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Hey there!
I am Barbara, a child psychologist turned children's illustrator.

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I  help child-focused brands and publishers bring their products and stories to life with colourful and textured illustrations that are emotion-driven and relatable. I aim to create artwork that captures attention through genuine, heartfelt connection.  I illustrate for publishing, toys, greeting cards and more.

About me

My career began as a child psychologist, but during a six-year expat adventure with my family, I rediscovered my long-neglected passion for drawing and painting. That creative revival, combined with my deep affinity for children and their inner world, led me to my current work as a children’s illustrator. I create illustrations for children's books, puzzles, toys, greeting cards and occasionally birth announcements, and custom artwork.

I worked for a while in a children’s bookstore, where I was able to closely follow developments in the publishing world and found daily inspiration in the work of many talented illustrators. 

My illustration work is driven by a desire to connect and create a sense of recognition around different experiences and emotions. I love using rich textures, warm colors, and subtle details to evoke a mood that captures the viewer’s attention. My creative process starts with pencil sketches on paper, which I then develop digitally using Photoshop or Procreate. Before going digital, I mostly worked with watercolor, colored pencils, and soft pastels.

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Clients

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My Portfolio

Welcome to my portfolio. Here you’ll find a selection of my work. Explore my projects to learn more about what I do.

Hi there!

I am Barbara, a child psychologist turned children's illustrator. 

I focus on emotion-driven visual storytelling aiming to connect and have an impact with my work.

Get in touch

  • Instagram
  • Behance
  • LinkedIn
  • email

© 2025 by Barbara Denef. All rights reserved

 

I create illustrations for publishing, toys, greeting cards and more.

Over the past years I have worked with clients like Clavis publishing, ArsEdition, Borderleap for Apple Arcade,

Vladitoys, Mail-Box Cards and (children's) hospitals.

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