Christian Gutknecht

Hey there! I’m a citizen of the world, currently living in Runkel with my three amazing children, two adorable dogs, and sometimes a lovely cat.

I absolutely love spending time with my family, especially when we go climbing or have a fun day swimming in the sea.

When it comes to food, you’ll always find mangoes, avocados, baked mushrooms, and some delicious cheddar on my plate. Oh, and a good espresso? Yes, please!

My artistic journey has been mostly self-taught, with lots of inspiration from books and tutorial videos online. I’m eager to improve my free drawing skills, master mixing colors, and play with light and shadows. Digital drawing is also on my list of things to learn.

I’m on the lookout for helpful people who can give me constructive criticism and feedback on my drawings and writing. It’s essential to me that my work can reach as many people as possible, especially when it comes to spreading awareness about environmental issues.

I’m no beginner, but I wouldn’t call myself a pro either. My sketchbooks are filled with ideas, and I’m currently working on an exciting picture book centered around environmental themes. My background in photography and physics has influenced my creative process.

When it comes to art supplies, I swear by brands like Schminke, Winsor & Newton, Caran d’Ache, Faber-Castell, and De Atramentis for inks. My trusty tools include brushes from Springer Brushes and fountain pens from Pelikan and Lamy. Oh, and I can’t forget my Faber-Castell fineliner pens!

Sadly, my favorite shop has closed, so now I rely on online orders to get my art supplies.

My inspirations are all over the place, from Alphonso Dunn’s “Pen & Ink Drawing” to Korky Paul’s “Winnie and Wilbur.” I adore Sven Nordqvist’s “Mama Muh” and “Pettersson and the Cat Findus,” and who doesn’t love Jim Kay’s “Harry Potter”? Katherine Roy’s “Elephant” and “Sharks” are awe-inspiring, and Peter Goes’s “Time Travel” is such a fantastic journey. These are just a few; there are so many talented artists and authors that I admire!