible, I’ll recommend other resources to you.

My expertise includes:
– Profiling yourself and positioning in the market
– Defining your niche
– Filtering what you say to get to the core message
– Marketing and social media (making advertising your work enjoyable)
– Offering shortcuts in the illustration profession (I’ve been through just about everything)
– Communicating with clients and setting clear agreements
– Drafting quotes and invoices
– Copyright and licensing
– Finding clients
– Being very direct, though always with the best intentions
– British detective series and England, but let’s stick to freelancing for now 😉

Certainly, that’s even standard. You can also drop by in Capelle aan den IJssel, but then we’ll need to coordinate together to figure out the best way to arrange that.

I only offer sessions in a minimum of three parts. I used to do one-off sessions, but I’ve noticed it’s much more effective to dive deeper into the material. You tend to forget things more quickly if they’re only discussed briefly once. Additionally, to provide proper help, it’s beneficial for me to get to know you better.

Because I need to set a boundary when it comes to providing information 🙂 I offer free help and advice in several places:
– On my blog, you’ll find a lot of free information about freelancing.
– You can find more free advice on my Instagram (especially in my stories).
– Every month, I share plenty of free tips and advice in my newsletter.

Since some people need more help tailored to their personal situation, I decided to offer these sessions. This allows me to turn down other paid assignments and instead focus on helping someone directly.

I plan to offer longer mentoring sessions in the future, but due to a busy schedule, that’s not possible at the moment. Keep an eye on my newsletter for updates on intake conversations.

I have availability on Fridays (between 9 AM and 4 PM). It’s best to leave 2 to 4 weeks between each session so you have time to work on the assignments I’ll give you after each session and let the information sink in.
If you request one-on-one sessions, you’ll get access to my online calendar, where you can schedule yourself on the days that suit you best.

For a 1-to-1 series, I’ll first ask you a few questions via email. Based on your answers, I’ll figure out what’s most useful for you to know and work on.
We’ll have three 1-hour video calls, during which you can share what you need at that moment. In my experience, the first session is often about venting, ironing out initial challenges and identifying what you need.
After each session, I’ll email you an assignment (or more, depending on the situation) to work on. These assignments can be practical, such as specific tasks for your portfolio, or more reflective, focusing on you as a creator.
Each session involves 2.5 hours of my time in total (1 hour for the call, 1.5 hours for preparation and follow-up), which means you roughly pay me €73 per hour.

No, we will discuss everything during our sessions. So, if you have questions, write them down so we can discuss them on Fridays.

Because I want creative people to have more peace of mind. To feel like they don’t always have to do everything alone. To know there’s someone they can lean on a little. I would’ve loved to have had that at the start of my career.
Freelancing can be a lonely profession. You often find yourself stuck in your own head, while talking to someone who understands and has already been through it can bring so much clarity.
I’ve also noticed over the years that many illustrators, artists and photographers struggle with certain things: how much to charge for their work, what copyright really means, or how to draft a license for their work. Once you understand these things, you can communicate with your clients with so much more confidence. It also strengthens the creative industry as a whole when we stand firmer together, know our worth, and are treated with respect.
In short, learning from others reduces stress, and I wish that for every creative professional.

In 2009, I started teaching at art institutions. Over the years, I’ve given so many workshops that I’ve lost count. I stopped around 2018, though—the energy just wasn’t there anymore.

But after a burnout and a lot of reflection, I realised how much I missed connecting with people. Especially the sense of fulfillment I get from having meaningful conversations and creating something together. That’s the core for me: connecting with others through making.
I often think now, “How did I not realise this earlier?” But, well, sometimes it just takes time. 😉

While I started giving workshops again in the summer of 2024, I’ve always continued to give guest lectures at art academies and have been a trainer and coach at BNO for several years. Helping others has always been a recurring theme. Recently, I’ve had the chance to help a few illustrators one-on-one, and because they found it so valuable, I’m now announcing it more publicly.

In short: VWO, Bdes behaald aan kunstacademie, course picture book illustration aan Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, filosofische zelfontwikkelingscursussen aan The School of Life, social psychology course aan Yale University (online), tientallen online courses in schilderen, tekenen, schrijven, bedrijfskunde, tientallen workshops gevolgd bij anderen kunstenaars en makers, ik heb verschillende business coaches gehad… Zoveel dat ik het me niet eens allemaal kan herinneren. En misschien doen al die opleidingen er ook wel helemaal niet toe. Ik denk vooral dat mijn levens- en werkervaring telt. Waarvan respectievelijk 40 en 26 jaar.