We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cecilia Battaini a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cecilia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I think the biggest risk I took was going full time with my creative business. I had a regular job, but started freelancing in my free time. I already had in mind one day I would left my regular job, also because it really made me unhappy, but everyone was telling me it wasn’t the right thing to do. Then, COVID happened. I was left at home and began dedicating my whole time to my art. I just felt like another person and I realized I didn’t want to go back to work in that office. I was officially fired 18 months after however, if they didn’t done it, I would have left it, this time for sure. I became aware that making art I could bring some joy and comfort in people’s lives and that’s what I really want to do.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Flowers, animals, plants, mushrooms, fruits and veggies… nature is the main inspiration behind my whimsical and dreamy world and is featured in all my illustrations and patterns.

I’m an illustrator and surface designer from Milan, Italy. My studio is currently based in this city, but sometimes I enjoy the digital nomad life. I love to travel and this is my favorite way to collect inspirations for my illustrations. I take pictures of the flora I find and then create my drawings once back in my studio. All my illustrations are hand-drawn with colored pencils, to be after scanned on my laptop and arranged through Photoshop into patterns and illustrations.

I’m a self taught illustrator, who found out an unexpected love for drawing flowers while going through very hard times as a teenager. While studying fashion design, I discovered the world of patterns and surface design, and immediately saw many possible applications of my floral illustrations. It was then that I began to see it only as a hobby anymore. After a brief experience working inside the fashion industry, when I lost my job because of COVID I saw it as a chance to take the leap and to build my career around my art.

I founded my own brand in 2021 and, between my travels, since then I saw my artworks featured on wallpapers, home decor, greeting cards and fabrics and worked with small businesses, independent clients and large brands through licensing or commissions. I also host workshops and art retreats focused on botanical illustration and art therapy. Every moment I just feel so grateful to do what I love for a living and to bring joy, healing and beauty through my art to many people.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ceciliabattaini.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceciliabattaini/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ceciliabattainiart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilia-battaini-69b705bb/
• Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/ceciliabattaini/

Image Credits
All the pics were taken by Simone Sangalli.