Anna Knopf

Your Pronouns
she/her

Do you identify with (or advocate for) any marginalized communities?
I am not a part of a marginalized community (besides being a women) but it is very important for me to support and stand up for every minority in our society that has to live with discrimination. I see you.

Where is home?
Everywhere my partner, family and dogs are.

Describe your style of illustration in one sentence
Atmospheric color palette and a strong use of characters.

What lights your soul on fire?
Working on a project that I love or read a very good book.

What themes do you enjoy exploring?
People and everyday life, nature and animals, art and culture,

What techniques do you use?
I illustrate digitally with my iPad!

How much of yourself and your own story can we see in your work?
You can see a lot of myself in every piece I illustrate. I think it is what every illustrator does. Even the colors we choose tell different stories. I often include posters, books or other little details in the background. And you will always see a lot of animals in my work – because animals are awesome.

Is there an unmistakable thread in your creative work?
My consistent art style for example. Or yes, animals.

What do you want to be known for?
For creating atmospheric and soft illustrations and telling emotional stories.

Which projects excite you most?
Every project where I have creative freedom.

What is your dream gig?
I really look forward to every kind of project that includes nice people and interesting topics. Like many other illustrators I would love to work for some of the top Magazines and I also want to publish an illustrated children’s book I wrote myself.

Where, when and how do you best create?
That really depends on my mood. Sometimes I draw on my desk other times in bed and under a big blanket. A good coffee or tea and a good audiobook always helps to get me in a work flow.

How has your style evolved since you started?
Over the years I realized which style I like, which colors I like to use. Also my art style is more textured now and with more details!

What do you find most challenging in your practice or in the illustration industry?
As a freelancer I sometimes find it hard to take free time. When you love what you do you tend to work every minute and forget time. But there should always free days and some self care time.

How as being an illustrator changed your life?
Being an illustrator really changed a lot of things in my life. For example I always search for inspiration. Every scene from everyday life, every conversation could turn into an illustration. Every colors from the nature or patterns of the streets could be inspiring.

Name a tool you can’t live without!
My Ipad!

Tell us about a project you worked on that was meaningful to you as an artist.
Even if it might seem meaningless for others it was very meaningful to me: the first project ever I worked on! It was a children’s book I illustrated for a self publisher and it was a perfect start for me as an illustrator because it showed to me that others like my work. From the money of this project I booked a flight to Tokyo and had the best time of my life.

What influences or inspires your art?
Everyday life, people, strong women, movies and books, cultures, animals and nature, friendship, music – all in all I can get inspiration everywhere.

What would you tell your younger self?
That it is worth it to continue drawing silly tings in middle school!

Why do you think art speaks louder than words?
It is hard for me to say because I also write stories. But art has no language barrier and accessible to more people around the world. What I also love about art is that it doesn’t tell you what to feel. You can look at it and feel the opposite of another person that looks at it. Colors, shapes, textures – it all can let you feel things that words couldn’t describe.