Michiel van Thillo

"I have a deep love for everything involving fantasy, magic, and imagination—whether in
stories, comics, illustrations, movies, video games, and more. I feel most at home in the fantasy genre and in queer
culture."

Drawing Style

Lots of color, lots of details, and lots of imagination in a mix of physical media and
digital interpretations.

Biography

I am an illustrator and visual arts teacher.
As a child and teenager, I always loved drawing large illustrations and comic strips. After
graduating with a degree in illustration from KdG University College, I’ve happily continued doing this professionally.
In addition to using pencil and Photoshop for commissions and books, I also enjoy using paint
and ink on canvas for my independent work.
I have a deep love for everything involving fantasy, magic, and imagination—whether in
stories, comics, illustrations, cinema, video games, and more. I feel most at home in the fantasy genre and in queer
culture.

Projects

My "Where's the Object?" picture book, Is This My Castle?.

For this book, I drew fantasy castles based on various themes and sources of inspiration, each one packed with fun details and references. It was fun to create a different world for each illustration, with its own color palette and funny characters.
https://michielvanthillo.com/boeken

The exhibition “Three Drawers Make a Cabinet,” featuring my print series “Lovely Gays.”

These prints are based on romantic classical paintings, to which I add a homoerotic twist through my
reinterpretation.
https://michielvanthillo.com/lovely-gays

Sketchbook or iPad? Sketchbook —anytime, anywhere
Pencil or pen? Pencil
Black and white or full color? Full color
Creativity in the morning or creativity in the middle of the night? In the middle of the night
Perfectly planned or happy coincidences? Happily planned
Details or the big picture? Details
Coffee shop or studio (or somewhere else)? Office in my own home (my natural habitat)
A trip to a museum or a walk in nature? A trip to a museum
Design on my own or collaborate? Design on my own; I often let my imagination wander during the creative process.