Conversations with Mehmet Lutfi Karaaslan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mehmet Lutfi Karaaslan.

Hi Mehmet Lutfi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Years ago, I was watching a documentary showing the shooting stages of the lord of the rings and I saw Sketch artist designing a battle scene sitting on a light hill. At that moment, I understood that I wanted to do this job, but I didn’t even know the name of the job. After that, I drew storyboards for movies and commercials in Istanbul for more than 10 years. I think I did everything I had to do in Istanbul and needed to pass another level. I had to come to the main center of this business in the world, namely Los Angeles.

For the first six months, I couldn’t find a job to do and I decided to renew my web page completely, while trying to reach my agency that I am currently working with, I met with dear Pierre Michel Estival, who would change everything with a little touch. He is a very talented director who was called from France to Los Angeles by special recommendation by James Cameron.

When we first met, he saw my works and liked it very much and said that he wanted to work with me but that I needed to work with an agency and he enabled me to start working with my current agency, I am grateful to him. And now I draw skecharts for the leading companies of the industry such as Hollywood movies, Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, and Disney plus.

In parallel with this career, after graduating from the university, I continued to paint abstract paintings and hold personal exhibitions. I opened my last painting exhibition at Arthan Gallery in a 500-year-old inn in Istanbul. It was a very suitable place for my last exhibition, which criticizes the uncontrolled speed of modernism in recent years.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s hard to say that this process was easy, there is never an easy way in life, no matter what the goal is, it wasn’t easy for me either, but it’s hard to experience something new without leaving your comfort zone.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve been painting and sketching and storyboarding for a long time and I think I have considerable recognition in both branches 🙂 Being able to do my job here in Los Angeles (on the top of the world) makes me proud. As someone who grew up in a different culture, I feel richer in terms of ideas, manners and creativity, I don’t know if this separates me from others, but it sure gives me pleasure.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success seems to be a concept that we have focused on in the last century, especially as if its meaning, content and requirements have changed even more in the last two decades. Like an involuntary, automatic imposition for a long time. If whatever sense of success you’re chasing is causing you more pain and suffering than you need, I’m not sure if what you end up with is success. To me, in the simplest way, to be satisfied with the conditions, moment and content you are in.

Contact Info:

• Website: lutfikaraaslan.com
• Instagram: Mlutfikaraaslan