Michiel van Thillo

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.

My illustrated search-and-find book, “Is This My Castle?”
For this book, I drew fantasy castles based on various themes and sources of inspiration, which
I always fill 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.