Takeover Tuesday with Sibel Balac
Q&A with Sibel Balac, an Illustrator based in Stuttgart, Germany. She studied Communication Design at the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart, with a personal focus on illustration.
Q&A with Sibel Balac
Read time: 5min
Madison Caprara:
Hey, Sibel! Why don’t you start off by giving a little intro to yourself and your work?
Sibel Balac:
Hi! I’m a Graphic Designer and Illustrator from Germany. Together with some other creative friends, I work in a lovely studio in the heart of Stuttgart. Since I graduated last year with a degree in Communication Design, I have had the pleasure to work on several exciting editorials and commercial illustration jobs.
Madison Caprara:
Did you have an interest in illustrating from a young age, or was it something that was built over time?
Sibel Balac:
Like many of us, I started in design studies because I loved drawing as a child. I quickly realized that graphic design is much more than just drawing. Over time, I’ve learned to enjoy every part of the whole graphic design spectrum, even though I frequently catch myself trying to include illustration in my design projects. That’s why I tended to focus more and more on illustration towards the end of my studies. Besides illustration, my heart beats faster for editorial design, animation, and documentary photography.
Madison Caprara:
Amazing! Now, are you working freelance or in-house for a studio? Either way, how has your experience been?
Sibel Balac:
Right now I’m working as a Freelance Illustrator and Part-Time Graphic Design Teacher at a vocational college. Before that, I had worked in a few design studios and companies as a graphic designer. Both have their ups and downs, still, I do prefer the work as a freelancer myself. We tend to work a lot, whether freelance or in-house, but my experiences have shown me that I feel more motivated when putting time into my own little business. Another part I genuinely enjoy is being independent and flexible in creating your working hours, also the fact that you’re always learning through all of the different kinds of projects and topics you get to work on.
Madison Caprara:
You had said that you’re currently based in Stuttgart, yes? What is the creative industry like?
Sibel Balac:
Design is totally wanted in Germany. Many young people tend to work in the creative field. Still, it’s a really fast-moving industry and people tend to get burned out quickly. I do not think that it is only a “German-thing”, many in our industry tend to neglect their work-life balance easily. Hopefully, this is something we all can change in the near future.
Madison Caprara:
Looking past the burnout, how has living there affected your work for the better?
Sibel Balac:
I think living and growing up in Germany affected my work in a good way. Germany is a multi-cultural country where you easily meet other creative people from all around the world and exchange different work approaches. We also had a lot of international guests at our university for workshops or presentations, it always helps to grow watching others’ work processes. Even though I like to live and work in Germany, nowadays the internet makes it easy to connect with all kinds of people regardless of where you live. Especially as a freelancer who’s active online, and that’s amazing right?
Madison Caprara:
And when you do outsource work or projects, say with U.S.-based clients, how has your experience been?
Sibel Balac:
So far, not much different from clients from Germany. If I’m totally honest, my biggest issue is still the nervousness before every call in English since I’m not a native speaker!
Madison Caprara:
Let’s take a closer look at your work. Your illustrations are so colorful and beautiful! Is there a specific subject matter or genre that you tend to favor?
Sibel Balac:
Thanks a lot! I definitely enjoy drawing women, I love to play with their body shapes. Topic related, I’m open to everything but I’d say I especially like to deal with fashion, feminism, travel, and cultural matters.
Madison Caprara:
What is your biggest critique when it comes to the current state of the art and design industry?
Sibel Balac:
Glorifying overworking. I often get the feeling that people in our industry measure their worth depending on how much they work. Time outs are important for every human being and it’s extra important to do other things other than designing day in and out.
Madison Caprara:
How many hours a day do you think you spend drawing? Do you still have that time to draw for your own pleasure outside of commissions or client work?
Sibel Balac:
Hmm, around four to eight hours, it really depends. Since I just graduated, not even a year ago, I luckily still find some time to work on personal projects. I guess that will change within the years, but I will try to always find time for personal projects.
Madison Caprara:
You’ve sort of touched on it, but just how important do you think it is that artists take time to create for themselves?
Sibel Balac:
In my opinion, it’s the most important part of working independently. Everything starts with personal projects and if you’d like to work on jobs in a specific field you should show your potential and ideas for such projects. It’s a good way of getting closer to your dream commissions. Of course, client work is equally important if you’ve been in the business for quite a while, but from my point of view, you should always take some time to create for yourself.
Madison Caprara:
Where do you go for inspiration?
Sibel Balac:
I get a lot of my inspiration from social media, especially nowadays with the whole COVID-pandemic. Other than that I like to collect art books, visit exhibitions, and travel whenever it’s possible. To me, there’s nothing more inspiring than seeing new things, learning about other cultures, and trying new foods.
Madison Caprara:
Well, we’re about to wrap up, Sibel. Do you have any closing points you would like to share?
Sibel Balac:
Something I learned just recently myself. If you have a passion for something and want to be good at it, just do it! Work on your goals every day, even if only for half an hour. Create the work you want to do to get the jobs you aspire to have. Not every work will be your best, but see it as a process and be proud of it.
