“I let my imagination flow freely – I never plan the texture or stitch techniques”

Netherlands-based Ceren Icli Kiziltan of KayraHandmade creates pieces dedicated to the female form in nature.

The warm, carefree images, which feature lots of organic 3D texture, are like a meditation for Ceren, who also practises yoga. She loves to lose herself in experimentation with loose thread, adding beads and paint.

This piece is part of your Mindfulness series – what is the idea behind it?

Yes, this is the fifth piece in the series. Each one is a female figure with her eyes closed, in a meditative state, enjoying her natural surroundings and being in the moment. I’ve been practising yoga and mindfulness for some time and I wanted to share the sense of calm and tranquillity.

How does this piece represent your style?

I describe my style as 3D embroidery with mixed media. I create lots of texture with different embroidery techniques using cotton or silk threads, wool, fabric, glass beads and watercolour or acrylic paint.

In this piece I used wool and threads with a variety of stitching techniques – Straight Stitch, Split Stitch, Stem Stitch, French Knots and Bullion Stitch – and watercolours for the background.

Was it made to sell, a commission, or just for yourself to keep?

I always start making a piece with a simple idea in mind: would I be happy to see this piece every day on my wall? Then I work towards that. So rather than having any financial gain from it – which, in my case, can cause pressure and anxiety and hinder the creative process – I try to focus on the positive emotion that a piece will create once it’s finished. That was the case with this piece and I truly enjoy having it on my wall to glance at it as I pass by – at least until it finds itself a new home.

Do you plan pieces or do they come together quite organically?

All my designs start with a female figure. I find inspiration through photography or sometimes I pose for myself if I don’t find one that inspires me. Then I start working around that pose. I imagine a woman in a warm and organic setting and I start to sketch her body. After that, I let my imagination flow freely. I never plan the texture or stitch techniques – instead, I add more and more texture until I’m happy with the design as a whole.