{"id":1561,"date":"2010-10-27T11:22:06","date_gmt":"2010-10-27T11:22:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hip97.com\/wp\/?p=1561"},"modified":"2012-10-31T23:41:25","modified_gmt":"2012-10-31T15:41:25","slug":"artist-interview-gizem-vural","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/2010\/10\/27\/artist-interview-gizem-vural\/","title":{"rendered":"Artist interview: Gizem Vural"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Gizem’s colorful work has been unearthed (previously<\/a>) by Racheal Anilyse<\/a>, Pikaland’s resident contributor and lover of tea-stained illustrations. I was really enamored with her work, so I decided to bring her back for an interview! Read on to see what goes on in the life of the Istanbul-based illustrator in the making!<\/p>\n

\"gizem<\/p>\n

Name:<\/strong> Gizem Vural
\nLocation:<\/strong> Istanbul, Turkey
\nWebsite\/Shop:<\/strong> www.gizemvural.com<\/a>
\nBlog:<\/strong> gizemvural.tumblr.com<\/a>
\nIllustration media:<\/strong> Digital \/ Traditional<\/p>\n

Tell us a little more about yourself!<\/em><\/strong>
\nThis is Gizem, 22 years old, from Istanbul. I’ve been drawing since I was 3 (but professionally I’ve been drawing since 2!) I like to dream a lot and draw, and I love drinking latte at Starbucks or eat cinnamon rolls. I like playing with legos very much and also paint on walls. I like to surprise my friends with little illustrations or little packets. But most of all, I like to be alone in my room and create things. Mostly, I am alone, dreaming in my own world.<\/p>\n

I’m trying to get a degree in graphic design as my fine arts university does not have an illustration department. I’m also interested in foreign languages a lot. I’ve learnt Japanese and am trying to get better and better at it. Now I’m studying German too.<\/p>\n

\"gizem<\/p>\n

Where do you live? What stands out about living where you are, and what is your daily schedule like?<\/em><\/strong>
\nI live in Istanbul and what stands out is noisy cars and bad traffic. I think cause of that I always have liked to play with cars since when I was a child. I like to draw them a lot and draw the famous traffic of Istanbul. <\/p>\n

My daily schedule is waking up at 8 or 9 everyday, getting ready and go out to university. After classes I stop for a latte or I just go back to home. People here like to be outside but I am always excited to go back and create new things. On the weekends I like to spend time with my boyfriend or friends; I usually go to Bagdat Street or Bostanci Beach. If I want to see the sea and listen to the seagulls and watch the sky, I am at this beach.<\/p>\n

How did you get your start in illustration?<\/em><\/strong>
\nIn 2006, when I entered the Graphic Design department, I saw that everyone was carrying sketchbooks. To be honest, at that time I had never been interested in illustration. I didn’t know what it was. I saw some people with nice styles and drawings, calling them illustration. I figured out that I have been drawing long time stupid things, like near the book pages, or on some other stuff. I began drawing seriously later, searching for my own style. I love birds by the way, that’s the way I am using a black bird a lot. I am still keeping my first drawing which brought me here.<\/p>\n

\"gizem<\/p>\n

Could you tell us more about your thought process when you start a piece?<\/em><\/strong>
\nIf there is a subject before I draw, I always think and dream about it. If I have enough thoughts on how to draw it, I do sketches and later I draw it when I’m ready. I’m usually sure of how I am going to paint if I draw it traditionally. Because sometimes I’m surprised at how it turns out. I sometimes never know what paint to use. But I like using soft colors. People always like my color choices.<\/p>\n

What’s your favorite project so far?<\/em><\/strong>
\nKomsufirin project. It was the second semester project at my department. We were redesigning every packaging from the beginning. I drew so many illustrations, and also created an apron! I created a world called Komsufirin where you can eat many different breads, cakes and cookies. I love its bags; and everything I created for it. I am so sad it was just a project. I hope someone likes it and wants to use it for somewhere. (you can see it here<\/a>)\/468718)<\/p>\n

\"gizem<\/p>\n

Do you keep a journal\/sketchbook, and would you mind if we had a sneak peek?<\/em><\/strong>
\nI always keep a sketchbook. I can’t pass a day without it. I carry it with me wherever I go and my favourite pens. You can check the videos I have created for people to see my sketchbooks from vimeo. ( here’s my sketchbook videos<\/a> )<\/p>\n

