I’m Janna, an illustrator and surface designer from Hamburg, Germany and I am best known for fun and narrative animal illustrations.
My favorite subject to draw and paint is probably animals because they are an endless source of fun and inspiration. I simply enjoy observing animal behavior with all their little quirks and peculiarities – often not so different from human behavior. Giving animals character and personality, making them relatable, is my favorite part of the process. It makes me happy when my illustrations tell a little story that brings a smile to someone’s face.
Growing up in a crafty household with my mom being an art teacher, my interest in drawing animals began as soon as I was able to hold a crayon. Over the years, my skills in illustrating animals developed because I simply enjoy observing the behavior of animals (and human beings too!).
CLIENTS:
Designs House Greetings, Studio Oh! • My Minds Eye • Flow Magazine •
Legami • Michael Miller Fabrics • American Greetings • Galison •
Papyrus • The TJX Companies Inc. • Droemer Knaur • Arena Verlag
Q & A
What animal do you most relate to?
Basically I am a cat who loves dogs.
What is your favorite occasion to illustrate?
Christmas because it is a magic time and I am mad about reindeers.
What animal is the most fun to draw?
Dogs, because they are the funnier humans.
Do you really do your illustrations all by yourself?
I am in a working relationship with an intrusive little bunny who likes to interfere .
After graduating as a Graphic Designer, I worked as an Art Director and later as a Creative Director in major German advertising companies. In 2012, I made the decision to pursue freelancing and began drawing and painting regularly again.
Being a former Art Director allows me to approach projects with a strong conceptual mindset and be a reliable and inspiring partner when it comes to storytelling, timing, and ensuring alignment with a project’s brief.
My preferred medium is watercolor, but sometimes I also like painting with gouache, and I often mix both. While digital illustration has its place, I’m drawn to traditional hand painting for its spontaneity and the unique process that comes with working directly with colors. There’s something about the tactile, immediate connection with the paint that brings me joy and creativity. And playing around with colors is just so much fun!.
