Öykü Akarca
I was born on November 16, 1991 and I live in Istanbul. My school life was a bit boring until high school, until I entered the Painting department at Istanbul Avni Akyol Anatolian Fine Arts High School. While I was studying there, I felt where I belonged. Afterwards, I felt an inspiration in me that extended from small models to big stages, and I entered Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Department of Stage Decorations and Costume and graduated in 2014. Then I decided to pursue what I had always dreamed of and started illustrating children's books. I still illustrate children's books and I love it very much. I greet my inner child every day. While preparing for children's books, I love to prepare textures with traditional methods, it is like a meditation for me. I love to scan the textures I collect from nature and the textures I work with, transfer them to digital media and use them in my work.
Drawing for children is like being in touch with nature, stepping barefoot on the ground, hugging a tree... Touching their souls, communicating with someone you have never met somewhere in the world, is indescribable for me. As long as I exist, I will continue to produce for myself and for children.