About Vlasta van Kampen

Vlasta studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design and graduated in 1966 winning a scholarship to study typography and book design in the Netherlands. There she discovered the desire to illustrate children's books.

Returning to Canada, she started a successful career, combining studio work, workshops in schools and libraries, teaching at the Ontario College of Art and Design and being an at-home-mother.

Vlasta is an award winning illustrator and has illustrated 35 children's books. She lives in the beautiful, hilly countryside of Trent Hills, Ontario and works from a studio overlooking a forest, beaver pond and wild farm fields.

Vlasta delights in developing animal characters and situations that will bring on a smile and laughter from the viewer. Her art is storytelling in great detail and is rendered in rich, saturated watercolours.

A large body of Vlasta's work, "Rockanimals" has been purchased by The National Library of Canada and is now part of their archives and art collection for children.

She is always exploring new possibilities for children's books.

Artist Statement

"As far back as I can remember I have lived with a pencil in hand. My parents encouraged my drawing, but it was my mother with her creative sewing room that hooked me. In that room you could find almost anything and many of my projects were inspired by that room.

My creative room has book shelves filled with a wonderful assortment of children's picture books.

Reviewing this collection and working with young people has, over the years, kindled ideas for new projects and developed a love of art for children.

My family has always been a great source of inspiration and it is thanks to their encouragement that I have enjoyed a wonderfully fulfilling career.

My artistic endeavour is to entertain and engage the viewer, young and old, in a discovery trip into my animal world and to savour the humour and detail in each of my paintings."