We are proud to announce the results of Brightness Magazine’s monthly competition. This month’s judge, Mark Janssen, has selected the best illustrations under the theme of “Grandparents”, among the numerous visionary artworks. The winners that are listed below will have their illustrations published in Brightness Magazine issue number 23 and will have their certificates emailed to them.
Mark Janssen
Mark Janssen (Eijsden 1974) studied at the Art Academy in Maastricht. After graduating in 1997 he established himself as a full time illustrator in Valkenburg a/d Geul, where he has a homestudio.
Mark makes illustrations for both childrensbooks and picturebooks. From his first children’s book Mijn vriend de sjeik of Ulf Stark (Lemniscaat 1997) to 2018, he illustrated up to 450 children- and picturebooks for Dutch, Belgian and Chinese publishers. Many of his books have already found their way abroad and have been translated into over 10 languages.
In 2016 mark started succesfully a new oeuvre in his work; writing and drawing picturebooks. ‘Nothing happened’ was praised by the press. There was a follow up by ‘Dino’s don’t exist’ (2017) and ‘Island’ (2018).
Stephanie Donsø
I work in my little home studio with my art and illustration tasks as well as run my own art-brand ‘Det Gyldne Blad’ in which I sell prints and cards with my images as well as make small one-of-a-kind items in relation to my illustrative world. Right now I’m a part of the international groupshow ‘Fresh Legs’ at Galleri Heike Arndt in Berlin and I have just been shortlisted for The Northen Illustration Prize.
I have illustrated a number of light-reading books for children in cooperation with Danish bookpublishers and I really dream of getting my own stories written and illustrated by me pubIished and out in the world.
My illustration for the entry is called ‘Me & Grandma’ and features a memory from my own life many years ago. The illustration is handpainted/drawn with gouache, watercolor and color pencils on paper.
