About me
Hi there,
my name is Elze van den Akker and I am The Jolly Illustrator.
I am a Dutch, Amsterdam based freelance illustration artist who also happens to work as a theatre-maker and
scenographer.
I studied Object theatre at the School of Arts in Amsterdam and graduated in 1995. I have worked since with national and
international theatre groups mostly as stage- and costume- designer. In 2022 I diversified into working as an illustrator. I felt the need to create art that could be enjoyed outside the closed
environment of a theatre.
I specialized in paper-cut collage illustrations from hand-painted paper with an additional handmade stamp or painted shadow here and there. The paper is mostly recycled paper and comes from all imaginative places. Old theatre scripts, the paper stuffed in new shoes and yesterdays newspapers. Oftentimes using recycled paper is not only more sustainable than buying new but also adds a double layer to the story of the illustration.
I would describe my style as bold, quirky, and playful in sparkling warm colours, jampacked with structures and details. Making animals, floral illustrations, and imaginative landscapes is what I love to do most. Inspiration I can find everywhere. I love city life ánd nature and need to spend time in both. I cherish Mother Earth and do my best to take care of her. I love changing all the things we use on a daily basis into precious little treasures by giving them bright and happy illustrations. I strongly believe happiness lives in the joy of daily life.
On this website you will find an array of my work and possibilities. My work is available for licensing but I also love to do commissioned work. Obviously I prefer to work with clients that cherish sustainability. I am especially interested in designing pop up cards. That is probably the
inheritance of my theatre background. For that reason I have made multiple illustrations for theatre posters too.
Have a beautiful day,
Elze
I am a member of ILLUSTRATORS FOR HIRE
a curated group of professional freelancers from around the world.
Clients include, The Cat Smits Company, Manufrakturtheater, Stichting CAOP and Firma Draaier en de Vries
Others about me
I have asked some people around me what I would be if I were an animal and why. This is what they said:
A DOLPHIN
'Curious, and investigative. Always jolly and playful.'
says friend D.
A ZEBRA perhaps,
say friends B and B.
'Because you are so approchable.'
A PHOENIX
Says my father.
'Because you always reinvent yourself.'
A LEOPARD
'Laidback and calm when you can. Swift and focused when it has to be.'
Says friend M.
'you are THE SPIDER in the web.'
say colleagues L, M, S and C
A CAT
My brother says.
'Sleeps 20 hours a day, loves a cuddle when she is in the mood, but lashes out when she isn't.'
