Maarten Donders, creator of the Passionfruit Elderflower design
Welcome to the captivating world of Maarten Donders, the artist behind our Passionfruit Elderflower.
In this interview, we invite you to get to know Maarten better as he shares his personal and artistic journey.
MAARTEN, CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOUR PASSION FOR ART BEGAN AND HOW YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE ART WORLD?
I grew up in Tilburg, where my love for drawing started early. My father—an artist himself—was my biggest inspiration. As a kid, I’d draw myself as a superhero, creating worlds where I could fully be myself.
That passion led me to the Art Academy. I went in to sharpen my technical skills, but found the heavy focus on concepts frustrating. Still, I kept drawing—because that’s what mattered most.
After graduating, everything shifted when I saw a poster for Roadburn Festival in my hometown. Covered in flying skulls and psychedelic visuals, it instantly clicked.
That moment led to a collaboration with a brewery, where I took on the full visual identity—cans, logos, posters, and merch. It was a turning point: a chance to define my style and bring my ideas to life in a bold, tangible way.
I see myself as both an illustrator and an artist.
As an artist, I’m driven by ideas—translating what lives in my mind into something visual. As an illustrator, I value accessibility. Knowing my work hangs in hundreds of homes is deeply fulfilling—it reinforces why I do this.
My journey has been one of constant evolution. From drawing alongside my father to building a career as a recognized artist and illustrator, I’ve carved out my own path.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE ATMOSPHERE OF YOUR DRAWINGS? HOW HAVE OTHER ARTISTS SHAPED YOUR WORK?
My work celebrates nature while exploring duality—light and dark, male and female, life and death. These contrasts are at the core of both my thinking and my visual language.
I draw heavily from old engravings, 60s and 70s art, Art Nouveau, and Surrealism. These influences pushed me to think beyond conventions and helped shape a style that feels both personal and timeless.
Robert Crumb has been a major influence. His raw, satirical line work showed me how drawing can carry both expression and meaning. Like him, I use my work as a form of commentary—something that goes beyond the image itself.
I’ve also been heavily influenced by the French underground comics scene—artists like Moebius, Philippe Drouillet, and Philippe Caza. Their mix of technical precision and visionary imagination pushed me to expand what drawing can be.
The psychedelic art of the 60s—especially Rick Griffin and Stanley Mouse’s work for the Grateful Dead—has also shaped my visual language.
But if I had to name the biggest influence, it would be Alphonse Mucha. His work balances beauty with an underlying sense of mortality. That tension—something seductive yet unsettling—is something I strive to capture in my own drawings.
In the end, my work is a reflection of my inner world and the many influences that shaped it. It’s both a tribute to those artists and a celebration of the natural world around us.
HOW DO ARCHETYPES, CHILDHOOD DREAMS AND MUSIC PLAY A ROLE IN YOUR WORK?
I often create characters like the hermit—figures that carry a sense of mystery and symbolism. They’re more than just drawings; they’re storytellers, often enriched with elements like talismans. In a way, they function like tarot cards, each with its own meaning.
Music is just as essential to my process. It fuels my creativity and sets the tone while I work. I’m especially drawn to music from the 60s and 70s—it puts me in the right headspace. At the same time, I’m inspired by what’s happening now. There’s still a lot of exciting music being made, and I like being connected to both worlds.
In the end, my work is a blend of archetypes, childhood imagination, and music—a kind of visual symphony where everything comes together.
WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED ON YOUR ARTISTIC JOURNEY?
Like any artist, I’ve faced my share of challenges.
One of the biggest is balancing commercial work with personal projects—making space for my own voice while meeting deadlines. It’s an ongoing tension.
Another is evolving without losing what makes my work mine. Growth is essential, but so is staying true to your identity. That balance is a constant process.
And then there’s creativity itself—showing up even when inspiration isn’t. For me, that means actively seeking out beauty, taking breaks when needed, and reflecting on where I’m headed.
It’s a complex dance, but a rewarding one. Every challenge pushes me further and deepens my practice.
WHY DID YOU TRANSITION FROM MUSIC TO TATTOOS?
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TATTOO STYLE?
I didn’t leave music for tattooing—I expanded my creative world. Tattooing adds a new dimension to my work: a way to make art that lives permanently on the body.
It wasn’t a casual shift. I went through a traditional apprenticeship—an intense period of learning and practice. That challenge pushed me further and opened up new ways to share my work.
My tattoo style is rooted in old engraving techniques. I use line to build shape and texture—something that feels both traditional and contemporary at the same time.
I work with both flash and custom pieces. Many people come to me for my signature motifs—like frogs and gnomes—which gives me the freedom to create while staying true to my visual language.
It’s been a natural and exciting extension of what I do.
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO COLLABORATE WITH YUGEN?
CAN YOU SHARE THE STORY BEHIND THE YUGEN DESIGN?
Collaborating with Yugen Kombucha was a particularly rewarding experience. What stood out most was the complete artistic freedom—they trusted me fully, which gave me space to create something meaningful and reach a wider audience.
For Yugen, I created a piece called Eyes of the World (Ogen van de Wereld). The work explores our connection with nature—the idea that when we look at nature, it also looks back at us.
Plants absorb light and elements from their surroundings, just as we continuously take in food, energy, and stimuli. It’s a reflection on a kind of shared consciousness—one that is constantly observing itself.
That sense of reciprocity and connection is at the heart of the piece.
AND WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR MAARTEN?
I'm always looking for new ways to express myself and improve my skills. I plan to experiment with different media and techniques and look forward to more collaborations.
Thank you, Maarten, we will follow your journey with great admiration.
Check out more of Maarten Donders' art at www.maartendonders.com and follow him on Instagram at @maarten.donders
