Characterised by a cheerful and graphic visual language, Ellis Tolsma’s work takes inspiration from vintage children’s books, patterns, and toys. An illustrator and animator based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, Ellis’ work is distinguished by her use of geometric shapes, bright colour combinations, abstractions, and a retro touch. She enhances this retro feel by printing much of her work with an old-fashioned Risograph printer.
Ellis also runs Studio Misprint, a small Risograph studio. She states; “In the studio, I focus on learning to embrace mistakes and incorporate the mistakes into my style”. Her creative process is rooted in playfulness and exploration, often leading to unexpected results. Although she creates most of her work using the Risograph, with a focus on prints, cards ,and stickers, she tells us it is zines that she enjoys making the most. Ellis comments; “I love working around a theme and expressing my feelings within a small book. My creative practice is very playful. One of my recent zines, for example, was about feeling like stardust, tiny and powerless in a big world, but still part of something that is connected. That zine is now becoming an animation project, that I will be Riso printing fully!”
Ellis studied illustration design at Artez Hogeschool der Kunsten in the Netherlands. “Since I was young i’ve been making things and for me I was pretty certain that I wanted to be an artist from a young age,” says the illustrator. Thus, she went to art school where she begun freelancing, and has done so ever since. She comments; “Sometimes it’s pretty hard, but I love the freedom that comes with owning your own studio and illustration practice.”
Working around a theme is central to the creation of her work. Ellis describes; “When I start working on a project, either a personal Riso print project or something for a client, like posters, a cover or editorial illustrations, I often try to work around a theme too“. She also revels in the process of making work in sets; “This way I can explore different angles and ways of translating what has to be communicated to an illustration”. For her personal work, she often takes a theme focused around her own life and what she is doing outside of her illustration studio. As a result, the works are often very personal and highlight her ponders. For example, her newest zine will explore “being sensitive in a very hectic and fast-paced world”.
Although Risograph is Ellis’ main medium, she also works with collage, drawing, bookbinding, and, more recently, laser cutting. “I’ve started integrating digital tools a lot more too, After Effects for animation for example,” explains the creative. Inspiration comes from all around; from nature to the thrift store, cool packaging, and other illustrators. “I am a bit of a collector of small, funky things, so I can always be inspired by something around the studio or my home,” says Ellis.
Looking ahead, she tells us; “One of my dreams is to make more public work, something like a playful installation or an interactive piece that people can step into and become part of”. Her goals? To work on more “packaging, clothing, and 3D work”. Ellis is looking forward to working internationally, and focusing on the creation of paintings, murals, and hand-made tactile work. Currently, she is using her lasercutter to make small wooden sculptures; “It’s a way to explore something new, that doesn’t have to have any commercial uses (yet!). It’s really nice to learn how to work with a new tool, and rewarding when it turns out cool!”
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