In the meantime, the book Paint, Paper & Going Places by Merel Djamila Hoekstra has been online for a while. Maybe you know Merel from her beautiful travel journals that she shares on Instagram? I was able to interview Merel for you and ask her all the questions that came to mind!
Can you briefly introduce yourself? Who are you, what do you make and are you a fulltime illustrator?
My name is Merel Djamila. I am 26 years old and I live in the city of Groningen. At the moment I work partly as a content marketer and as a freelance illustrator. As a freelancer I make illustrations for educational institutions in the form of maps and postcards. I also give creative workshops (think painting, journaling or making collages) at, for example, municipalities and museums. On my Instagram account I share my colorful gouache paintings with 122K+ followers and I also work together with companies. Think of city marketing organizations or hotels. Then I make content for a Reel and a number of Insta Stories that I then share online.
How would you describe your style and how has it developed?
My style is colorful and inspired by Art Nouveau, with a preference for busy, chaotic compositions and a touch of retro. I used to experiment with color cards from the hardware store as a base, but now I use a mixed media journal, which I find perfect for capturing memories during travels. In recent years I have drawn a lot of inspiration from my surroundings, where I like to capture facades and nature, but also details of places, such as Portuguese azulejos.
Can you take us through your creative process? Where do you start, and how do you work from idea to finished work?
I first choose a location to draw. I work with photos as well as on location. When I work on location, I make sure I have the right materials with me, but also don't carry too much. Think of a good pencil and/or a black fine-liner, eraser, sketchbook, a sturdy base such as cardboard and a paper clip. Sometimes I start with a sketch on location and then work out a drawing in another place. For example, I choose a café, terrace or my own studio. Here I also use paint (mainly gouache), brushes and colored pencils.
How do you choose colors and compositions? What is your secret for a beautiful color palette?
When I started creative journaling, I mainly made collages. I cut out all kinds of photos from magazines and made a composition with them. I quickly realized that you create unity by using colors that reinforce each other. Then it doesn't really matter how busy a collage is. With painting I try to get close to the reality of colors and also show the atmosphere of a place well. Lisbon, for example, is often sunny and is characterized for me by the cheerful Portuguese tiles, yellow trams, beautiful light facades and delicacies such as pastel de nata. If I want to combine all these images in a spread, I would adjust the color palette accordingly. Furthermore, I love earth tones such as umber brown, sienna, olive green and ochre yellow, preferably in combination with a light pink shade.
Your book Paint, Paper & Going Places has just been published; who is it for, and what do you hope readers will get out of it?
My book is for the traveler who wants to learn to observe better and capture memories on paper, but doesn't really know where to start. There are many choices to make in advance. For example, do you take a blank notebook or one with lines and do you only take a pen and colored pencils or do you go all out with brushes and a paint set? These choices can be quite overwhelming, especially if you are not often creative at home. You can see my book as a guide that helps you through this and ultimately teaches you how to design your own creative travel diary. By the way, you don't necessarily have to go on holiday or travel for it: you can also get started at home with the tips, prompts and case studies from the book!
What are the essential materials you recommend for someone getting started with your book?
I even dedicated a special chapter to this, called: What you may (not) need. The title says it all: these are my recommendations, but you are completely free in what you do and do not want to take with you. What works well for one person, does not work at all for another!
If you plan to draw very little, but mainly want to decorate your journal a bit more creatively, I would recommend taking a (small) pair of scissors, glue, a nice writing pen, pencil and an eraser. Then you can stick on everything you come across and also write down what you experience. Tip: I also sometimes take my Canon Zoemini with me, this is a portable printer with which you can easily print out small photos from your phone and then stick them on as a sticker.
If you are creative and want more of a challenge, I recommend that you bring a paint set. I prefer to use gouache and bring both my favorite paint tubes in a pencil case and a separate palette in which I can put the paint. Also bring a few fine brushes, a water spray, a cloth and possibly a container in which you can put water (and otherwise you can find paper cups almost everywhere). Bring a few colored pencils to add details.
Can you take us back to the moment when you decided this book had to happen?
The inspiration for my book was a 3.5 month Interrail trip I made in 2023. I started in Portugal and traveled via Spain to Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro. I always wanted to do this and I thought it would be fun to take my travel journal with me. In the end I took two: one to write in and keep receipts and tickets in and one to paint in.
