Sacha Heemels illustration

Dutch children's book illustrator

Winner illustration contest Picture this! 2022

I have always had a great love for picture books. When I had children of my own, I finally had a legitimate reason to buy them. I first bought them mainly because of the beautiful illustrations, but when I started reading them to my children, I came to understand the importance of a good story, the interplay of the illustrations with the text and how it can reinforce each other. This symbiosis is unique to picture books and it is why this genre appeals to me so much.

I prefer to work traditionally, with watercolor. I scan these paintings in order to digitally edit and optimize them. Characteristic of my work is a fairly realistic style combined with more painterly backgrounds. Something that watercolor lends itself perfectly to. I also like to use different perspectives, because this gives extra dynamism to an image. 

Would you like to take a look behind the scenes and see how my illustrations are created? Then follow me on Instagram.

Do you want to collaborate or do you have a question? Please contact me.

Picture This winners exposition at Kunzt in Zwijndrecht december 2022