#TheAlternativeSchool x We Invent are launching the #YoungLady interview series, recommended by RSM Romania, empowering female talent.

Georgiana Chițac doesn’t chase trends, she chases meaning. Somewhere between motherhood, deadlines, and a quiet craving for a seaside life, she built her own universe—one made of ink, wool, wit, and wild imagination. With sharp lines and softer truths, she tells stories that feel both intimate and universal.

From drawing 365 women in 365 days to reimagining Red Riding Hood through her own lens, Georgiana’s work isn’t just about technique – it’s about persistence, presence, and the magic of staying true to your inner voice. Now, with a Cannes Lions ERA scholarship under her belt, she’s not just drawing characters – she’s rewriting her new creative chapter.

WHAT WOULD MAKE YOUR SOUL SING? WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?

It’s easy! I would love to focus solely on illustrating—not dealing with invoices, social media, packing, shipping, talking to suppliers, clients, and so on. And to live somewhere by the sea. If I had these two things together, well, I don’t know what else I could possibly want. I’m not talking here about healthy kids, financial stability, and other obvious things.

A CHILDHOOD STORY THAT ANNOUNCED THE CREATIVE PERSON YOU ARE TODAY 

Until the age of 10, I didn’t draw. I mean, I did some drawings in kindergarten, but almost every time, I got criticized by the teacher. So I was quite reluctant when it came to putting something on paper. At school, my sister did my drawing assignments—until I reached the fourth grade. I suddenly started drawing, but not in the way a child normally would. I was doing studies of plants, vases, all sorts of objects. And I insisted so much on going to the Art High School that my parents eventually signed me up for the entrance exam. And I actually got in.

BEST CONTEXT EVER FOR INSPIRATION WAS

Nothing beats a bottle of wine. Or a night full of dreams. Or maybe sometimes just a few random words thrown by someone. Since I have a habit of visualizing everything I hear, sometimes some interesting works may come out of it.

THE PROJECT YOU LOVED MOST

The book Who’s Afraid of Little Red Riding Hood?, written and illustrated by me and published in 2023 by Grupul Editorial ART—not only did I love writing and illustrating it, but, being quite a competitive person, I enjoyed every success it had. In 2020, when it won the Arthur Trophy for the 0-7 age category; in 2024, when it was among the 10 finalists in the first edition of the Cărturino awards; and in 2025, when it was selected among the 150 “outstanding picture books” and exhibited at the largest children’s book fair in Bologna.

THE PROJECT OTHERS LOVED MOST

Les Dames de Bucarest – 365 illustrations in 365 days. It received a lot of attention from the media and the public and was exhibited at the Art Museum in Constanța, my hometown. It was the fulfilment of a dream. I practically grew up in that museum, and I deeply wished for an exhibition there.

When I also heard that art teachers were bringing their students there to talk to them about the multitude of graphic techniques or what croquis means, using my drawings as examples, I melted.

THE BEST THING ABOUT LOCAL CREATIVITY IS

I would say the fast pace at which it evolves.

BEST STATEMENT OF LOCAL HUMOR

Do we have local humor???

ADVICE FOR INTERNATIONAL HEADHUNTERS, RELATED TO LOCAL CREATIVES

Sorry, I never offer free advice. Kiding, I just have no idea what to say.

BEST PLACE IN THE CAPITAL

Calea Victoriei. But only because I live there. And because I like walking. And I don’t mind having a cocktail, a slice of pizza, an ice cream, a museum, or a choux à la crème within reach.

BEST PLACE IN YOUR COUNTRY:

I’m still researching this topic.

MOST DISTURBING CLICHÉ ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY, IN THE MEDIA OUTLETS OF THE WORLD IS

To answer this question, I would have to follow the media, which I don’t really have time to do. My friends always laugh at me for being out of touch with reality. They’re probably right. I only read the news enough to know whether war is coming or not.

YOUR COUNTRY SHOULD BE KNOWN FOR

The strangest combination between East and West.

