This month we welcome back artist Maartje Louwers, who is based in the Netherlands.  She is a nurse, in her 20's, who enjoys illustrating art.  Maartje is a frontline worker during the COVID19 crisis and says illustrating is her time to put her mind to rest.  Maartje's design was created out of love and passion.  She says, "Passion is like a flower.  If you take care of it, it lets your heart bloom and you will flourish with it.  Do what you love, love what you do.”

For a little more about Maartje, here's a short Q&A:

Where is home for you?

My home is in the Netherlands.

What is your definition of a successful life?

Being happy and having the people you love close around you.

Describe your perfect day.

A perfect day for me includes hanging with my two cats and my boyfriend, having a nice lunch with friends, (taking COVID19 precautions of course) and preparing a home cooked meal and inviting my family members.

How did you get into design?

I always enjoyed drawing.  A few years back I started to do it on a daily basis and improved.  I found that sharing it with others gave me joy as well.

Where do you find inspiration?

Mostly in nature, like the waves of the ocean.  As a nurse, I also like to add some anatomy to my illustrations.

What's your dream design project?

One day, I really would like to publish my own children's picture book.

Which designers or thinkers influence/inspire you?

I don’t have a specific influencer in mind, but I follow a lot of great artists on Instagram for inspiration and they all have their own unique style.

What was the inspiration behind this design?

I actually drew this as a Valentine's card for my boyfriend.  I thought it would be nice to give this instead of real flowers.

How does Passion play out in your life?

When I was younger I did feel like I had to choose between two career paths. One of them was nursing and the other was being an artist.  I found out along the way I can practice both of these passions at the same time.  I am still trying to find a balance between these two.

At the moment, what is your favorite…

Color: Forest Green and Sunflower Yellow
Food: Sushi
Song: This is so hard. My favorite artists are: White Lies, De Staat, Lorde, Mumford & Sons, and I listen to Elvis as well.

Thanks for sharing with us, Maartje!