After having a baby as we know life changes so much. Especially in the beginning it was tough to find the time to draw again. But finally things are getting better and easier. So I decided to illustrate my working space. I want to warm up to drawing because its been a long time since I have painted something so I had a hard time to find something to start with. I always loved Fran Meneses's (illustrator) Youtube Channel and she always inspired me with her motivational speeches. She gave 30 ideas for illustration and I wanted to start with one that you draw your own work space. Actually this working space is not reflecting anything about my illustrations. I always wanted to make a better place like having a bigger table and illustrations on the wall, maybe shelfs that has some plants and small sculpture.... When I achieve the look of the work space I imagine I will paint that work space and share with you as well :)

After a long time I didn't expect to paint a nice one especially with a simple not attractive workspace:) Just need to continue to paint and keep the flow going... I really missed painting! Welcome to me as a illustrator mom :D

A Snowy Day

Finally finished this lovely illustration that I have been working on. I wanted to try out a different style so it was quite challenging to me but i learned a lot and I am happy about the result. I tried to give a paper cut effect which was very fun to me because it gives a natural traditional feeling. Because I want to escape the digital look so I think I am getting there every time I work on a different illustration. 

Also I want to say that i really feel so connected to my culture and I think we have so much things to learn from each other. Turkey has many treasures to be discovered. I realized this after my dad brought us to a cute hidden village. It was like a fairy tale place:) Its like the time has stopped there and they have these colorful creative clothes living in their beautiful designed houses. This place is in Milas (Turkey) and the name of the village is Comakdagi Kizilagac Koyu. If you have the chance to visit Turkey this place should be one of the place they you shouldn't miss. I love exploring different places and their unique culture. I also want to say that there is so much things that we don't know about our country and their people. Maybe thats why we feel so disconnected from each other. I love my people no matter the different lives (perspective) we have. I want to share my love and the beauty of my people with the world as much as possible. Maybe this way we can break those prejudices:) We need to show ourselves that we are more than the things people say about us or sometimes they just judge us very wrong. I want to be one of the people can effect on changing this perseption.

A lovely birthday!

I had a great birthday today even being far away from my family and close friends I am lucky that I have my love and some friends that made me feel special today! :D Thank you for being there for me! This was a quick painting that I worked on today hope you like it! ;)

Turkish Village People's Life

I am working on my next personal illustration and these are the characters (Grand Child and the Grandma) that I have come up with. I have gathered couple of references to make it as close and believable to the people who live in Turkish villages. But these ones with having flowers  and having gold accessories are in a a village called Comakdagi Kizilagac Koyu (Village). Women are very colorful and so friendly. It feels like you know them for a long time. They really act like you are part of them which makes you feel more home in Turkey. I have visited this village couple of years ago and it felt like a hidden magical whimsical place. Its just you can't believe how they be so creative with their outfit. So you think everyone can be an artist right?! I just felt so overwhelmed with emotions when I see this place and the people.... There are so much things that we don't know about our country and their people. Maybe thats why we feel so disconnected from each other. I love my people no matter we have different perspectives we have our common features our history identity. I want to share my love and the beauty of my people with the world as much as possible. We need to show ourselves that we are more than the things people say about as or sometimes they just judge us very wrong and i want to be one of the people can have an effect on changing this perseption.

Coming Soon...

We have a exciting news!!! We are having a baby :) Our life is gonna change so much but I am so happy that even we gonna have hard times it will all be worth it... I wanted to announce this lovely news with an illustration. I thought it will be more interesting and fun way to make people surprise:)

Mr Recep (Recep Efendi) Enjoying His Turkish Tea and Chestnuts

This is an illustration that I worked on these last couple of days. I try to get inspired from the keywords that IllustrationFriday Website provides. This time the keyword was ''Steam'' so I thought I can use Turkish tea and the steam of the Turkish teapot. I wanted to create an authentic atmosphere which is mostly in Turkish rural areas' life style. The reason I chose an animal as a character was that I didn't illustrate animal as a character since my school time so this was a great opportunity for me and it makes it more cute. Also I think bears are wise and nice as a character to use in this kind of atmosphere. But just want to note that whenever I try to illustrate something related with Turkish culture it is tough to find good references, which takes more effort but in the end I always think it so worth to spend that much time in to it.

Self Portrait Day - November 1st

Last year one of my friend one of my illustrator friend told me I should join this Self Portrait Day which has a Facebook page. But at that time I couldn't find the time. But this time I finally manage to create the time and tried my best to try to give a traditional look. So it was a great way to experiment my brushes and use vibrant colors! This was so fun! Can't wait to see other artist's work.

Kiss

I painted this for illustration friday which gives different theme for every week. So I thought this will be a great way to challenge myself to design subjects that i didn't try before. This week's theme was ''Kiss'' and I wanted to design something which is a relation between a mom and a her baby. With these exercises I am also trying to achieve a traditional look with using different brushes. It is quite hard but I think I am starting to understand how it works... Anyway practice is the solution :)

Spring Has Come!

Finally Spring has come and I can go to park fall in love with nature again:) This is one of the moments in my life that I forget everything and feel the pure happiness and peacefulness! So can't wait to experience the summer and enjoy every single moment of the sunshine and nature :D I wanted to paint this moment so much and show how I felt last sunday...

My first book that I illustrated by Kaan Haktan Icel

Finally the book called ''Zaman Tursusu'' by Haktan Kaan Icel arrived! I worked on the illustrations for this cute amazing and adventures book for children (age: 8 or more). Its just so hard to explain how it feels to hold something that you worked for. I always wanted to experience this and wow it is totally one of the most satisfying thing to do in your life! Now it really feels real and gives me so much hope and motivation for my next projects! Thank you so much for giving this opportunity and choosing me to work on this book! (Timas Cocuk yayinlari (publisher) and the talented writer Haktan Kaan Icel)