“What’s up Next?” is a series of articles and interviews meant to better showcase the trajectories of our Next Talents.
We are meeting the 2024-2025 generation in two key moments: at the start of their trajectory – focussing on finding out more about the artists and what they expect from the program, and at the end of their course, discussing the things they picked up on the way.
With this first interview we are introducing you to illustrator and animator Jill Heesbeen.
Jill has a fresh, colorful, graphic yet playful illustration style, and enjoys raising socially relevant topics with her work. She has studied Illustrated and Animated Storytelling at St. Joost in Den Bosch. “Originally I thought my passion would lie in animation and character design,” Jill recounts “but during my studies I discovered editorial illustration. I found out I really enjoy making conceptual illustrations by translating words to images, so after graduating in 2021 I decided to focus on freelancing in the editorial illustration field. Up until know I have worked with some really great clients, such as Kunstloc Brabant, VICE, De Morgen, Trouw, De Volkskrant, Teen Vogue and the Washington Post.“
Talking about a project dear to her heart, Jill mentions her graduation project Smetje, a zine about OCD, specifically germaphobia (the fear of germs and contamination). “Having struggled with this myself for some years already, but never feeling like I could express myself well enough for people to understand what it feels like, I decided to make that my focus for graduation. In the zine Smetje I visualise what having germaphobia means, by using comparisons, metaphors and personal stories of people who experience it. I make it understandable – for people who have it themselves, but also for the people around them. By mixing tactile and digital techniques such as drypoint etching, Toyobo and risograph printing, the fears and the sensation of dirt become tangible. I really feel like the content and the style elevate each other, and I’m very proud of that!“
Going further, this is also the direction Jill would like to explore in the future. “I think there should always be more attention for heavy and hidden subjects. For me, the power of illustration lies in it being able to depict what is not tangible, such as the feelings or thoughts that people experience with mental health issues or live-changing events. By using a well-chosen metaphor you can suddenly understand what somebody means. A lot of books have already been written on these kind of subjects, but in my opinion images can appeal to your feelings much more.“
Reflecting on what she would like to accomplish throughout the Next trajectory, Jill says: “Within the program, I want to focus on making more personal work again. After graduating I dove straight into freelancing. Creating a viable freelance practice takes a lot of time to the detriment of personal work, experimentation and play. But those things are super important for staying inspired and growing as an artist!
For about a year now, I’ve been working on and off on a bigger personal project about the loss of a parent at a young age. Within Next we’re focussing on developing this further, especially the look and feel of it. My editorial work is often very colourful and bold but I feel like it doesn’t fit the message I want to tell with this project. Finding a fitting style for this particular project (and breaking out of the doing-only-client-work-mold) is what I hope to achieve within the trajectory.”
“I have known a handful of people that have taken part in the trajectory before me, mainly from the art academy” Jill adds. “Everyone always was very enthusiastic about it, but obviously, not being in the trajectory myself, I didn’t really know what the buzz was all about. So when I was invited to apply, it was a bit of a leap, trusting the people that we’re raving about it. BUT: I can already say that the way how it’s tailor made for you, and personal attention you receive, are really special.”
We also asked Jill who her dream Next talent mentor would be, to which she replied “I don’t think I have one person that I would like to meet. I really love talking with many other artists about (their) art, why they chose to go down this path, what drives them to keep doing it, what subjects they are interested in and why. That’s what inspires me the most.”
An artist that gets inspired and in turn, inspires others. That is Jill Heesbeen. We just can’t wait to see all the marvellous things she will explore and achieve through her trajectory!