YOUR VIEWS ON SPIRITUALITY

I’m an atheist, but if I were to think about which religion aligns most with my ideas, it would probably be Buddhism.

YOUR VIEWS ON MONEY

I don’t mind having them. But as a freelancer, I’m used to ups and downs. You must be quite balanced to maintain financial stability. Did I mention I’m a single mom with two kids? Yeah, it matters… Even so, I never make decisions based solely on financial criteria.

AN INSPIRATION SOURCE YOU RECOMMEND FOR A YOUNG CREATIVE (A BOOK, A DESTINATION, A MOVIE, FOLLOWING SOMEONE RELEVANT ON SOCIAL-MEDIA)

I’ve always found my answers in art museums. I sit there on their rectangular benches and let my questions flow freely through my mind. And somehow, the answers come too. But that’s more related to decision-making. When it comes to inspiration, you have to be a bit careful. In large doses, it can disrupt your own path. Instagram, for example—if you follow only illustrators, as I do—you get an overdose of art. Yes, it’s possible! And it can be inhibiting. It takes away the time your brain needs to empty itself to make room for new ideas. Your own new ideas.

As for trends in art, I don’t believe in them. It’s nonsense to me.

A LOCAL BASED FEMALE TALENT THAT DESERVES TO BE PROMOTED AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, AS EXPONENT OF LOCAL CREATIVE SPIRIT

Me? Just kidding, I’m not that narcissistic, no matter what my daughter thinks. Instead, I’ll leave you a list of female illustrators—since that’s what I know—who definitely deserve a wider recognition, because some of them are already halfway there. The order is random: Oana Ispir, Irina Dobrescu, Maria Surducan, Adela Holdon, Emi Balint, Iulia Ignat, Raluca Burcă, Andra Badea.

And I have at least ten more names that deserve just as much recognition, but I can’t go on forever. Plus, there are about another ten who are already known internationally and fully deserve it.

BIO:

Georgiana Chițac was born in Constanța but is currently based in Bucharest. She is an illustrator who works with both traditional and digital techniques. Her main interests include book illustration, as well as artistic, commercial, and editorial illustration.

In 2019, she made her debut as a children’s book author and has published three titles so far.

Her most well-known project is Les dames de Bucarest, created in 2021, consisting of a series of 365 artworks depicting women encountered on the streets of Bucharest – one drawing per day, every day. The project explores a wide range of graphic techniques, focusing on the dynamics of movement and the expressiveness of the characters.

In addition to being a writer and illustrator of children’s books, she is the founder of
Animini.ro, a place where her illustrations come to life on T-shirts, greeting cards, puzzles, and other unique objects.

When she has time, which doesn’t happen too often – and her two children certainly contribute to that – Georgiana plays with wool and creates all kinds of highly expressive animals using needle felting. These characters, along with those from children’s books and the ones drawn for Animini, create a unique universe of anthropomorphic animals.

RECOGNITION

March 2025 – finalist BRAW AMAZING BOOKSHELF, a selection of 150 outstanding picture books that will be showcased during the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2025.

April 2024 – finalist of the first edition of Carturino Prizes, picture book category, with book “Who’s Afraid of Little Red Riding Hood?”

April 2021 – selected finalist in the Bologna Children’s Book Illustrator Exhibition with the illustrations for “The Voice of the Seagulls”

September 2020 – selected for the 2020 KeyColours Competition Exhibition, among 26 other illustrators from all over the world, with the book project (written and illustrated by me) „The Voice of the Seagulls”

March 2020 – Announced winner of the contest „The Incubator of Colorful Stories” 2020 writing category, with the story „Up the Stairs”. 

January 2020 – Announced winner of Arthur Trophy competition, 0-7 years category, with text “Who’s Afraid of Little Red Riding Hood?”

March 2019 – Announced winner of the contest „The Incubator of Colorful Stories” 2019, Illustration category.