Playfulness, Imperfection & Retro Vibes: Enter the creative world of Ellis Tolsma

In Ellis Tolsma's world, bright colours and bold designs enjoy a merry dance with imperfection. The freelance illustrator and visual artist from the Netherlands has built a career around embracing the beauty of mistakes and injecting playfulness into each and every project. Through her unique mishmash of retro and modern, alongside her deep love for risoprinting, she's landed on a unique style that's gaining a lot of attention.

But her journey began with a simple admiration for vintage illustrated books. "I started collecting old books with beautiful covers in school," she recalls. It wasn't long before her love for these tactile treasures turned into a desire to create her own visual stories. "I realised pretty quickly that the artists behind those stunning book covers had the career I wanted for myself." From that moment, her path was clear: she would become an illustrator.

Risoprinting became a turning point in Ellis's creative process. "With risoprinting, it's really easy to let go of the perfectionist in me," she says. The vibrant colours, unpredictable textures, and slight misalignments that come with the process give her illustrations a tactile quality that digital methods simply can't replicate. "It also allows me to create pieces that feel more real, more alive." It's this unpredictability that gives her work its distinct, playful character.

When she isn't serving clients and hitting deadlines, she also runs Studio Misprint, a small riso studio in Utrecht, where she's based. It's there that she loves to give back to the creative community by teaching others about the old Japanese printing technique. The studio, named after the 'misprints' she celebrates, is a space for experimentation and teaching. Through workshops, Ellis encourages others to break free from the pressure of perfection and focus on the joy of creation. "I always tell people that they shouldn't worry too much about the result because it's going to look great anyway."

Ellis's playful spirit drives her to constantly push the boundaries of her art. She's recently begun blending risoprinting with animation, bringing her bold designs to life in unexpected ways. "I like to challenge myself by allowing playfulness to take the lead," she says. Bringing together animation and 3D techniques has added exciting new dimensions to her work, and while she's still exploring, it's clear that this direction has opened up fresh creative possibilities.

Among her many projects, Ellis is particularly proud of her personal zine, Stardust, which explores feelings of powerlessness and frustration. The project allowed her to experiment with new colours and forms, resulting in something deeply personal. "It was like a culmination of a lot of themes I've been working with," she explains. Equally fulfilling was a recent campaign raising awareness about sexual assault, a project that allowed her to use her art to create impact.

As Ellis looks to the future, she dreams of working on public art and larger projects that involve both her experimental style and community engagement. "A dream project would be something that brings people together in a shared creative experience," she says. Ellis is also eager to continue her journey into animation.

Whatever happens next, Ellis is keen to embrace those unexpected outcomes that make her art feel alive. Through her studio, workshops, and evolving practice, she is inviting others to join her in celebrating the joy of creation, one playful misprint at a time.