Meet Adina Nazarbay

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Adina Nazarbay a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Adina, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

Living with trauma and depression was something I had to figure out. Some days were better, others were much worse. Sometimes, as I fell asleep, I wished I could wake up as someone else, in a different body.
During COVID, I realized something needed to change. My major at the time, Environmental Science, left me feeling unfulfilled. My life felt meaningless, and the depression completely consumed me. The only thing that brought me any relief was creating art. Drawing and painting allowed me to pour my sadness and frustration into something meaningful, helping me see things more clearly. Art became a way to express my feelings comfortably, and that’s when I decided to pursue it as a career.
Following my passion transformed my life. I felt more fulfilled, and the depressive episodes became less frequent. In art school, my peers’ and friends’ work inspired me and encouraged me to grow. Through art, I learned to appreciate myself and others and found gratitude for the small, present moments in life.
Here are a few lessons that helped me heal:
* Compare yourself only to your past self—every day, you’re growing and becoming better.
* Be as kind to yourself as you are to others.
* Live at your own pace—life isn’t a race.
* Forgive and move forward—healing comes with forgiveness.
* Appreciate yourself for who you are.
* No matter how bad things seem now, it will pass, and life will get better.
* The right people will stay—don’t force relationships.
* Believe in your strengths, we often underestimate ourselves.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m an illustrator and visual development artist, and I love working with color. For me, color is more than just a visual element—it holds emotions. The way colors interact can stir different feelings in an illustration, and I trust my intuition to use them to tell a story.
Much of my work is a way for me to reconnect with my Kazakh roots. Growing up in post-colonial Kazakhstan, I attended a Russian school and didn’t get the chance to learn Kazakh as much as I would have liked. It’s something I regret, but through my art, I’m finding ways to rediscover my heritage.
The most exciting part of creating for me is researching Kazakh culture. I draw inspiration from classical Kazakh literature, traditional customs, folk art, and old photographs. Recently, I’ve been fascinated by Kazakhstan’s history in the early 1900s, especially during the Soviet era. The Great Famine (1932–1933), caused by forced collectivization and the seizure of livestock, led to the deaths of 1.5 to 2 million Kazakhs. This history resonates with me, and in the future, I’d like to explore it through my art create a project that brings this important part of Kazakh history to life.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three qualities that have been key to my journey are stress resilience, sustainability, and focusing on a few key skills.
Stress resilience has helped me stay balanced and creative during busy or tough times, allowing me to meet deadlines without feeling overwhelmed. It’s about finding a work-life balance and knowing when to take a step back and recharge.
Sustainability for me means knowing how to prioritize my work and divide my time and energy accordingly. It’s about focusing on what truly matters so I can manage my workload effectively, without wasting resources or feeling overwhelmed.
Lastly, focusing on one or two disciplines has been crucial. Instead of trying to master everything, I’ve learned to invest my energy into what excites me most. Creating work that reflects my style and voice is more important than just making art I think others want to see. My advice is to find what you love, embrace your uniqueness, stay balanced, and focus on developing the skills that genuinely interest you.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m definitely open to collaborating with others in the creative field, especially in entertainment. I’d love to work on animated projects or films with people who share a similar visual style and have a strong understanding of storytelling. For me, collaboration is most rewarding when there’s a mutual respect for each other’s creativity, so I’m looking to work with people who value authenticity and honesty. If you’re interested in partnering or collaborating, feel free to reach out—I’d love to connect and create something cool!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: aladya.n