Meet Varol Ozkaner: Digital Design Artist

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

Hi Varol, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
What I think about taking risks is that you should not stick with whatever you are introduced to for the sake of standing out from the crowd regardless of who and where you are. This can only be enabled by following a path that is likely to lead you to a state of mind where you get to encounter new possibilities and have the privilege of experiencing new things that, by the end of the day, you will benefit from. In this context, taking risks involves a possibility of jeopardizing what you already possess but, in return, has you gain new and rather fresh qualities that are capable to elevate you to a higher and more fruitful phaze. This kind of proves avoiding risks turns out to be the real risk itself as it brings about a comfort zone where we compromise and let go of possible benefits that await ahead of us. Taking risks has always played a major role in my artistic career as I believe an artist is bound to communicate through art that clicks something new and unusual in minds. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What I believe makes my art unique is I pay special attention to executing concepts that I think of from scratch as opposed to copying something that has been done before. Getting inspiration from the work of someone else can be tolerated as it might provide a pathway to get started with new work as long as what I create ends up reflecting who I am in a unique fashion. Also, I make sure I am aware of new tendencies and techniques. That said, I consider myself a good student as roughly every day I practice and work on new digital design tools to keep my skills up to date. Being open to learning keeps me aspired and helps me focus on new work. This is not of an easy process since it takes a consistent effort. I reckon if you have a real and honest love for the work you do, it is never a hassle or some kind of work you want to get over with as soon as possible, but rather an extension of who you are. Loving the work as a whole, including every single step of it, appears to be the key to overcome all challenges that are brought about by being an artist.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of the first places I would take them would definitely be Monterey where they can catch a glimpse of the ocean and even have a close encounter with endemic plants and sea mammals. Particularly for those who have a Mediterranean background Downtown Monterey is a perfect choice to visit. Also, in downtown SF, a monumental spot I would want them to experience is the Palace of Fine Arts which in terms of its architecture reminds me of those ancient temples built during the Roman and pre-roman era that you can see in Turkey and Greece. The palace is one of the hotspots for videographers and photographers as it provides a dreamlike set-up for stunning images.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It is my family and music, again a form of art, that trigger my creativity and help me come up with ideas I feel eager to realize.

Website: https://www.varolozkanerdesigns.com/ https://varolozkaner.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varolonline/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varol-ozkaner-304448a/