A chat with

Marjolein Schalk

Marjolein Schalk is a Tilburg based illustrator and chief editor of Wobby, a Risograph printed magazine.

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Besides publishing Wobby magazine Marjolein recently curated the first Wobby.club exposition (Wobbyaanland) and organised a zine fest & comic/art/book fair (Wobby Wonderland).

Below a sneak peak of the latest issue of Wobby magazine 🔥

Wobby #17: Eva Stalinski
Wobby #17: Sanne Boekel
Wobby #17: Adriana Lozano
Wobby #17: Fieke Ruitinga
Wobby #17: Joëlle Dubois
Wobby #17: María Medem
Wobby #17: Egle Zvirblyte

Hi Marjolein, thanks for taking the time to chat with us! For starters, what led you into this creative career?

I started drawing when I was a child, like most people, and didn’t stop so I went to art school. I’m getting more and more enthusiastic about other people’s work and I’m involved in all kinds of projects with artists. These projects are time consuming so I have less time for my own work now, but that’s okay. Curating is also a way of creating and I want to show people what I’m passionate about and introduce them to artists we work with.

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Where do you find inspiration?

For my own illustration work I like to go to thrift shops to search for old books, with lots of pictures about all kinds of subjects. I also have an addiction for forties and fifties fashion magazines and books about film. Because I’m a Risograph printer and publisher, I buy a lot of Risoprinted books and zines. It’s nice to see how other people use the technique.

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Can you show us how your studio looks like?

Here's a look into the real life, unpolished Wobby HQ 🙂

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How do you conquer a creative block?

I would like to say: I’ll go for a walk but that’s not what I do mostly, though it would be good advice. I do listen to music or run errands or go to the post office and ship some Wobby orders. I basically just go on, and eventually it will work out.

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What gives you energy outside of work?

Going to yoga and listening to music helps to reboot and get my slightly obsessive mind of things and work. Visiting expositions and meeting people at cultural events gives me energy too. Although much of these activities are sometimes also related to work. But I’m not a person who stops working easily, it’s an addiction I’m afraid.

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What are your three favourite Instagram accounts?

1. @coloramaprint

@coloramaprint

2. @davidshrigley

@davidshrigley

3. @aishathesheriff

@aishathesheriff
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What are your three favourite spots?

1. LocHal in Tilburg

2. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam

3. NS16 in Tilburg (the studio complex where Wobby.club HQ resides)

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What have you recently seen that you think is great creative work?

I can highly recommend the publications of Terry Bleu Publishing, Animal Press, Knust Press and Colorama, plus they’re nice people too. The Risograph world is a great community with a big variety on the output, such as posters, flyers, prints and books. More and more of these enthusiasts are women, which is a good development!

'I can't find my shoes' by Anna Haifisch
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Any cool projects you're working on yourself right now?

In July I’m participating in the upcoming 'Got It For Cheap Amsterdam' exhibition at HE.RO Gallery in Amsterdam. Furthermore, I’m working on the 18th issue of Wobby. The theme for the new issue is 'The Big Blank' and Merijn Hos is illustrating the cover. It will be released in July, so keep an eye on it!

I'm also planning a number of projects for September and October in collaboration with several art initiatives and organisations such as Graphic Matters and a project with Beeldenstorm/Daglicht during the Dutch Design Week.

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Can you give one piece of advice to young creatives?

You should try and try and try more, don’t give up and do make lots of mistakes. Work as a collective if that gives you more structure, show your work and talk to people who can help you make a step forward. Go to events where you can meet them and don’t be afraid and if you are: that’s perfectly normal, so accept it. Just go on and on and on and on. And be yourself, don’t try to be like everyone else. I’d like to see more women illustrators express themselves in their own way, and be more bold.

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Thanks a lot for your time and your answers! If you want to know more about Wobby, check their website or Instagram.