Barbara Denef

I am Barbara and I am a self-taught Belgian illustrator. I have a degree in child psychology, worked 11 years as such, but then moved abroad for 6 years with my husband and 2 boys. We lived 5 years in India, 1 year in New Zealand. That's where I picked up my passion for art and illustration again. Inspired by the picture books of my kids I started to focus mainly on children's illustration. I love how images can enhance and complete a story, expressing emotions and atmospheres where the viewer can resonate with. I love to create illustrations where people of all ages feel attracted to because they are radiating warmth and joy. Illustrations where you want to jump in to to experience the atmosphere for yourself. Currently we live back in Belgium where we hope to get our teenage boys rooted. I am still attracted to move again, because I love meeting people of different cultures and nationalities, I love exploring other countries with their own nature, colours and people: the things that inspire me most!
I would love to make a living with my art. So far I've done some custom made illustrations for clients and illustrated a children's book, published by Clavis Publishers. I believe my illustration style fits the children's books market, but I am looking for other ways to leverage my art. I am creating greeting cards which I sell through my Etsyshop and in the children's bookstore where I work part time. But my dream is to find a way to work full time as an illustrator, having my own product line or brand for licensing. I realise there is still a long way to go and as I am a mid-lifer already, the motivation and self-confidence are sometimes sinking low. Recently I enrolled in Stacie Bloomfield's Leverage Your Art course, in which I learned the mantra: 'WHY NOT ME?' which I repeat to myself quite often, giving me the courage to keep on going. During this course there was a life interview with Louise Lockhart which inspired me a lot to keep on following my own path. This Domestika course of hers is motivating me again even more!