Efrat Cybulkiewicz is an Illustrator, and a painter based in Italy. And her passion lies in the power that is found within the goodness of every life lesson.
What is the best thing that I love about my work? To savore hours of freedom and solitude… I love working late at night, when all are asleep. Only there I can hear with clarity in knowing who I am to me.
What is my idea of perfect happiness? Not sure I have a clear idea about the perfect happiness, but I sure feel an enormous amount of happiness when finding valuable lessons unintentionally, through significant changes in my life…such feeling has a certain smell of wildflowers that is unmistakable.
What is my greatest fear? Anything threatening to squeeze out my uniqueness, nullify my aptitudes and mold my path to a formal structures of daily life that I had no part in designing–things that get in the way of reaching my full potential.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? Trust issues (towards others)… this can result in self-sabotage.
Which living persons in my profession do I most admire? I do not have a “favorite artist.” I consider them all, in some way or another, extremely interesting and fascinating. But my tastes favors the originality of the style implemented in the works of the artist. Such as Lempicka, Banksy, Dali, Picasso, Klimt, Van Gogh, Hokusai, Monet, Goya, Renoir, Guayazamin, Tamayo, Klein, Miro, Basquiat, Botero, Hopper, Schiele, Matisse, Bosco, Giotto. Among others, many others.
What is my greatest extravagance? Camping and travel gear.
On what occasion would I lie? It defeats the purpose to put it into words.
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? I tend to be obsessive with my projects. And often, I stay awake for more than 24 hours without getting any rest. This contributes to my bad health and low defense mechanism.
When and where was I the happiest, in my work? Every single time I have a new canvas in front of me waiting to be devoured by my imagination, it’s like a mental orgasm just thinking about it, and it never gets old.
If I could, what would I change about myself? If I were 25 years younger, I would get you a list of things I would change. Today, I won’t dare to change anything, not even a single regret.
What is my greatest achievement in work? The short amount of time it took me to be part of the art community and be recognized as an artist. The support I have received from this community fills me with great and constant joy.
Where would I most like to live? Definitely Bhutan. Known for its dramatic landscapes and for its monasteries.
What is my most treasured possession? My most treasured possessions are my family photographs. and a small silver Mezuzah.
What is my most marked characteristic? A never ceasing brain that continues to think, which I may be admitting for purposes of this answer but I will not admit in the regular course of daily life. And a very marked bohemianism lifestyle.
What is my most inspirational location, in my city? Exactly where I live now, a region in Southern Italy known as La Campania, I am surrounded by nature and quite far from civilization.
What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city? I don’t usually eat out. However, there is one place I often go to, My inlaws… And they are magnificent cookers.
What books influenced my life and how? The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. This book troubled me deeply as a child. But it taught me from a very young age to set boundaries, to never damage myself in order to love someone. Silverstein did a great job on it! Juan Salvador Gaviota, By Richard Bach. In my teens, this book taught me the importance of challenges. Definitely a book of personal improvement and motivation. Universal Declaration of Human Rights by United Nations. All I can say is, if the true history of the world and if this declaration of human rights were taught in schools, we would all be better able to recognize abuses of power in the early stages … But no, they do not want that kind of “nonsense” taught in our schools. Unfortunately, still not put into practice in too many countries.
The Heroine's Journey 