Behind the Lines | #1 - Linde Raats

Today I'm starting something new: "Behind the Lines" – a series of short & honest chats with other creatives. Why? Because when I was starting out, I wished there were more real talks about freelance life. Not just the highlights and success stories, but the everyday challenges, mistakes, and lessons learned.

For our first conversation, I'm thrilled to feature Linde Raats, an incredible illustrator who captures the magic of nature and travels in her warm, joyful illustrations.

Hope you enjoy it 💜

– Linde, to start off, tell us a bit about yourself and what kind of clients and projects you typically work with?

– I’m a freelance illustrator with a deep love for travel, unique places, and nature. My work combines vibrant color palettes and textures to visualize dreamy landscapes or capture snippets of a travel story. Initially, I focused solely on personal artworks, but as I began sharing them online, people started to reach out to commission a piece in my signature style.

Since I also have a demanding main job, I carefully select the illustration projects I take on. I’ve made the deliberate choice to work almost exclusively on projects connected to travel or nature – topics that align with my interests. This has led to collaborations on books, album covers, personal illustrations, and more. My goal with each project is to evoke the feeling of exploring beautiful places through bold color combinations and dynamic compositions.

Linde Raats – Volcano

– How do you think, which project has had the greatest impact on your professional growth and how?

It was actually my first ‘big’ paid project. I was hired to create an illustration pack for the website of a software company, which included over 30 character illustrations and numerous custom icons. Because of the scale of the project, I learned invaluable lessons about clear communication, negotiating realistic timelines, and managing client relationships. The client was thrilled with the final outcome, which gave me a significant boost in professional confidence as well.

However, the most important takeaway for me was realizing that I didn’t really enjoy character illustrations as much as I thought I did, so I decided to go more niche with my illustrations. Projects related to travel and nature became my primary focus after this, as these themes resonate more deeply with me. This shift has been essential in keeping my illustration work both enjoyable and meaningful for me.

– That’s great! And what about the strangest client feedback you've received and actually implemented?

One of the strangest pieces of client feedback I’ve ever received was a request to completely change the colors of an almost-finished artwork. Now, bear with me, because I know that might not sound like such a crazy request to many illustrators, but for me, it was unexpected because my color palette is such a defining feature of my personal style.

When I work with clients who approach me specifically for my style, I always confirm during the intake that they’re on board with my recognizable use of color. This particular client initially expressed a lot of enthusiasm for my specific palette and approach to color. However, as the project neared completion, the client suddenly suggested switching the colors completely – asking me to add shades that were entirely outside my palette and opting for muted, more realistic tones. In the end, I made a compromise, adjusting the colors slightly while still trying to keep it recognizable within style. It was a good reminder that finding a middle ground is often part of commissioned work, but it still surprises me when clients seek you out for your distinct style, only to steer away from it mid-project.

Linde Raats – Ardennes

– Let's talk about the elephant in the room: in your opinion, what's the worst part of being an illustrator that nobody openly discusses?

The constant battle to have illustration recognized as a “real job.” It’s not just about convincing others, sometimes I catch myself downplaying it too when I should be taking pride in what I do. Connected to this is the ongoing challenge of justifying fair pricing for commissioned work.

Many people still see illustration as a hobby, and there’s this misconception that hobbies don’t deserve proper compensation. But the truth is, I’ve invested years into honing my skills, developing my style, and learning how to bring ideas to life visually. Even the simplest-looking illustration often involves a long, invisible process: brainstorming, sketching, refining compositions, experimenting with color combinations, and multiple iterations before the final artwork emerges.

When someone comments that the price seems high, they often overlook the thought, creativity, and experience behind creating a unique artwork tailored to their request. Helping clients understand this is one of the biggest challenges of being a professional illustrator, but it’s essential to ensuring our craft is valued.

– Totally agree with you! And last question: What's your deepest creative fear, and how have you learned to embrace it?

I’m really proud of the personal style I’ve developed over the years, but one of my biggest fears is feeling stuck within that style. The constant comparison to all the beautiful, innovative artwork I see online can sometimes chip away at my confidence. There are moments when it even makes me want to abandon my signature style entirely and start fresh with something completely different.

To combat this, I remind myself that it’s normal – and even valuable – for a style to evolve over time. With every new illustration, I aim to find a balance between incorporating the elements that define my visual language and experimenting with something new. I hope this approach will help me to keep my work fresh while allowing me to grow creatively without losing the essence of what makes my art uniquely mine.

Linde Raats – Prints overview

You can find Linde on Instagram, website, and Dribbble.

I hope you enjoyed reading this! If you want to share your experience or have any thoughts about this series, hit me up!

And before you go – Linde wrote a special little note just for you 👀

Illustration – Irene Neyman; Message – Linde Raats

Thanks for reading!