Jaantje van Hout: "You are continuously stimulated with new ideas, materials and techniques”
- Design
A good mix of being taught within certain boundaries and the freedom to develop yourself as you see fit, that”s how Jaantje Anna van Hout (21) describes the Illustration Design course at the Academy of Art & Design Zwolle in a nutshell. Having almost graduated, she can”t wait for everything that is to come. “My head is full of ideas.”
The only thing Jaantje did as a child was to make things. So to her, the art academy was a logical next step after secondary school. “I visited several academies and was immediately impressed by the illustration course,” she looks back on her search. She opted for ArtEZ because the way in which the course is offered completely matches her own ideas. After getting the green light, Jaantje packed her bags and moved from the south to the east of the Netherlands.
Non-stop creativity
She is the youngest recent graduate of her class. Jaantje: “I remember being afraid that I would not be admitted, mainly because of my age and my lack of experience.” In hindsight, there was nothing to worry about. “My advice to all prospective students would be: bring as much of your own work as possible to the admissions process. Lecturers want to see potential and passion. It’s not true that you have to be very good already before you start.” Looking back, Illustration Design has always given Jaantje exactly what she was looking for. “As a student you are continuously stimulated with new ideas, materials and techniques. I loved that.” I was able to develop as I wanted. For me, ArtEZ was a period in which I was creating non-stop.”
Jaantje visited various places in Zwolle every week (a pub, a community centre, the Salvation Army) where she talked to people and incorporated this into her final work.
Graphic printing techniques, fabric and ceramics
While she was allowed to try almost everything in the first year, the following years were more focused on specialising. “You have to ask yourself questions like: “What do I want to say with my work and how can I stand out from the pack?” Jaantje explains. “That is a difficult but useful process.” This is how she discovered that she likes to talk to people and introduce them to each other through her work. “I want to encourage people to crawl out of their bubble and open up to each other more. That aspect is important to me and is always reflected in my work. Another thing she discovered during the course is that she likes to work with different materials. “I really like graphic printing techniques, but I also like working with fabric and ceramics. Experimenting like this is really encouraged at ArtEZ. Which is good, because it means I don’t have to choose.”
No right or wrong
One of the things she has really gotten better at is observing and pointing out what is most important in what she sees. “And then quickly create an image of it,” Jaantje adds. “It is very interesting to communicate with images anyway. When you create something, others often see it completely differently.” What type of person do you need to be for Illustration Design? Jaantje: “Someone who likes to experiment and doesn’t mind being thrown in at the deep end and taking responsibility themselves. You are given all kinds of things, but you are also very free to do what you want. I enjoyed that a lot.” There is no right or wrong, she says. “Just trying to please your lecturers doesn’t work. You really need the intrinsic motivation to want to create.”
I would love to see my work in museums and festivals and to illustrate album covers for artists”
Looking back on the course, she found that artistry was slightly more dominant than the applied side of illustrating. “It was a bit of both, really,” says Jaantje, “but I do consider myself more like an artist.” Partly because you are very much expected to form your own vision and tell your own story. When you work on commission, you tell someone else’s story.” There is nothing wrong with that, she emphasises. “In fact: I think many of my classmates will work on books, newspapers, clothing and posters. It doesn’t really matter what your preference is, because ArtEZ teaches you both.”
Illustrating album covers
Did the course ready her for the real thing? Jaantje nods. “I’m enthusiastic and full of ideas. It feels good to be ready and I am looking forward to jumping into working life.” Her dream is to build a freelance existence where she can earn a full-time living. “That goes for several of my classmates as well,” she says. “Working for myself seems like a great idea, especially because it allows you to work on different projects. Although it will remain a surprise for now where exactly I will end up. That’s always a bit of a search right after you graduate.” Her biggest dream is to work for really cool platforms or to have her own column in Volkskrant Magazine. “I would love to see my work in museums and festivals and to illustrate album covers for artists. Those are still dreams for now, but who knows.”
Learn more about the bachelor Illustration Design
