Who have been the major influences and inspirations on your work and why?
I look a lot at contemporary art and fashion and, basically, everything my eye sticks too. In the past I was fascinated by Jeroen Bosch and other old painters. More recently, in the illustration corner, I discovered Otto Seibolt and Marc Boutavant - I regard them as some of the best illustrators alive today.
Can you tell us a little bit about your history?
I grew up in Hilvarenbeek, which is a little village in the south of Holland, in the middle of fields and farms - My childhood totally took place there, school, friends, everything. I was fascinated by nature and made drawings based on what I saw, combined with my fantasy element. The art books we had at home were about Jeroen Bosch and Da Vinci and other old masters, they fascinated me with what they did with the human figure, with colours and hidden symbolism.
What’s your favourite environment in which to work?
I like to work alone. My space has good light and it’s peaceful. My current studio is in the heart of old Amsterdam, overlooking the city but I can't see people, only sky, water and buildings. I like that.
What are the overall themes and messages you try to incorporate in your work?
A thing that I recognise now, that I've been busy with for some years, is a certain "wondering" that is in a lot of my work. The characters or illustrations tend to question or explore new surroundings or feel lonely in them in a bittersweet way.
Can you tell us a little bit about how you’ve developed your style?
From the beginning I wanted to do two different things. Create a more cartoonish happy world with all kinds of characters and also a more layered, serious and, sometimes, abstract style, in a collage approach.
What challenges you?
Opening mail and working with art directors who know what they want and are good in what they do. Unlike many illustrators I kind of like the commercial jobs and the demands that come with them.
When you’re not drawing how do you like to spend your time?
I travel a lot and look at things. Also I drink with friends and sit on a boat occasionally.
Sometimes, when I’m lucky, I have sex.
What do you think are the major difficulties facing young artists today?
Everybody is an artist now in this digital age. There’s a lot of competition and a lot of talent. But then again lots of young people forget to distinguish themselves. It's wise to develop your own style and in time create your own market.
Visit Mark’s Profile Page for contact details, website links and a summary of featured articles on Fallyrag.
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