My name is Elze van den Akker,
an Amsterdam-based papercut illustrator and surface designer. I create vivid illustrations of animals, wildflowers, and imaginative landscapes (with the occasional zeppelin included!). I create for the part of us that never stops playing - for people who dance in their living rooms, who cry at good music and who never quite grew up.
Clients: Cardiau Nico Cards, The Cat Smits Company, Manufrakturtheater, Stichting CAOP, Firma Draaier en de Vries and more.
'Elze is great to work with and she makes beautiful and very imaginative objects- full of fantasy!'
I have been working in the arts for thirty years. My life as a theatre-maker and scenographer - designing puppets, objects, sets and costumes strongly influences my illustration work.
Moving from the fleeting moments of theatre, I can now create bodies of work that can be held, kept, shared and enjoyed repeatedly - like a permanent record of a performance.
Stories matter to me. I rarely start with a blank sheet of paper; hidden narratives often exist underneath it - old theatre scripts, the paper stuffed in new shoes and yesterday's newspapers. I paint over them with bold acrylics, pencil and watercolours and use handmade stamps to add structure. Using recycled paper is not only sustainable, but also adds layers to the work.
My illustrations make their way onto cards, packaging, textiles, posters and homewares. Pop-up card projects also have a special place in my heart - they unfold, reveal, and perform like miniature sets.
The palettes are fearlessly saturated. Hot pinks, teals, yellows, and verdant greens jump from the pages. These characters and motifs have a life of their own, as they move around the cutting board from the time they are hand-drawn, then settle to find the perfect place on their own stage.
I’m ready to bring colour and life to your project. I’m available to work with licensing partners and commission clients who value craftsmanship and share my commitment to sustainability.