Anna Süßbauer Illustrator from Cologne, Germany
Website
What brought you to illustration?
I think it was the desire to express myself artistically and to be seen. I am a creative person and I like to show what I have created. That combination resulted in me being a professional illustrator. It could have led to any other art form, though.
"To the market. With a lot of thoughts under the hat."
What does a typical workday look like for you?
The first thing I do in the morning is to have a look at my to-do list. If there is time left, I paint something for my portfolio/Instagram to relax. Since I am also a part-time employee, my days are very structured — either I work at the office or I illustrate or alternating, depending on how many projects I have. Having lists to me is very important in order to meet every deadline. And my two dogs remind me to make time for movement. :)
Anna's entry for #fallfortheendangered (a challenge to raise awareness for endangered animals), day 3 (September 2021): Brown bear!
Are there any illustrators who influenced/influence you?
I was artistically influenced and inspired by illustrators that I have liked since I was a child: Eric Carle and F.K. Waechter. I grew up in a house full of books and comics, I read Seyfried and Crumb, Donald Duck pocket books, Asterix and Lucky Luke
"Watching animals"
What was your very first illustration?
"Topf und Birne“ (Pot and pear) from 1981. I used wax crayons. The pot is very small and the pear is very large :)
I can't remember my very first illustration I got paid for. I think it was a postcard design.
"Bologna"
What inspires you? Where do you get your ideas from?
Probably it is a mix of what I see, what I remember and what I'm interested in. I enjoy looking at abstract paintings or sculptures and getting inspired by their compositions and colours. I'm more interested in shape and texture than in the story itself. The picture's content results from shape, from the combination of shapes and movement.
"First coffee of the day"
Do you have a favorite illustrator/artist/author?
I love the illustrations and pictures by Fred Benaglia, Mogu Takahashi, Mari Kanstad Johnsen, Jesús Cisneros, Brecht Evens, Matt Hunt, David Shrigley ... just to mention a few of my favourites. Not to forget my admirable colleagues, the illustrators of the virtual studio collective Unterseecafé and the Illustrationladies Cologne.
"Let’s build a net together."
Do you have a favourite place to work?
I do not have a studio, but I have a workplace at home, and that's hands down my favourite place. I prefer it empty and tidy, that's why you find nothing but a notebook and my Wacom tablet sitting on my desk.
"The sun is still out there"
Is there a particular story you would love to illustrate?
I would love to illustrate an anthology of my own poetry, including short, funny, but also serious poems.