Pia Dirks

Pia Dirks was born in Rotterdam, in 1963. Already as a child, drawing, painting and making up stories was her favourite way of living. Not until 1987, Pia started her studies at the Academy and graduated in Illustrative and Publicitary Design. At the same time she obtained a certificate for Basic Publicity.

After her studies, Pia worked as a graphic designer in a printing office, where she learned all the realistic ins' and outs' around making an illustrative assignment for clients. In 1996, Pia started her own Illustration Studio. Pia's work consists of making various illustrations for different publishers of children's books (reading books, picture books and study books). Pia also designs luxury 'best-wishes' cards (Christmas is her favourite), and has made illustrations for the literary-pages of a magazine.

Pia Dirks illustrative art, uses a variety of techniques (aquarel, pencil, pastel, ink etc.) and materials ('little things', self-made motivs, fabrics etc.). "It always depends on the subject, what 'is needed' to express myself". Her work is brightly coloured and due to the 'collage' effect vivid and layered. Since Pia also paints and etches, she has several personal and collective exhibitions, in which the illustrative bit is also always present, in offering unique cards, posters and children's items.

In her free artwork she uses acrylic paint and all kinds of materials she finds f.e. on jumbel-sales, like old jewelry. Her studio is located in a 120 year-old house in the south of the Netherlands. She has beautiful views over the surrounding meadows and an old abby. And lives happily with her husband and 2 geese. This all provides a lot of inspiration. Pia also seeks inspiration in other European countries, like Greece and Portugal, but gives preference to Italy, where she likes to work sometimes. The writing of her own stories are 'born' there, between medieval cities.