SDG Book Club Interview with Adriaan Bijloo

Talk to us about illustrating, you know, your state of mind as you make art: the challenges, therapeutic benefits and high points of making art.

Illustrating is something I always did (as far as I remember). As a child I read a lot of comics (I still do, by the way!) and mainly the French-Belgium comics like Tintin, Asterix and Spirou to name a few. I always tried to copy my heroes by drawing them over and over again. That’s how I learned a lot – by looking carefully at the characters and then trying to draw them myself. The most important thing about illustrating, I believe, is to have a good time – to be happy while you are drawing. So, by drawing my comic heroes I had a lot of fun, and nowadays I still try to find that fun in each drawing I do. That is the most challenging; draw an illustration and have fun at the same time!

Why and when did you start illustrating children’s books?

I have been illustrating from a young age. Drawing was always my passion as a child. After finishing art school, I immediately started working as a freelance illustrator and comic maker. The first children’s books I illustrated date back 25 years.

What advice would you give to an illustrator working with an author and publisher for the first time?

I think it is important that there is good vibe between the illustrator and writer/publisher. Also try to enjoy what you are drawing despite the deadlines. Imagine, you are selected out of so many illustrators to illustrate a children’s book – it doesn’t get better than that! So, draw in your own style – that’s why people select you to illustrate books for them – and most of all, have fun!

What, to you, are the most important elements of good illustrations for children’s books?

I would say to translate the story in clear, joyful drawings which tell the story as it is meant to be. Illustrations for children’s books need to be bright and colourful I believe, so think carefully about the colours you are going to use.

What would you say to an author who wanted to design their own book cover?

Choose the most important character or characters of the story and choose a scene that shows a lot of action. Combine them and try to make a drawing which shows the essence of the story.

What part of An African Legend, was the most fun to illustrate?

I always like to illustrate the characters – that is the part that brings me the most joy. I also like to draw exotic landscapes, so I am always happy if a scene has a nice landscape in it.

In what significant way did any of your illustrations change from the first sketch?

Not too much. At the start I always make some sketches, but the finals always look very strongly like the sketches.

Which of the characters in An African Legend do you relate to the most and why?

I really like Siya. He is a very gentle and intelligent child, and his character was really nice to draw.

Talk a little about the importance of visual art in the advancement of sustainable development?

Visual art always tells a story, and what is better than to draw stories in which people play the main part and care about our planet. And if young people read stories and see the pictures in the book about sustainable environments and taking care of the planet, it makes the world a better and healthier place to live in for future generations.

10.   Finally, any exciting projects in the pipeline?

Right now, I am working on a graphic novel about possible life on other planets. To be published in 2023!

AUTHOR PROFILE

Adrianus (Adriaan) Cornelis Bijloo was born on 4 December 1966 in Den Haag, The Netherlands.

After graduating from the Royal Art Academy in Den Haag, he began work as a freelance illustrator and comic maker. He has done illustrations for nearly 100 books, mainly children’s books and comics. Bijloo has always been inspired by French-Belgian comics such as Tintin and Spirou, and his illustrations look more like comics than the usual illustrations.

In 2021, he received the “Vlag en Wimpel” award for the illustrations he created for the book “Hoe alles begon” (How Everything Started). The “Vlag en Wimpel” is an award for the best illustrations created by an illustrator in that year. Right now, Bijloo is working on a graphic novel about life on other planets which will be released in 2023.