Babette Bibi

Could you tell us a bit about yourself and how you started your journey as an illustrator and photographer?

My name is Babette Bibi and I am the founder of Serafina, a one-woman illustration and photography studio, which I aim to expand into a lifestyle brand in the future. 
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember.

The other day I was clearing out some boxes from my childhood bedroom, and there was just piles upon piles of drawings. My high school notebooks were filled with doodles instead of actual schoolwork. During my teenage years my focus shifted somewhat towards photography and I was sure that I wanted to become a professional photographer. 

When I was 18 I had to decide between art school and university. I’m not sure why, but I chose the latter and obtained a BA in History and an MA in Public History. Then after I graduated all I wanted to do was create, create, create. 

Until a year ago I worked as a creative project manager, before I took the deep dive and followed my childhood dream of becoming an artist. Every day I wake up I’m so happy with the decision I made and relieved I don’t have to join a 9 o’clock morning meeting anymore. It’s been a bit scary at times but also deeply rewarding and I’m very excited for what’s to come! 
 

What are the biggest influences on your artistic style, both in illustration and photography?

Lots of different things influence my artistic style. Design, film and literature, but also just living life, observing the people around me. The one constant factor is nature. We are of the earth, not separate from it, and I have such a big appreciation for what our planet offers us. It’s a never-ending source of inspiration.

 

How do you find inspiration for your projects? Are there particular sources or experiences that spark your creativity?

I tend to draw inspiration from daydreaming about past experiences, fleeting thoughts and moments and the stillness that can be found inbetween. I like to portray images from day-to-day life, small pleasures, sometimes sorrows. Finding beauty in the mundane. I’m interested in the individual experience of what it means to be human.

 

What is your creative process like? Do you follow a particular routine when working on a new piece?

Having a routine is something I struggle with, so there isn’t really a process I tend to stick to. With illustration, sometimes I have a clear image in my mind - I see the colours, know the materials I want to use and the feeling I want to evoke. Other times I just get going and see where my pencil takes me. 

As for photography, I’m more of a documentary rather than conceptual photographer. I carry my camera around and search for anything that elicits a smile or stirs up any other emotion. 

 

 

Do you worry about the technical aspects of photography in your work?

Honestly, not much at all. I’m a perfectionist, but I tend to go with the flow when I’m taking photos. I’m not the most technical photographer by a mile and there’s still a lot for me to learn, but I think the most important part is to just have fun with it! I am definitely very focused on focus and composition though, to me this can mean the difference between a good photo and a memorable one. 

 

Could you share some of the tools or techniques that are essential in your work?

The last two years my iPad and Apple Pencil have been my go-to. These have made my output much bigger and helped me a lot with experimenting with my style and techniques. That being said, lately I’ve really missed working with tangible materials. When I use ink, pastels or paints I tend to work much more intuitively, without thinking ahead. The coming months I plan on working on bigger canvases, as well as using textiles and natural pigments. 

In regard to photography, I’m very attached to my dad’s Minolta Dynax 7000i from the 80s. And like almost any photographer, I love shooting on Kodak Portra 400. 

 

 

How has your experience been with GoodMood? Creating your shop? Uploading work? Sharing your work? 

My experience has been very, very good! First off, I love that GoodMood offers anyone - whether just starting out or already an established artist - to share their work with the world. For anyone who is just dipping their toe in their artistic journey, it can be a really daunting process and difficult to know where to begin. Having a platform that helps you take the first steps is really great. 

Creating my shop was a super easy and stress-free experience (which was great, since I’m a rather impatient person). It was very cool and exciting to see my work amongst such talented artists on the GoodMood platform and making my first sale! I’m really excited about uploading more work in the future. 

 

What advice would you give to aspiring illustrators and photographers who are just starting out?

In true George Michael fashion, you gotta keep the faith! It’s so easy to compare yourself to others and feel insecure, especially since social media has become such a big part of promoting your work. For me, taking it step by step and reminding myself Rome wasn’t built in a day really helped (still does!). I also noticed that once I got over my deeply rooted fear of putting myself out there, I actually really started to enjoy sharing my work, without being overly concerned whether people like it or not. Lastly, let people help you. You don’t have to do it all by yourself.