Burcu Yildiz is an artist from Istanbul who has always loved to draw and started by drawing on the bottoms of tables.  Her sister is a graphic designer and was the first to teach her. Since then, she has furthered her education at the Istanbul Fine Arts High School in Turkey and is now studying in the Animation Department of Anadolu University in Eskişehir.

Burcu graciously agreed to do an interview, and below are her responses.

Toonari Post (TP): What mediums do you use for your art work?  Which is your favorite and why?

Burcu Yildiz (BY): I generally use colored pencils, markers, and plastic painting materials for my works.  When needed, I edit with Photoshop, Illustrator, etc., but when working, I use traditional types of materials.  That is the my choice because I can express myself more comfortably this way.

TP: What piece of your work is your favorite and why?  Which one are you most proud of?

BY: Nowadays, there is a comic project that I am working on. Maybe I am most proud of this project.  It is a short story that consists of six pages. Usually, I love the latest of my works.  However, I drew a self-portrait before, and it is special for me.  Maybe it seems like a quick sketch, but it’s the first self-portrait that I have ever worked on.  I think that I was successful in both technique and in portrayal of the emotion I wanted to get across.

TP: When you first started did you ever hit any bumps in your art process?  What were they, and how did you overcome them?

BY: No. I did not hit any bumps in the beginning!  On the contrary, I have run into difficulties more now, and it is always an indefinite process when I create.  I have to think about everything from the opposite sides to overcome all the difficulties.

TP: Who, or what, are your inspirations and why?

BY: It is a variable situation.  Sometimes music, a movie, an artist, or any other person, maybe kids, or even a snapshot is able to be inspirational for me.  But, in recent times, my inspirations are  kids.  I noticed that after drawing. In fact, there are many things that give me inspiration unknowingly.

TP: What is your favorite subject to draw and why?

BY: Kids again!  Nowadays, I think kids are full of energy in their bodies and faces.  I feel this so strongly when I see and paint them. I like this feeling that they bring to my art so much.

TP: If there was any art medium that you wish you could master, what would it be and why?

BY: I wish I could master oil painting.  For me, the finest technique that I enjoy about painting is being able to mix colors, and come up with new ones.

TP: What is your life like outside of your art?

BY: I am a student, and I love to spend time with my best friends. Otherwise, I like to travel, and ride my bike.  I love all kinds of enjoyable things! But everything aside, I love taking photos.  I am also an amateur photographer.  I have various vintage cameras and am trying to capture different images with them. This is an exhilarating pastime!

TP: What is it like to be able to be part of a community (Deviantart) that allows you to share your artwork with artists from all over the globe?

BY:  I am a Turkish artist, and I want to see the view of art from other cultures aside from my own country.  Of course, Deviantart makes this possible.  Anyway, art is the unique language of the world; a language that everyone can talk with.

TP: What are your goals in life?  Do you plan to continue art as a hobby, or make it a career?

BY: Throughout my entire life, I will continue to draw.  I am sure of that! I wish I could be a professional animator and illustrator in the future.  So, I will continue to share my art with others.  In addition, there are several countries that I want to go in the future!