PERSONAL STATEMENT
Since childhood, I’ve seen art not as a skill to master but as a universe to explore. From drawing Elmo at age three to experimenting across media, I’ve embraced every opportunity to expand my creative voice. What makes me a productive and evolving artist is my deep commitment to lifelong learning, adaptability across disciplines, and relentless curiosity to understand art from every angle—traditional, digital, animated, and interactive.
I’ve never limited myself to a single medium or school of thought. Instead, I sought training across countries, learning from masters with deep cultural and artistic roots. In Taiwan, I studied Chinese watercolor and calligraphy under Song Binghui, and completed Adobe Creative Suite training—Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign—in an 81-hour certified program at Shih Chien University. I also took fashion design courses there, including Pattern Drafting, Fashion Illustration, Dress Material, Color Study, and Design Theory, which strengthened my eye for form, silhouette, and composition.
In Turkey, I learned Ottoman illumination (Tezhip) from Müzehhibe Elif Aydın, and studied sculpture and Ebru under Gültekin Ruzgar. I explored 3D modeling and animation at Anima Okul in Istanbul and refined my Maya skills through Animation Mentor in the U.S. I also completed the Pre-College Art Experience at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, focusing on concept illustration and storytelling.
Mentors consistently note my ability to learn quickly and naturally grasp the essence of a technique. I approach every medium without bias—open to trying, failing, and evolving. I don’t just collect skills; I absorb and apply them. Whether using Maya, ZBrush, Procreate, or gouache, each tool becomes a voice in the orchestra of my visual storytelling.
This approach has given my work variety and depth. I’ve created interactive books, handmade puppets, traditional paintings, and digital works. My animations reflect gesture, anatomy, and emotion. My art is shaped by global influences—whether inspired by the Tulip Era, a Taiwanese marketplace, or contemporary design. I speak English, Turkish, and Mandarin Chinese, and I’m learning French—language, like art, helps me cross cultural boundaries.
I’ve participated in creative challenges like Inktober and 100 Days of Sketching, which strengthened my discipline and expanded my visual vocabulary. I also create handcrafted works like embroidery, mosaic, and crochet, which sharpen the patience I apply in stop motion and scene design.
Recently, I was honored to be listed as a role model artist at Ingram Road Primary School in Leeds, UK, alongside celebrated figures like Vivienne Westwood and Grayson Perry. My inclusion in their curriculum inspires me to keep creating art that uplifts and empowers the next generation.
Ultimately, I’m not applying to a BFA just to learn more—I’m applying because I’ve built a diverse foundation and am ready to sharpen my focus. Animation, interactive media, and game design are where my creative voice feels most alive. Through this program, I hope to create immersive stories that others can feel, experience, and remember.
A Multitalented Artist with a Global Creative Journey
Anisa is an accomplished artist with a passion for creating art and a diverse range of skills and experiences. From a young age, she was drawn to animation, stop-motion films, and imaginative books, all of which sparked her creativity. At just three years old, she began teaching herself how to draw and paint—her first drawing was of "Elmo."
She has received formal training and certificates in animation, fashion design, illustration, and various art courses across the United States 🇺🇸, Taiwan 🇹🇼, the United Kingdom 🇬🇧, Turkey 🇹🇷, and France 🇫🇷.
Anisa has a growing social media following, has taken part in numerous art challenges and competitions, and has achieved personal milestones such as learning to swim and creating handmade dolls.
CERTIFICATES AND TRAINING:
Anisa is a skilled artist with a range of certifications and training. She holds a Fashion Design Certificate and an Adobe Certificate in Illustration, Photoshop, and InDesign, which she obtained in early 2021. In addition, she has completed the PCAE Art Experience at the Academy of Art University, a prestigious art and design education program. Anisa has attended art exhibits such as One Art and Dangdai Taipei and has visited art museums in London, New York, Taipei, Istanbul, and Paris. Anisa Ozalp has received a wide range of training and courses in the arts, including, but not limited to:
In the United States:
Adam Kreutinger, the Puppet Master
Med's Map Ahmed Aldoori's Digital Painting Fundamentals
Kesh Art Drawing Camp
Animation Mentor, Character Animation
In Taiwan:
Art Master Song Binghui on various 🏮 Chinese fine art courses
Shih Chien University Adobe Certificate in Illustration, Photoshop, and InDesign and Fashion Design Certificate
In Turkey:
Anima Okul, Animation School in Istanbul
Gultekin Ruzgar on sculptor and ebru course
Asuman Dokuzlu on perspective, still life, oil paint, and collage
Mehmet Cetin on human anatomy and still life courses
Elif Ela on tezhip courses
In the UK: The Aardman Academy. 2023 -. Stop Motion 1 and 2. (Accepted)
Through various courses and training programs, Anisa has developed diverse skills and techniques, allowing her to create various artworks. She is knowledgeable about Procreate software, which she uses to create her digital art.
