Saadet Ceylan: Turkey ⋆ Illustrator

"Nature is my chief source of inspiration. The beauties and peaceful state of nature attract me. I believe children's books must reflect affection, peace, and confidence to children."

Saadet Ceylan

Born in 1955 in Düzce, Saadet Ceylan began illustrating children's books while still working on her degree in the Academy of Fine Arts at Marmara University. After graduating in 1979, Ceylan worked as a graphic designer before becoming a full-time artist. Since then, with more than five hundred titles in print, including books in many different languages, she has had prolific career, and has illustrated at least one book for nearly every Turkish author of childrens books and has been commissioned by the majority of Turkey's publishers.

With her use of clean lines and subtle colors, Ceylan's work appeals to audiences of all ages. While varying her styles to suit the text at hand, Ceylan nonetheless has developed a distinctive oeuvre with an emphasis on the natural world and the ability to imbue every character with a vibrant personality, from a crow to a snowman. Her wet on wet watercolors are easily discernible, and her use of ink for details over watercolor give her great flexibility in serving the needs of the story. In an interview with Serpil Ural, Ceylan describes her work this way, "I believe I enhance the spirit of a book with my illustrations. I feel extremely free when working. I have the utmost respect for the author I do my best to perceive well the world which the author aimed to create, and to pains to shape and reflect that world."

In supporting her very busy career, Ceylan also teaches art courses to children and enhances her own artistic practice by taking a variety of courses, including in illumination, ceramics, and children's literature. In addition, Ceylan studied and teaches the Ottoman art of marbled paper, and uses it in some of her illustrations, particularly collages. She has also given many workshops and talks, attended children's book fairs and exhibits, spoken on many panels, and served on several juries.