It then started to itch to share my experiences in book form. When I was back home in the Netherlands, I went looking for a publisher who also liked this idea. And so it happened!
Is there a moment or place from the book that is extra personal or emotional for you?
The best thing about this book is that it not only shows the journey I made in 2023, but also a journey of me as a beginning artist. (Some photos were taken years ago, such as a number of flatlays for which I used the floor of my parents' wooden garden shed because I always loved the light there. The garden shed is gone now, my father has passed away and my mother has moved, but for a moment the moment is back because it is now immortalized in the book.) I see 'Paint, Paper & Going Places' as a crowning achievement of everything I have made in recent years. By now bundling it in a book, being able to browse through it at any time and knowing that other people buy it and put it on their bookshelves, makes me very proud!
What place is at the top of your list to visit and paint someday?
I would like to see more places in England, such as the Lake District National Park and the beautiful coast of southern England. Scotland also seems beautiful to me! Outside of Europe, Mexico also seems very special to me, especially because of the colorful facades, the artistic character of Mexico City, the beautiful beaches and the general culture, including the food and music.
What has been your favorite destination to paint and why?
I am currently working on a zine about North Yorkshire. I went there last summer. You can do beautiful coastal walks between picturesque villages, eat fish & chips and scones (preferably not at the same time) and visit the beautiful North York Moors National Park. I would definitely recommend it! I also love Archipelago islands, such as the island of Hönö on the Swedish west coast.
Are there any cultures or art forms that have unexpectedly inspired you during your travels?
I have not yet been outside Europe (except England), so many cultures and art forms were known to me until now. I find Art Nouveau – opulent forms, soft colours and graceful ornaments one of the most beautiful art movements to encounter on the road, whether on a famous facade in Barcelona or in a doorway in my own city.
What tips do you have for someone who wants to creatively capture their travels?
Start with the basics and don't bring too many materials. Less = more. For example, during my last trip I forgot glue and solved this by using paint to stick something on in my journal.
Make it easy on yourself. Start by drawing for five or ten minutes every day. At the campsite, you can do this by sketching campers, the caravan or the toilet block.
No desire or space to lug your creative stuff around? Or little time to get started on the road? Then take a few photos on the road and use them when you get home to draw or print them out. You can put them in your travel journal. Then you also have a bit of after-fun!
What item (paint, paper, something else) could you never do without when traveling?
I would definitely go for gouache paint, I really like using it and without it my trip would not be complete!
Merel's Favorites
Gouache paint - https://splendith.nl/collections/talens-gouache
I love the Royal Talens and Winsor & Newton gouache. My favorite colors to take are the primary colors + white and black. I also always take olive green, pine green, lilac, yellow ochre, naples yellow red, burnt umber and burnt sienna (these colors are all from Royal Talens).
Colored pencils - https://splendith.nl/products/faber-castell-polychromos-set-12
I like to use colored pencils over my (dried) paint. I do this to add some details, accents and shadows. I have the basic set of 12 pencils and in addition I bought some loose pencils, such as olive green, raw umber and brown ochre.
Mixed media sketchbook – Etchr, Stillman&Birn and Clairefontaine Paint On
I have several favorites for different purposes when it comes to sketchbooks. Mixed media sketchbooks are my favorite because they can often handle a lot when it comes to materials. Glue, water, markers: it's all possible.
Favorite 1: Hot pressed sketchbook Etchr
I really like the hot pressed paper in this sketchbook. It is of a nice quality and I like to make detailed sketches in this book with a mechanical pencil from Tombow.
Favorite 2: Watercolor sketchbooks by Hahnemühle
For watercolors I really like the Hahnemühle booklets.
Favorite 3: Delta sketchbooks by Stillman & Birn
I really like the ivory white paper of the Stillman & Birn Delta mixed media sketchbooks! The paper thickness is good and it comes in many different sizes + both soft and hardcover.
Favorite 4: Clairefontainte PaintOn
I find the Clairefontaine PaintOn mixed media sketchbooks with sand-colored paper and a slightly rough grain very nice to use for lighter accents that would normally disappear on white paper. That's this paper.
Are you now also excited to book a plane ticket and start travel journaling yourself? Check out the book here !
Love,
Judith
