In the works of Kathrin Denecke, also known as CreativeSoul Hamburg, you can feel the joy of storytelling through words and colours. This becomes especially clear in the projects she creates for and with children.
It quickly becomes clear: a lot of her own life flows into her work. Her experiences and emotions make it tangible, genuine, and unfiltered.
What is your name?
Kathrin Denecke
Where do you live?
Hamburg South
What type of art/creativity do you mainly focus on?
Author and illustrator
Have you completed formal training or are you self-taught?
No, I taught myself everything painstakingly over time. However, since February 2024, I have been doing a distance learning programme in painting and drawing to deepen my knowledge and explore new perspectives.
Where can people view your work? Do you have a website or social media profiles you'd like to share?
Instagram | Homepage | Facebook
That’s a very, very good question. As a child, I loved drawing – either tracing or, when I had the patience, freehand. But it wasn’t until my second pregnancy that I started writing consistently, and later, illustrating as well.
Junior! Definitely our little one! Whether it’s Pixi stories or collections, something always sparks my imagination and an idea takes shape. Yoga is another source of inspiration—though I wouldn’t recommend it! A sudden flash of creativity can throw off your balance... ouch!
Not really, no. I have more of a deep respect for fellow artists and their work.
I love working with watercolours – something many others find quite challenging. I also enjoy working with graphite or pencil. I’m still learning to work digitally.
My process depends on the project. If it’s a book, I start by jotting down ideas, doing research, and creating protagonists or characters. For illustrating, it’s either a spontaneous approach or, for a completed writing project, I create a storyboard first.
Oh, absolutely! About two years ago, I started writing a children's book series called Oma Lore. It's a tribute to my grandmother, who shared the same name and sadly passed away in December 2005. The idea came to me naturally, and I just began writing everything down about the adventures between a grandmother and her granddaughter.
In October 2024, I took a bold step and reached out to Anika Voges (of the Liesmit! reading booklets) to see if Oma Lore could be included in the Christmas edition. Every time, a children’s jury decides which stories make it into the issues—and they chose Oma Lore! When I read the acceptance, I was speechless (and I still am). Since Anika knew the story's background, she suggested I illustrate it as well.
This project was, is, and always will be my heart’s work. Will Oma Lore appear there again? We’ll see. ;)
Putting myself out there and saying: Hey everyone, here I am. I can write and illustrate. As you can see, it’s definitely been worth it. But without the support of the creative community, I would never have had the courage to do it.
Very important. It’s not just about exchanging ideas on current projects but also about sharing techniques and more. It definitely leads to valuable connections.
For me, it’s more about creativity. Creativity means not being a mother, a wife, a daughter, or someone’s good friend, sister-in-law, or daughter-in-law. In those moments, I’m just ME – the person sitting there, freeing myself from everything else. This became really important to me when Junior needed special care. Creativity has become my anchor – alongside yoga.
Art and creativity can, and should, shake things up and put a finger on society’s sore spots. Sometimes the world needs someone to poke the hornet’s nest with words, portraits, or other forms of expression. It’s something that can, and must, inspire reflection.
Inclusion and humanity. At the moment, I’m working with an author on the theme of inclusion and solidarity for Liesmit! Issue 5. I’m excited to see how the story will come together with the illustrations (mine) in the final version.
Thank you, Kathrin!
If you’re an artist or creative person – whether in painting, music, literature, or any other form of art – and would like to talk about your work and creative process, feel free to reach out to me.
I’m excited to showcase the diversity of creative expression in my interview series and to learn about your perspectives and experiences.
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