Meet Dilruba Karalp | Freelance Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dilruba Karalp and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dilruba, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Actually, I received my bachelor’s degree in interior architecture. The most distinct memories I remember in my childhood years were always about drawing. I was constantly working with paper and pencil and drawing. After college, I started researching what makes me happy. After a short personal journey, when I checked myself to see what made me happy in childhood, the answer was clear: painting.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Art is the best way to heal spiritually. A person can feel exhausted when he/she is both physically and mentally challenged in life. Hope is the shortest way to hold on to life, and expressing this with art has always been my choice. Therefore, I am as sad, happy, excited and angry as everyone else. Expressing these feelings by drawing is a need for me, like eating and sleeping. I feel like there is a natural flow in my work. It’s like a dream state, like another universe. Sometimes confusing, sometimes intriguing. Perhaps there are surprises hidden in the details that cannot be understood at first glance. I have been trying to produce constantly since I chose my profession. I love observing. My interests are human psychology, dreams, mythology. In the early years, I was searching for my style. Difficulties arise with changes in the market, acceptance of the style or early cancellation of projects. Exciting projects that don’t come to fruition are always disappointing. During these processes, I learned to always remain calm and be professionally open to all kinds of experiences. I want people to be excited or motivated when they see my work. Let them always be ready to examine with a sense of curiosity, even the works that seem detailed. Let them find something new and different every time they look.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First of all, I would take us to a restaurant where delicious food was prepared to fill our stomachs. Preferably with olive oil. Afterwards, we would go to a quiet cafe to drink coffee. If possible, it should be on the beach or somewhere where we can see people passing by. It should be calm enough to hear each other while chatting. I would create a walking route on the seaside beach. In the evening, we would sit on the grass or in the park to watch the sunset. In the evening, we used to ride the Ferris wheels in the amusement park. We took lots of photos and videos. For me, fun is being with my loved ones. Spending quality time with a good activity, even if just one, rather than spending the day to the fullest. It’s okay even if it’s not too crowded.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh sure. First of all, my family, who has always supported me in my goals and wishes. My art teacher in secondary school, who later directed me to study painting at the fine arts high school and discovered my talent: Pervin Çelen. And my other important mentor is the painter who prepared me for the university talent exams: Kemal Yenidede.

Website: behance.net/karalpdilruba

Instagram: instagram.com/heleloyi/

Twitter: twitter.com/DilrubaKaralp

Facebook: facebook.com/benimbenheleloyi/

Other: ETSY: etsy.com/shop/heleloyi UPWORK: upwork.com/freelancers/dilrubakaralp