COMPETITIONS: Anisa completed several challenges, such as "Silk Road," "Poet Sezai," "Inktober," "Continuous Line Challenge," "100 Days of Sketching" (2020 and 2021), "100 Heads Challenge", "Ten Hundred Shape Challenge," "Aydın Young Talents" in the painting category with great success and praise from her followers. She is determined, focused, and continuously evolving in her work. Anisa always pushes the boundaries and experiments with various verticals. She incorporates her artwork inter-culturally, representing different experiences of the globe. She is determined, focused, and continuously evolving in her work.
PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
Swimming: Anisa was awarded a trophy for her swimming abilities on the Jersey Flyers Aquatic Club team, which aims to develop swimmers for the Olympics. She completed all levels of the British Swim School ahead of schedule.
Piano: Anisa also took intermediate-level piano lessons during middle school.
OBJECTIVE: Anisa is an artist focused on developing technical skills and cultivating a keen eye for an organization to effectively communicate her concepts and experiences through various mediums. She aims to improve and evolve as an artist by exploring new techniques and pushing creative boundaries. She is passionate about creating meaningful work in the entertainment and fine art industries.
QUALIFICATIONS: Anisa's artwork blends handcrafted, digital, animation, stop motion, and fine art. She has experience assisting with art-related e-commerce projects involving handmade products. She is proficient and certified in digital art with CorelDRAW, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Procreate software. Additionally, she is proficient in animation software such as Unreal Engine, ZBrush, Maya, and Houdini. Anisa has experience creating various art processes, developing documents for creative processes, and handcrafted and fashion items such as dolls, puppets, embroidery, cross-stitch bags, and beaded items.
RECOGNITIONS: Anisa has received recognition and appreciation for her skills and talents from various sources, such as Singer Sewing Machine Company for doll making, 🇹🇼 Song Binghui for fine art creations, Shih Chien University for fashion drawing and clothing design, Coco Bubble Tea HQ, The Halal Guys, Netflix's "Waffle and Mochi," Adam Kreutinger, Aydin National Education, Secaucus Middle School, Jersey Flyers Swim Team, and British Swimming School for swimming skills. She is honored to be listed as a role model artist in a diverse and inclusive selection of artists from Ingram Road Primary School of Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. These recognitions highlight her diverse range of skills and talents in various fields of art and design.
Anisa holds citizenship in the USA 🇺🇸, UK 🇬🇧, and Turkey 🇹🇷, a Taiwan Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), and a France Carte de Séjour (Residence Card), and on the process of acquiring her North Macedonia 🇲🇰 Citizenship.
How many languages does Anisa Ozalp speak? Anisa is fluent in English, Chinese, and Turkish and is working to improve her French through classes at the Institut Français. She has been exposed to a fusion of cultural backgrounds, enhancing her ability to communicate with diverse individuals.
EXPERIENCE: Freelance Designer 2021. Project: Pop-up Artistry
EDUCATION:
The Aardman Academy: Accepted for Stop Motion 1 and 2 in the UK.
Anima Okul: Animation School in Istanbul, Turkey (2022-2023)
Animation Mentor: Character Animation in Emeryville, California (2022)
Zubeyde Hanim Technical Girls Vocational School: Majored in Graphic Design in Aydin, Turkey (2023).
Penn Foster High School: High School Diploma in PA, USA (Completed)
Academy of Art University: Completed Art and Design Education Program in CA, USA (June 2021-August 2021), focusing on PCAE (Pre-College Art Experience) Art Experience.
Shih Chien University: Completed comprehensive programs at Taipei, TW from October 2019 to August 2021, including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Chinese levels 5-6, Fashion Design certificate programs
National Taipei University of Education: Completed Chinese Language Center program in Taipei, TW (December 2019-November 2020), achieving proficiency in Chinese levels 1-4 and obtaining a certificate.
Secaucus Middle School: Secaucus, NJ, USA (September 2018-May, 2021)
She completed her early education in various private and public institutions, gaining a well-rounded and diverse educational background.