Would you care to share your studio space as well?<\/em><\/strong>
\nI use my room as my studio. I had things up on my wall in front of my desk but I pulled them down, I don’t get inspired or they don’t help me a lot when I need to draw or create. It is better to leave it blank and just think in blue. Blue is my favourite color!<\/p>\n

\"gizem<\/p>\n

\"gizem<\/p>\n

\"gizem<\/p>\n

What or who inspires you?<\/em><\/strong>
\nMany Asian artists inspire me. Singers, photographers, illustrators… I like their style so much. My favourites are Yoko Furusho, Lee Mei Jane, Nakaji Marie, Zhou Fan, Echi… Also my life, people, my dreams, nightmares help me a lot too.<\/p>\n

\"gizem<\/p>\n

What keeps you motivated?<\/em><\/strong>
\nMy fans’ words. People who support me. : ]<\/p>\n

Could you share with us your progression as an artist — compared to when you first started out, how has your style changed since then?<\/em><\/strong>
\nI was using less color when I first started illustrating. I was using more patterns which were hurting your eyes when you looked. Girl characters’ eyes changed a bit. I was drawing girls that were so thin, but now they are fatter. I looked at myself more after beginning illustrating. The more I find out about myself, the more creative things I can draw.<\/p>\n

\"gizem<\/p>\n

What’s your favourite tool?<\/em><\/strong>
\nMarkers!!! Lately I am in love with markers and especially Letraset markers!<\/p>\n

Are you a full-time artist?<\/em><\/strong>
\nNo. As I am a student, I am just a part-time artist. I hope to be one after graduation.<\/p>\n

Where do you see yourself within the next few years?<\/em><\/strong>
\nI will be sooo busy with illustrating, I hope. : ]<\/p>\n

\"gizem<\/p>\n

What message do you want to send out to people about your work?<\/em><\/strong>
\nI hope you can get what I am trying to give you. I know some of my work has their dark side too in happiness. But I am not always happy inside.<\/p>\n

Tell us something random about yourself!<\/em><\/strong>
\nI need a cup of LATTE<\/span> now! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n

Gizem’s colorful work has been unearthed (previously<\/a>) by Racheal Anilyse<\/a>, Pikaland’s resident contributor and lover of tea-stained illustrations. I was really enamored with her work, so I decided to bring her back for an interview! Read on to see what goes on in the life of an Istanbul-based, illustrator in the making!<\/p>\n

\"gizem<\/p>\n

Name:<\/strong> Gizem Vural
\nLocation:<\/strong> Istanbul, Turkey
\nWebsite\/Shop:<\/strong> www.gizemvural.com<\/a>
\nBlog:<\/strong> gizemvural.tumblr.com<\/a>
\nIllustration media:<\/strong> Digital \/ Traditional<\/p>\n

Tell us a little more about yourself!<\/em><\/strong>
\nThis is Gizem, 22 years old, from Istanbul. I’ve been drawing since I was 3 (but professionally I’ve been drawing since 2!) I like to dream a lot and draw, and I love drinking latte at Starbucks or eat cinnamon rolls. I like playing with legos very much and also paint on walls. I like to surprise my friends with little illustrations or little packets. But most of all, I like to be alone in my room and create things. Mostly, I am alone, dreaming in my own world.<\/p>\n

I’m trying to get a degree in graphic design as my fine arts university does not have an illustration department. I’m also interested in foreign languages a lot. I’ve learnt Japanese and am trying to get better and better at it. Now I’m studying German too.<\/p>\n

\"gizem<\/p>\n

Where do you live? What stands out about living where you are, and what is your daily schedule like?<\/em><\/strong>
\nI live in Istanbul and what stands out is noisy cars and bad traffic. I think cause of that I always have liked to play with cars since when I was a child. I like to draw them a lot and draw the famous traffic of Istanbul. <\/p>\n

My daily schedule is waking up at 8 or 9 everyday, getting ready and go out to university. After classes I stop for a latte or I just go back to home. People here like to be outside but I am always excited to go back and create new things. On the weekends I like to spend time with my boyfriend or friends; I usually go to Bagdat Street or Bostanci Beach. If I want to see the sea and listen to the seagulls and watch the sky, I am at this beach.<\/p>\n

CLICK<\/span> HERE<\/span><\/a> to read the entire interview with Gizem!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":37508,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_generate-full-width-content":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1561"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1561"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1561\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30757,"href":"https:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1561\/revisions\/30757"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37508"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pikaland.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}