Nazli Tarcan is a Turkish illustrator living in Namur, Belgium
Nazli Tarcan is a Turkish illustrator living in Namur, Belgium. Growing up in Istanbul, her childhood was spent playing in the streets, eating homemade tomato-paste sandwiches, and being surrounded by a blend of many cultures and traditions. Nazli studied photography at Yildiz Technical University, but life had other plans!
One day, she was taking photos of a local circus and the next thing she knew, she was performing with them and traveling around the world—from Qatar to Georgia and beyond. When COVID hit, she decided to return to her first love: drawing. Art has been a constant in Nazli's life since she fell in love with it at age 3. Her mom was a talented person who always encouraged her. Some of Nazli's fondest childhood memories are of New Year’s Eve nights spent sketching side-by-side, drawing houses with fireworks and Christmas trees. Looking back, it’s no surprise that art became such a big part of who she is. Today, she draws inspiration from the small details of everyday life. Her style is nostalgic, playful, and colourful.
She starts with pencil and marker sketches and finishes them digitally. She especially loves illustrating grandmas in their lively homes, filled with history and warmth. Her dream project? Illustrating a classic children’s book that brings out that same sense of wonder she felt as a child.
What would you say is your best piece of work / collaboration to date, and why?
My best collaboration is definitely the Circus clinic book. It was a pedagogical project for the circus school where I studied. The content reflected what I truly value as a circus artist. I had the chance to work alongside the director, someone I really look up to, as well as other circus artists and teachers. What I loved most was illustrating something purely focused on circus, blending my past and tomorrow into one project.
Where do you like to go to be inspired, or how do you find your inspiration?
Though it may sound cliché, I’m most inspired when I travel. I love sketching houses, landscapes, or interesting people I come across on the road. After each trip, I create an illustration that’s like a tribute to my journey—a mix of everything funny or captivating that caught my eye. I also love watching old cartoons or timeless animations for inspiration, especially for the details and discovering new ways to translate a world’s image into my own work.
Is there anything you'd say you would be a good advocate for?
Please elaborate if so. I have a soft spot for elderly people. To me, they’re like living books or encyclopedias, even those who seem ordinary at first. I love observing their world, seeing the memories they’ve collected in their homes over a lifetime, and listening to their stories. I’m fascinated by how differently they view things—how their perspective on a single event can be shaped by decades of experience. I really enjoy getting a glimpse of their time and how it shaped their view of the world.
What would you say sets you apart from other illustrators? Something you feel is unique to you.
I think "unique" is a term that comes up naturally when we talk about art—even artists who are strongly inspired by others have their own unique way of presenting the world in their work. Instead, I’d say my strong point is my observational skills and my ability to create a well-thought-out and accurate world in my illustrations.
If you have done paid commissions prior to joining the agency, what would you say is something that clients repeatedly come to you for (up to now)?
The people I’ve worked with multiple times have praised me for my ability to capture the essence of an idea on paper (or screen) and create lively, eye-catching artworks.
How would you describe your style?
My style is definitely nostalgic. I’m highly influenced by my childhood memories and the art from that time. I enjoy using vivid colours and bringing a playful twist to my work.
Please give a scenario of a project that would mean the world to you, if you were offered it - something that connects to something meaningful to you
Definitely a reprint of a classic tale! But I also love going beyond the typical “cute life” stories, so getting to illustrate a tale where I can put a fresh twist on the traditional aesthetic would be a dream. I’d also love to work on a book series with a recurring main character in different scenarios. When I was a child, we had the Ayşegül series: Ayşegül on Vacation, Ayşegül Goes Back to School, and so on.
Are you working on any personal projects you can share with us?
At the moment, I am creating a nursery wall art series for both my Etsy store and the local artisanal stores I collaborate with.
Finally, if you were to illustrate a book related to a real life person, who would that be?
I would rather answer this question with someone I know personally instead of a well-known person—my father. As a free-spirited adult, he traveled the world, learned many languages (though he mixes them all up!), and still lives with the same freedom and joy regardless of his age. But more than anything, I would love to illustrate his childhood—capturing how free he was as a child, like the time he brought home a donkey as a pet. My grandmother gave him a choice: either give the donkey away or sleep together in the barn. Well, you can guess which one he chose!
If you’d like more info, please contact: [email protected]
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