Artistic & Educational Journey
Anisa has a social media following of individuals from various age groups. Her work resonates with people of all ages, as they can find a piece of themselves within it. Anisa has a YouTube channel and website showcasing her drawings, creative process, portfolio, fine art, fashion designs, handmade pieces, accomplishments, exhibitions, training, and professional development. Her website, anisaozalp.com, and contact page are details about commissioning a piece or collaborating on a project, as well as extra resources and information about her work.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS
🎓 FORMAL EDUCATION & CERTIFIED TRAINING
Zübeyde Hanım Girls Vocational and Technical Anatolian Academy (Aydın, Turkey)
Degree: AAS in Applied Science
Field: Graphic Design & Photography
Graduation: Valedictorian
GPA Equivalents: Graduation Score 91.5341 (3.66), Overall Avg 94.3446 (3.77)
Subjects: Visual Design, Adobe Tools, CorelDRAW, Studio Photography
Certification: Turkish Ministry of National Education Diploma
Penn Foster High School (USA, Online)
Degree: U.S. High School Diploma
GPA: 3.5
National Taipei University of Education (Taipei, Taiwan)
Program: Chinese Language Center
Certification: Levels 1–6
Programs at Shih Chien University (Taipei, Taiwan)
Chinese Language Levels 1–4 (Completed All Advanced Levels)
Fashion Design Courses: Pattern Drafting, Fashion Illustration, Dress Material, Study of Color, Fashion Lecture, Fashion Design
Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign (81-hour certified training)
Academy of Art University (San Francisco, CA, USA)
Program: Pre-College Art Experience (PCAE)
Courses: Concept Art, Fashion Design, Illustration
Key Classes: AE 33 (Illustration), AE 60 (Still Life Painting), AE ANM33 (Exploring Animation)
Animation Mentor (USA)
Program: Character Animation
Tools: Maya
Focus: 12 principles of animation, walk/run cycles, acting
Mentors: Industry professionals (Pixar, DreamWorks)
Anima Okul (Istanbul, Turkey) Meaning Animation School
Courses: 3D Modeling & Rendering (144h), 3D Character Animation (108h)
Tools: Autodesk Maya, ZBrush, V-Ray, Arnold, Fusion, Animate
Focus: Organic/inorganic modeling, rendering, compositing, animation blocking
🗓️ CERTIFICATES & CREATIVE WORKSHOPS
Traditional Chinese Watercolor & Calligraphy with Song Binghui (Taipei): Xuan paper, sumi ink, oil paint
Tezhip (Ottoman Illumination) with Müzehhibe Elif Aydın: Gold leaf, floral/geometric designs, aher glue
Ebru (Turkish Water Marbling): Floating pigments using ox gall & herbal gum (UNESCO-listed art)
Oil Painting & Fashion Composition with Asuman Dokuzlu (Aydın, Turkey)
Sculpture Apprenticeship with Gültekin Rüzgar: Clay, bronze, mezzo-relievo, "Project: Mona Lisa"
Drawing Camp by Kesh (India): 100-day program in gesture, anatomy, character design
Med’s Map Digital Painting Course by Ahmed Aldoori: Rendering, lighting, skin tones, brush control
Adobe Creative Suite Certification (Shih Chien University)
CorelDRAW & Typography: Logo, layout, packaging, pattern design (Aydın Vocational Technical Academy)
🏆 ART CHALLENGES & COMPETITIONS
Completed: 100 Heads Challenge, 100 Days of Sketching (2020, 2021), Ten Hundred Shape Challenge, Inktober, Continuous Line Challenge, Puzzle Challenge, Silk Road Project, Optical Illusion Series
Recognitions:
Aydın is Calling the Next Generation of Talent — Painting Finalist
Poet Sezai Karakoç Illustration Contest — Trophy Winner
🎨 PROFESSIONAL FINE ART & DIGITAL PRACTICE
Mastered Techniques:
Oil, acrylic, gouache, Chinese watercolor, Tezhip, Ebru
Calligraphy: Arabic, Chinese
Linocut, human anatomy drawing, gesture, portrait, printmaking
Sculpture: clay, bronze, papier-mâché, pottery
Optical illusions, environmental & perspective drawing
Software & Tools:
Procreate, Procreate Dreams, Adobe Suite, Autodesk Maya, ZBrush, CorelDRAW, Animate
Expanded Practice:
Miniature Ottoman painting
Fan art & character redesign
Wallpaper design & promotional illustration
🧵 CRAFTS, HANDMADE WORK & INSTALLATIONS
Wearables: Painted sneakers, crochet accessories, beaded jewelry
Textiles: Embroidery, cross-stitch uniform bags, rainbow loom
Miniatures: Doll-making, felt toys, Perler beads, puppet design
Installations: Pop-up art, mosaic/tile, stop-motion sets, mural painting
🌍 INTERNATIONAL ART & LIFE EXPERIENCE
Taipei: Language immersion, Chinese arts
Istanbul: Ottoman heritage, fashion & crafts
North Macedonia: Historical & architectural studies
France: Louvre, plein air studies in Paris
USA: Staten Island & Secaucus, NJ — murals & creative community
📄 SELECTED PUBLISHED PROJECTS
The Light in Their Hearts (Publibe Publications)
Miracle on a Snowy Day (Self-illustrated)
Hatshepsut Power (Historical illustration)
Discovery of Moonfruit, Little Red Riding Hood (Chinese version)
🎨 ARTIST STATEMENT
Anisa Ozalp blends tradition and technology through multi-cultural storytelling, mastering diverse mediums from oil to digital, sculpture to puppetry. Her portfolio explores identity, symbolism, and childhood imagination through rigorous training and daily creation. Featured across platforms like Saatchi Art, and Fine Art America.
🌐 LANGUAGES
Fluent: English, Turkish, Mandarin Chinese
Intermediate: French
📆 ONLINE PRESENCE
Website: anisaozalp.com
Portfolio & Work Highlights: Over 60 sections covering fine art, crafts, fashion, illustration, sculpture, puppetry, and animation
