We were lucky to catch up with Tolga Tarhan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tolga, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I believe that being successful in design, particularly, is mostly about taste rather than talent. Of course, talent is still equally important, but nowadays, with all the design tools, online tutorials, software, and apps available, technical and operational skills can be acquired easily. However, it’s essential for artists to continuously improve their taste and guide their talent in the right direction by using these tools effectively.

Once you’ve identified the tools you’re comfortable working with as an artist, in order to bring your vision to life, you need to express what you want to share with the world. At this point, your “taste” becomes what sets you apart, rather than just your talent. Developing your technique and mastering your skills are undoubtedly important, but focusing on your taste, being receptive to new ideas, exploring various resources, and not only keeping up with design trends but also enhancing them with a broader understanding and enthusiasm will contribute significantly to your uniqueness. In my opinion, having a diverse and open-minded approach to art and design, and making the effort to understand each artwork you see with a curious and positive attitude, is essential for self-improvement as an artist and for building up your distinctive style and taste.

Tolga, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an art director, illustrator, 2D animator, and motion designer based in NYC, originally from Istanbul, Turkey. I studied classical painting in Istanbul and Venice, Italy, and I have been living and working in the US for the past 3 years. I own a company called Off The Grid Creative, based in NY.

I started my career as an illustrator for editorial magazines and directed and animated music videos for independent artists and labels. This allowed me to work with many publishers and music labels, and eventually, I had the opportunity to add clients such as Los Angeles Times Magazine, Sony Music Entertainment, and Marshall Records to my portfolio. After honing my design, animation, and motion design skills over the years, I began to attract more commercial clients such as Google, Nike, UEFA Champions League, Turkish Airlines, NY Knicks, and NY Rangers. I also worked as an art director for multimedia projects, such as a 3D Oculus experience showcased at the Venice Film Festival in 2022, and an immersive audiovisual multidimensional experience for Nike.

At Off The Grid Creative, we offer design services ranging from event identity key artworks to commercial illustrations. We create 2D animated content, including music videos, visualizers, animated loops, and event content. We also provide concept design and art direction services for multimedia projects, such as audiovisual experiences and 3D immersive experiences.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist or creative is the ability to collaborate and connect with others. Whether it’s working on a project with a team, collaborating with other artists, or sharing my work with an audience, there’s a sense of community and shared experience that comes with being creative. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how my work can bring people together and inspire conversation and connection.

I also find constant opportunities for growth and learning highly rewarding. There is always something new to explore or experiment with, whether it’s a new technique, medium, or concept. The creative process is never stagnant or predictable, and that keeps me motivated and excited to continue creating.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

It’s a great way for artists to control and monetize their creations without the need for a third party, it has allowed artists from all around the world to reach collectors without a middleman.

It’s certainly liberating and there is a great community supporting artists at all levels, whether emerging or established. It has been an amazing forum for art that really pushes creativity and motivates more artists to showcase their work, be seen, and be appreciated.

However, while NFTs have the potential to revolutionize the way digital art is bought and sold, there are also concerns about the environmental impact of blockchain technology, as well as issues with copyright infringement and the potential for fraud.

Ultimately, the future of NFTs and their place in the art world remains to be seen, but they have certainly sparked a lot of conversation and debate around the intersection of art and technology, as well as inspired thousands of artists all around the world to create more and be part of the community, which is so exciting.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://offthegridcreative.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarhantolga/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tolga-tarhan-b6b994193/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tolgatarhann
• Other: https://www.behance.net/tolgatarhan?locale=en_US https://tolgatarhan.net/