In today’s episode, we travel to Namur Belgium to talk with Nazli Tarcan, an Illustrator, graphic designer & retoucher. 

Nazlı Tarcan is a Turkish children's book and editorial illustrator who focuses on nostalgia, vibrant memories, and playful moments. She will tell us how she creates her work, what inspires her, how she organizes these ideas, and how she's gained the confidence and the connections to launch her work out into the world.  

Born in Istanbul Turkey, Nazli began drawing as early as age 3. She started learning Art while at high school in In Istasyon Art Academy, after which she went to Yıldız Technical University to study Media Arts (Photography & Video) because she thought she wanted to be a National Geographic photographer. While doing that, she was shooting her products in front of a white screen which was no fun. 

She wasn’t feeling fulfilled and just before graduation, she left to join the circus. While with the circus, she did numerous art/graphic projects during her active years and illustrated a book entitled "Loopy Luna and the Hula Hoop". 9 years into traveling across the world with the circus, Nazli decided she wanted to learn pedagogy, and enrolled at Cirkus in Beweging -which translates to Moving circus- in Leuven, Belgium. 

At this art school, she studied for 1 year interacting, playing, and teaching kids, before Covid hit. Since nothing was working, she moved to Namur, where she fully focused on illustrating books for children. 

• Nazli’s illustrative style is very playful, vibrant, and colorful. This came about from years of trying to imitate other artists’ styles and deciding what felt right to her and what didn’t. 
• She let her own mind lead her to choose the colors that worked in her illustrations despite them not being conventional as if controlled by a secret power. 
• When it comes to her creative process of starting a commissioned project, Nazli will work on sketches then share them with other artists so as to get different opinions. She never shies away from working with others. 
• She will bring in the aspects of colors that she lets her emotions guide her on what to use. Afterward, she begins to play with different mediums and chooses the best one to illustrate the idea.
• What happens when Nazli is feeling stuck in her creativity? She will take a break from what she is currently working on, maybe listen to music, look at her favorite illustrations for inspiration or even juggle. Yes, JUGGLING! Such that when she sits down to try again, she will start at where she feels happiest, whether it’s drawing human faces, or playing with colors  

In conclusion, Nazli is not only an illustrator but also uses digital art to complete her creations. She currently uses her LinkedIn to connect with people and get access to illustrator agencies. In the next 20 years, she would like to be a well-known illustrator who inspires other people, while still having the same childish enthusiasm she lives her life with.

Watch for Nazli’s new book coming out later this year by visiting her website Nazli’s illustration

Nazli’s Website:  Nazli's illustrations

Nazli’sLinkedIn:  Naz-Tarcan

Nazil’s first children’s book: