The cover illustration of Verraad mij Niet (Melinda Braaksma) immediately sets the tone: a dramatic scene in shades of grey, with a child hiding and a bright yellow Star of David catching the eye. This drawing is just one of the many illustrations I had the honor of creating for this remarkable book. In this blog, I’ll take you behind the scenes of my illustration process.
Verraad mij Niet – The Secret of Amsterdam is a gripping children’s book about seven-year-old Pieter, who lives in Amsterdam during World War II. Through his eyes, we experience the confusion, threat, and silence of a childhood shaped by war. The story is based on the real experiences of Melinda’s father, interwoven with fiction.
What started as just a few drawings gradually expanded. In the end, it became a richly illustrated book with more than 25 images across both the Dutch and English editions. I had the privilege of bringing this story to life visually.
“Pieter lives as light in the shadows.” That became my guiding theme. In my work, I aimed to make this contrast between light and darkness tangible, a visual translation of the emotions and events that lie beneath the surface. The very first drawing I created, a plane crashing into a house, made a deep impression and became the visual framework for the entire book.
I worked digitally using an Apple Pencil on the iPad, exclusively in black and white. I used only two digital brushes: one emulating a 6B pencil and the other charcoal. I combined fine lines with rough textures, transparency with intensity — just like applying different pressure with a real pencil. Each illustration emerged through many layers: building from dark to light, from rough shapes to subtle detail.
Each drawing began with a sketch — a basic idea of composition and atmosphere. As the collaboration with Melinda progressed, the sketches became more minimal. She had a clear sense of what I envisioned, and I felt her trust. After the initial approval, I continued working quietly until the illustration was about 80% complete. Then we’d go back and forth on the details, until the final version emerged.
The result is a beautifully illustrated book that has been received with great praise. The book is available via Melinda Braaksma’s website (www.metvertel.nl) and can be ordered at any bookstore.
Book design by Dafne Arlman.
