Tall N Curly Spotlight
At NaturallyCurly.com, we’re all about versatility, authenticity, and uniqueness. It drives us, and it certainly drives everyone around us. We have a few curly illustrators we work with who help bring our curly content to life. But who exactly are these illustrators, you ask? In this mini-series, we will individually spotlight our artists because they all have a genuine and fun story to tell about what drives them to do what they love.
Briefly introduce yourself.
I’m Cheyan, a former graphic designer who recently decided to stop being bored designing business cards to focus on what I love the most: illustration. I run a comics blog called Tall N Curly where I mainly talk about my everyday life as a tall and curly woman, but I also share some thoughts on diverse and varied things.
How did you first get introduced to art?
When I was 2 years old I guess. As an only child who had way too many things to say but who lacked the vocabulary and the courage to express myself, I started communicating through drawing very early. While other kids were asking for Barbies and G.I. Joes, all my parents had to buy me were colored pencils and tons of paper. Oh, and some My Little Ponies, too.
What is your “signature” artistic style?
Right now people know me better for my Tall N Curly comics and for my illustrations involving curly hair like in the book “My hair is so happy” by Nik Scott. I don’t think I have a precise artistic style as I like to explore and try different ones, especially in illustration, but I would say that what my creations all have in common is an impression of optimism and either joyfulness or peacefulness. I like sharing good energies.
What are some things you have learned creating art for a living?
I learned that creating art for a living is a privilege but also a long journey filled with all kinds of obstacles. I learned that the choices we make must essentially depend on our ability to take responsibility for them. That every failure is a new opportunity to succeed. That you and only you know what is the life you want, and that it’s never too late to be who you want to be and to do what you want to do, especially when everybody else thinks you’re losing it.
Do you have a favorite piece of artwork that you’ve created?
One of my favorites is a drawing I did right after my grandmother passed away a little bit over a year ago. It perfectly depicts the moment and my emotions just after she was gone.
We were very close. She died after painful months of illness, and I was holding her head in my hands when she took her very last breath. Just after she was gone I went outside and looked up, it was very late and the sky was filled with stars. I had the feeling she was there, floating near me, so I stayed there and talked to her for a long time. When I look at this drawing I remember exactly how I felt at that very moment–a mix of profound sadness and peacefulness.
What is one thing you wish people knew about you as a person?
Maybe the fact that I think the only beings that deserve to die are mosquitos. Sounds ridiculous but it does say something about me!
What are your passions? What excites you?
Everything art and everything nature ! Music, books, movies, painting, animals, trees, the wind, the sea, horseback riding, alpine skiing, beautiful landscapes… Art and nature are the expressions of the beauty of this world : one as told by man, the other one as told by God. Take one or the other away from someone and not much is left of them but a jaded and withered soul.
What do you hope to accomplish in your professional life?
I have so many dreams, I feel like I’m still 16, everything is possible ! Right now I’m working on my very first illustrated children/young adult novel as an author and illustrator. I’m very excited about it and can’t wait to see the outcome.
Where can people follow you and keep up with you?
On my comics blog at tallncurly.com and at sketcheyan.com, my online portfolio.
