MACHAS

Becha x ELLE Serbia: a long-standing creative collaboration

As one of ELLE Serbia favourite illustrators, mixed-media artist Becha has been collaborating with the magazine for more than ten years. To mark the publication’s new website, she was invited to create a special sticker and share in a candid interview what inspires her every day and why it is essential to follow one’s passions.

Recalling her first memories of ELLE, Becha remembers: “When I started my art studies, ELLE magazine was among the stack of magazines I chopped up to create my first collages. I have never been a passionate buyer of new magazines, rather an archivist of old editions that exuded an aura of past times. Browsing through such material not only inspires me, but it gives me an insight into the spirit of a period.” 

Becha’s career in the creative industry started as an Art Director in a studio for animation, production and post-production. At the time, she was developing her distinctive collage style in her spare time, but thanks to commissions like ELLE’s, she decided to quit the agency and pursue her career as an artist. The change could be daunting, especially in difficult times, but when asked about freelancing vs working for a company, she affirms that “freelancing is the best option for me. I am aware this might not be the case for everyone, but it is for me. The pandemic has revealed how flexible and yet successful working from home can be. Also, it is easier than ever to showcase art and find customers online, so I believe that entrepreneurship and freelancing are a good combination - that is, if you do what you love. I believe it is important to follow one’s passions and, to turn that into a job, understanding the market and creating a healthy environment is vital.”

As an artist, Becha expresses her creativity with all her soul. Especially in authorial works, creating an artwork is to develop a path to an idea. “To create a vision, I need to understand what I want to say and, if I’m working on a commission, understand what the client wants to say. Because while I am creating, I think about that topic and shape it accordingly. It’s like a visual introspection.”

Becha believes that creativity requires nurturing, but the reward for such effort has helped her overcome many difficult times. “It might sound like a cliché,” she admits, “but after the artwork is finished, there is always a great sense of happiness.” When asked about a piece of advice for young artists, she has no doubts: “inspiration, strength, and willpower are all around you, and you can use them as a motivation to explore and learn so that you can capture that moment of happiness again - it’s a wonderful feeling!”

Over the years, colour has been key to Becha’s oeuvre. When asked which colours represent happiness, nostalgia and freedom, she replies: “happiness would be a warm ray of sunshine; nostalgia is always a muted tone. Freedom is white and pure.”

See more of Becha’s work here!