I am Portfleet, a Dutch artist based in the UK. Freshly out of an academic career in linguistics, I continue through drawing what I loved to do while I was a researcher: creating, telling a story, and working on my own schedule.
I am self-taught, and still in the process of developing my style, preference, and niche. Currently, I love using watercolours, 6B pencils and fine liner, both digitally and non-digitally. For my digital drawings, I use various techniques and kits in Procreate.
This space is meant to serve as a portfolio and a drawing journal, where I post my doodles and thoughts, with a visibility not compromised by algorithms, and a freedom to post anything without worrying about the “likes”.
The name Portfleet was coined by a friend during my studies in the UK, to replace my actual name: Marjolein Poortvliet. I have chosen to keep Portfleet as my brand name as Poortvliet is already quite well known in the illustration world (my grandfather was Rien Poortvliet). Interestingly, this change from Poortvliet to Portfleet was also very common to Dutch immigrants arriving in the United States in the 1800s and 1900s (other variations are Poartfleet or Portfliet).
For my prints, I choose to print only on environmentally friendly paper types, and try to opt for eco-friendly inks.
I aim to be inclusive in my drawings and collaborative book illustrations, to move away from the stereotypical white boy in children’s stories, and white slim women in wall art.
