10 German Illustrators to Inspire Your Creative Projects

Specializing in everything from children's book illustrations to character design, get inspired by this list of illustrators

Every illustrator knows that often the best way to improve and develop their own creative style is by learning from the works of fellow artists.

Some creatives have a few main artists who really inspire their process, while others seek out a broader range to draw from. But when you’re searching for creative inspiration, you needn't look far—there are so many unique and talented individuals that can be found right on your doorstep.

Here, we’ve gathered together a list of ten German illustrators to have on your radar. Read on to discover their work, learn more about their unique styles, and most importantly, be inspired.

Click on the red tag in the titles to see the illustrators' Instagram profiles.

1. Sarah Faber (@sarafaber_)

Berlin-based illustrator Sara Faber started out by posting her work on Instagram, before quitting her office job to become a full-time artist.

Her Instagram page is full of colorful illustrations on Procreate depicting modern, confident, female characters in everyday scenarios—as well as plenty of tips and tutorials for budding illustrators.

2. Christoph Niemann (@abstractsunday)

Artist, author, and animator Christoph Niemann’s work has regularly graced the covers of The New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, and The New Yorker.

His work has been widely acclaimed and, in 2010, he was inducted into the Art Directors Club Hall Of Fame. He’s the author of several books including Sunday Sketching (2016), WORDS (2016), and Souvenir (2017), and he is even the subject of one of the episodes of Abstract, a Netflix series all about the world of design.

3. Simone Grünewald (@schmoedraws)

Simone Grünewald, also known as Schmoesi, has loved to draw ever since she was a child. When she realized that she could draw for a living, she knew it was the career for her.

The illustrator, art director, character designer, 2D animator, and key art storyboarder now has over ten years’ experience working in the games industry, as well as extensive knowledge in both traditional and digital art. Using her own life as inspiration, she draws characters full of personality and expression in magical rural settings.

4. Jessica Janik (@jj_illus)

Artists have looked to nature as an endless source of inspiration for their work, and Jessica Janik (@jessica_janik) is no exception. The German illustrator takes the natural world as her starting point and uses watercolors and double exposure to create beautiful pieces that exude a sense of peace and tranquility.

If you want to learn more about her style or how she uses inspiration, try out her online course, Double Exposure Watercolor: Painting Nature, and let your imagination take the lead to create original watercolor paintings with silhouettes.

5. Olaf Hajek (@olafhajek)

Born in North Germany, Olaf Hajek is an illustrator, painter, artist, graphic designer, and author. His work is characterized by enchanting visual patterns, archaic symbols, and a touch of the surreal, drawing inspiration from African traditions, South American folklore, and pop culture.

His work has been exhibited in Hamburg, Munich, Berlin, Atlanta, and Cape Town, with clients including The New York Times, Schwarzkopf, and Anthropologie.

6. Jana Schirmer (@janaschirmer)

Jana Schirmer is a freelance illustrator and concept artist specializing in character design. She's illustrated for comic book giant Marvel and now works in the video game industry with clients including Riot Games, Bioware, and Obsidian.

You only have to look at her fantastical designs to appreciate the beauty and creativity in her work, but you may be surprised to know that Schirmer is actually self-taught—proving that with the right mix of talent, practice, and determination, anything is possible.

7. Julia Christians (@juliachristiansart)

Drawing from a young age, Julia Christians (@juliachristians) has always been creative with a particular interest in stand-alone comics, typography, and fanzines. Today, she's a children’s illustrator who combines enchanting drawings full of life with vibrant typography in her pieces. Her clients include Oxford University Press, Harper Collins, and Random House.

Christians also teaches her methods for creating artistic illustrations with words or letters using a mix of analog and digital techniques in her online course, Children’s Illustration: Create Decorative Letters.

8. Axel Scheffler (axelscheffler.com)

The artist behind award-winning and internationally-acclaimed children’s book illustrations like The Gruffalo and A Squash and A Squeeze, Axel Scheffler has been drawing for fifty years.

Alongside children's books, Scheffler also illustrates for other editorial projects and advertising—he was even asked to design a whole range of Christmas stamps for the UK postal service, the Royal Mail.

9. Josephine Rais (@josephinerais)

Josephine Rais (@josephinerais) is an illustrator and strategic designer based in Berlin. Her work, displayed in bold colors and fluid shapes, is characterized by scenes from everyday life, making them all the more relatable to her audience. Above all though, she seeks to trigger an emotional response in her viewer, and even move them to examine their own perspectives and actions.

If you want to learn more about her character creation process, keep an eye out for her upcoming online course, Stylish Character Illustration in Procreate.

10. Nadja Leutloff (@nadja.leutloff)

Although Nadja Leutloff always dreamed of becoming an artist, she started out as a mathematician and only began painting when she was in her forties (not that you'd guess so by looking at her work). The artist, based in Dresden, now paints and teaches masterclasses all over the world, with watercolor as her preferred medium of choice.

You may also like:

- Children’s Illustration: Create Decorative Letters, a course by Julia Christians
- 4 Kawaii Artists and Influences to Inspire Your Illustrations
- Illustration Tutorial: Ballpoint Pen Exercises to Loosen Up Your Hand
- 20 Amazing Projects in the Illustration Challenge: 31 Days, 31 Drawings