On my Substack, I mostly write about the real, messy, beautiful, sometimes tiring reality of creative work. Because writing helps me make sense of it all — and it’s cheaper than therapy.
Hi, my name is Marloes (pronounced Mahr-Loose) De Vries. I’m an artist and writer, and recovering illustrator. Since I was young, creativity has been the thread I followed, but got lost in it too.
I kicked off my freelance career at the grand old age of 12, went to art school, worked in marketing as an art director, spent time as a photographer, switched to illustration, picked up a few awards along the way. Although it seemed shiny from the outside: I managed to find myself deep in burnout in my twenties, and again in my thirties.
Not because I don’t love the work itself, but because I’m navigating how to deal with the stress freelancing brings me and my (recently diagnosed) neurodivergent brain. I’m on the path of finding a healthy work-life balance and share my findings in this place.
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Who are you?
I grew up in the North East of the Netherlands, in a working class family. Books and art were never mentioned in my family, yet I have been determined to become a painter since I was four years old.
I moved to Rotterdam in 2013, a big city where I had more chances of making it as a creative professional. And I did make it (which came at a cost).
I call England home: I’m there as much as I can, because it’s the place I feel most myself and utterly rooted. North Yorkshire is my place of comfort.
I recharge my battery by long walks in nature, I love collecting books and reading them (in that order), sharpening pencils, watching British crime dramas, and I’m always in awe of any pink sky.
What do you do?
I draw, paint, illustrate and write, mainly. I’ve been working as a full-time creative professional since 2007, but I started working for clients over 25 years ago. I went to art school, became a graphic designer (although I really wanted to be a painter or illustrator), and took a leap in 2010: I left my job to become an illustrator. I’ve illustrated picture books, non-fiction books (for adults and kids), wrote and drew hundreds of comic pages, wrote a non-fiction book and so much more.
I won awards and from the outside, it looked all well but I overworked myself because I never felt I was doing enough and I didn’t honour my boundaries. Eventually, I burned out and got very ill. I started this Substack to share my experiences and how I’m finding my way back to my creative self.
→ Read more about me
→ Find me on Instagram: @marloesdevee (illustrations and books) and @marloes.studio (paintings and art)
→ My monthly (normal) newsletter for inspiration, tips and what I make
