By Femke Vanden Broeck
Have you ever wondered how the fruity characters from HÖNGRY publishing come to life? Well, you're in luck, because as an intern at the fruitiest publisher in the world, I got to interview illustrator Bram de Baere.
To start, tell us a bit more about yourself. Who are you?
Bram: "Well, I'm Bram, and I'm a graphic designer and illustrator. Drawing is something I've been doing since I was a child; it's where my great passion lies. I quickly knew I wanted to make a profession out of it. First, I was an art director at the design agency We Want More, until I decided to change my life and become a freelance illustrator."
How do you start drawing a HÖNGRY picture book?
Bram: "It always starts with an idea Bieke has. As soon as she sends a first text or storyline, the creative mill in my head starts turning. Based on this, I first visualize which angles, perspectives, and compositions I could use to depict the story on each page as interestingly and originally as possible. Once I have a clear image of all this in my head, I can start drawing on paper or digitally."
Besides picture books, HÖNGRY also has booklets, games, and puzzles. Is there a difference in how you illustrate them?
Bram: "Although the drawing style and execution of the illustrations remain the same, there is a difference in the approach. For picture books, I can really think long and hard about the entire page composition, which angles, or how detailed I will make the background. The images must be very rich and expressive to draw the reader into the story.
Compared to a booklet, which is for a younger target group and therefore needs to be very clear and recognizable. Here, the intention is not to lose the characters, as it were, in the background; you need to be able to distinguish them well.
Making illustrations for puzzles is somewhat similar to picture books. The difference is that you only have one image, and that one image also has to tell a story. This image must therefore be clear, rich, and intriguing, so that the child making the puzzle, or the parent, wants to know what happens in the full story, and thus wants to read the accompanying book."
Which of the HÖNGRY books did you enjoy illustrating the most?
Bram: "'Wat als ik pof' was really fun to illustrate. Nacho Corn is truly a very grateful and versatile character with whom you can explore so many different directions. With his green cape and flowing hair, he can have a very tough look, but he also has a somewhat timid side; then he hides in his cob, and when he's very scared and gets too hot, he pops. So you can truly portray the character in many different ways."
How is the collaboration with Bieke?
Bram: "It's really enjoyable. From the moment we first met through mutual acquaintances, there was a click between us. Professionally, we understand each other very well; we complete each other. We're confident enough to always be honest about each other's work. This way, we always reach a result that we both fully support. So you could say we make each other's work stronger. Moreover, we get along well personally, which is also important in a collaboration."
Then I have one last question from some curious fans: which fruit or vegetable would you like to draw for HÖNGRY in the future?
Bram: "Bieke and I have already discussed adding cherries to the fruity characters. It immediately sparked a lot of inspiration for both of us to work with. Because cherries often come in pairs, we thought, for example, of developing them as two characters who are attached to each other and end up in different situations. It reminded us a bit of the relationship between a brother and sister, who can sometimes tease each other but are nevertheless inseparable."
It's clear that a lot of creativity and talent are hidden in every HÖNGRY book. I am already very curious about what the future holds for this fruity publishing house.