SELLA MOLENAAR, ILLUSTRATOR
 
The Amsterdam-based illustrator’s work celebrates the female form with minimal shapes and fluid lines that evoke a sense of endless freedom. She talks to us about her work, her sartorial palette and inspirations.



“My art has evolved with me.”

I started my career as a fashion illustrator, but then my focus shifted from what’s on the outside to the person inside. As a woman, drawing the female form comes naturally to me. I like to create from a space of softness and vulnerability, and give a platform to celebrate feminine qualities because often they’re not valued in the way masculine qualities are. Through drawing women of all different shapes and sizes, my perception of beauty has changed, but it has also softened my own gaze on myself. A couple of years back I wore a lot of tight, black clothes. Now I’m the complete opposite. I think that has a lot to do with body image. Now, I don't feel I have to fit into a standard to feel confident.

“The colours I paint with are the same as the colours I wear.”


In my work, I mix all my colours with Bister, a brown natural colour pigment which gives the paint a dusty, muted quality. That’s represented in my wardrobe too. I wear a lot of colour, but it’s always more pared back and neutral, like soft blues, rich browns or pale greens. Like my work, there’s always a sensuality to my clothes too - in the softness of the fabric or the sound it makes when you move. I love that.

“I’m a multidimensional person. My style reflects that.”


50% of my wardrobe is tailored. I love the ease of a suit and that I don’t have to think about it in the morning. Though they’re not the most practical thing to wear all the time - some of mine are covered in paint, for instance. I love to play with gender stereotypes and the masculine and feminine codes. I feel the most sexy is a man’s 80s business suit that’s 10 sizes too big for me. But I also love to dress up. I’m currently in my rhinestone phase. I never wear sneakers and I don’t own jogging pants. I don’t like to feel like I’m morphing with the couch. I often organise dinners with a dress code - my friends hate me for that.

“I’m constantly inspired by women in my surroundings.”


Art influences my style, of course, but I think the artist who makes it influences me even more. I follow a few artists whose style is reflected in their work and the way they shop and exhibit is one. I think that’s really inspiring and I recognise something of myself in that. I have another friend who dresses amazingly - she’s like a colour bomb. She always makes me want to step out of my comfort zone and wear a purple raincoat with green boots.

“I wear my family heirlooms everyday.”


All my jewellery has been passed down through generations of women in my family, including my grandma and my mum. Two are wedding rings, which I wear every day. I feel naked when I don’t have them on.