How a Tiny VW Golf Launched This Artist’s Dream Career in Vanlife Art
Ever wondered how people living on the road and enjoying vanlife manage to make a living? There are so many answers to that question, and one can be found here! We introduce Katie, @roadtrip_illustrations, a professional travel sticker designer, and ask her the questions on everyone's mind. After her first camping trip in 2019 in her tiny VW Golf, Katie saw how much us campers like to decorate our vans, and the idea of creating unique, bespoke works of art specifically for those who enjoy the vanlife, was born.
What led you to specialize in personalized illustrations for camping families, couples and singles? Was it inspired by your own travel experiences, or did the idea come about differently?
It all started in 2019. Ever since high school, I had dreamed of traveling and living life on the road, but it was just a vague idea without a clear plan. During art school, I met a friend who shared the same dreams, and together we started exploring the idea of living and traveling in a campervan.
After finishing school, I saved up enough money to buy my first car – a three-door VW Golf 4. It was the smallest car you can imagine, but once I removed the back seats, it became a cozy little bedroom for two. In 2019, my friend and I packed our bags and set off on our first trip to Austria. And that’s where it all began – we met other travelers with their campervans, listened to their stories, and admired their vehicles covered in stickers.
Those stickers fascinated me. They were like traveler’s calling cards: “We were here!” But most of them were simple and not very personal. I thought to myself, “I can make something better!” When we got back home, I grabbed my tablet and designed my first sticker – featuring my Golf, Austria, and the year we were there.
And that’s how it all started. I wanted every traveler to have their own unique “calling card” that would be personal and original. Since then, I’ve been working on perfecting my style, quality, and the uniqueness of every illustration. And this story is still my inspiration today.
On average, how long do you spend working on one illustration from the first client contact to the final version?
The whole process, from the first contact to delivering the final files to the client, takes about 5 days to a week.
Could you describe the process for us?
It all starts by going through all the client’s requests and checking the photos they’ve attached, which I use as references. I need a photo of the car that will be in the illustration, as well as people or animals if they’re included. Then, I think about the overall vibe the illustration should have. For example, a description like, “We love the sea, beaches, and palms, but we prefer sitting in the van on the beach watching the sunset,” instantly gives me the feeling to capture.
I start creating the composition – first, I place the car, then build the rest around it: text, the ground under the car, nature in the background, and so on. I send progress sketches to the client for approval, making sure the illustration matches their vision. It’s a collaborative process to bring their story to life.
Once the sketch is approved, I finish the linework, add the base colours, and in the final phase, I draw all the details that give the illustration its unique atmosphere. Finally, I add reflections, and the illustration is complete!
What are the most interesting or unusual symbols you've had to incorporate into vanlife family illustrations?
One of the most interesting components I’ve had to incorporate into an illustration was Godzilla sticking out from the roof of a VW Westfalia. Then there was Goldorak, cats, a parrot on the shoulder, a glider, an urbex place, poop, reindeer and snowmen, a drone, a plush crocodile, sunflowers on the dashboard, a sloth, and a glass of wine.
I've noticed each illustration has its unique character – how do you maintain a consistent style while creating something personal for each family?
Each illustration tells its own story, but my personal style remains the same and gradually evolves with each new piece. I have my own approach to lines, shading, and drawing, which I apply to every theme. However, in each new illustration, I like to experiment – for example, instead of traditional shading with a brush, I try smooth transitions or dots. If it feels like a better technique in the end, I’ll continue using it. And if I find something I liked more before, I’ll return to it. This is how I slowly push forward my style and the overall look of my illustrations.
What tools and techniques do you use for your work? Do you work purely digitally, or do you combine traditional techniques as well?
For creating my illustrations, I use an iPad Air 4 and Apple Pencil 2nd generation, along with the Procreate app. This setup is more than enough for me to create high-quality work. However, I personally love the smell of paper and the sound of a pencil on paper. So, for study sketches, drawing for fun, or brainstorming ideas, I reach for paper, a pencil, and Micron pens. Sometimes, I spice things up with Copic design markers with a brush tip, but only for shading. I’m a huge fan of details (almost obsessed), as you can see in the car drawings in my illustrations, which is why I have a collection of Micron pens ranging from 005 to 08.
