Gudrun began as a sketch, became a print, and somehow turned into a companion. A reminder not to take things too seriously, and to always leave room for a little mischief.
Gudrun began as a small sketch, a sly smile and curious eyes that hinted at mischief. I didn’t plan her; she simply appeared one day, looking like she knew something I didn’t. Gudrun felt like trouble disguised as innocence, and I loved her instantly.
Gudrun was “born” during a trip to Japan, surrounded by the calm rhythm of drawing and endless visual inspiration. There’s something about Japanese design and storytelling that balances simplicity and mystery, and Gudrun fit right into that space.
She became my way to explore a mischievous character that lives between cute and unsettling, sweet and sly.
Back in my studio in Eindhoven, she kept growing, from pencil lines to lino blocks and risograph, from single sketches to whole scenes. Each new print revealed a different side of her: sometimes playful, sometimes plotting, always alive with that same subtle smirk.
Working on Gudrun means letting go of control. She’s not a character you can fully predict. Over time, Gudrun found friends, other faces, creatures, and characters who share her world. Together they’ve become “Gudrun & Friends”, a growing collection of illustrated prints and objects that celebrate the odd and the quietly rebellious.
I like to let her evolve. Showing up in unexpected places, bringing a hint of trouble, and maybe a grin to whoever meets her.