What was the biggest challenge in building your @roadtrip_illustration Instagram account? How did you gain your first thousand followers?
The biggest challenge was probably not knowing how to get into the travel community’s awareness. So, I simply started posting my illustrations and adding hashtags like #vanlife, #sticker, #vanlifecommunity. Gradually, I began collaborating with larger accounts that shared my illustrations on their profiles. The community started sharing my work, which helped me get noticed by more travelers and gain my first 1000 followers.
How do you balance commission work with your own creative projects? Do you have a system for organizing your work?
I maintain a balance between commissioned work and personal projects with a system I’ve created for my workdays. Each morning starts with a one-hour block called “Pay Yourself First.” This is my time to create something just for myself before diving into client projects. The rest of the day is divided into three 1.5-hour blocks dedicated solely to drawing commissioned illustrations, two 30-minute blocks for client communication, and one 30-minute block for “Business Care” — tasks like creating social media content or working on business development. At the end of the day, I leave space for my own creative work, brainstorming ideas, or further developing my skills. This system helps me keep a healthy balance between commissions and personal projects.
Do you draw inspiration from real places and destinations? How deeply do you study different types of caravans and camping equipment?
I definitely draw a lot of inspiration from the beautiful natural places I’ve had the chance to visit. I often take photos of stunning landscapes, which I then use as references for my illustrations. Many natural elements, like rocks, pine trees, stumps, or dusty roads, I’ve learned to draw through study sketches I create during my travels.
When a client asks me to depict a place I haven’t visited, I look for available photos online and often explore Google Maps to find unique features of the environment. What kind of trees grow there? Is it more of a green meadow or a tundra with dry grass? Nowadays, I can research all these details remotely, and that’s a huge advantage for me.
I always carefully study the details of campervans and caravans using photos that people send me. I need high-quality images of the overall structure of the vehicle and, most importantly, close-ups of details like added lighting, snorkels, tire treads, or maxtrax. I have a keen eye for detail and a lot of patience, which allows me to capture even the smallest elements of campervans and their equipment with precision.
What was your most challenging project? What troubled you the most?
That’s an interesting question. It’s hard to say which project was the most challenging, because each one has its own unique challenges. When I draw a van with open doors and a view of the interior, it’s tough to capture all the details, from the kitchen faucet to the plants on the shelf. Drawing a large family is difficult because I need to capture the true likeness of all the members. And when I draw a car from a sharp angle, getting the perspective right is tricky.
But if I had to choose the biggest challenge, it would probably be the Christmas illustration for the Land Rover Club Holland. The task was to combine three different types of Land Rovers – Defender, Series, and Discovery – each from a different production year and in a different color. The challenge was to create a color palette that would complement the cars while still having a festive, Christmas feel. Another tricky part was finding a way to fit all three vehicles into the same illustration without any being too small or too dominant.
The client also wanted to include a windmill (because it’s the Netherlands) and no mountains (again, because it’s the Netherlands), along with reindeer and snowmen. Putting all of this together into a harmonious composition was a real creative challenge. But in the end, I managed to pull it off, and the illustration is one of my favourites.
What ways do you enjoy spending your free time?
Besides drawing and all the creative stuff that fills me up, I also enjoy other activities that “recharge my batteries” when I’ve had enough of sitting with a pencil. I’m really into maintaining my physical health, so sports are important to me – one of my favorites is sport climbing, which I make time for at least once a week. It’s a great energy booster for me. I also enjoy mountain biking and off-road driving. Sometimes I just need to relax in nature, and other times I crave a bit of adrenaline when I drive off the beaten path. I love going to the sauna, sleeping under the open sky, watching pigeons, and my little dream is to have a big flock of chickens!
Follow Katie on Instagram, check out @roadtrip_illustrations
