Tell us a bit about yourself and how you found your way to a creative career.

I am an Indian illustrator living in London. I’ve been drawing since I was very young, and always had a love for cartoons growing up, reading comics like the Tintin series in my school library or watching anime like Cardcaptor Sakura. Later, while studying for a degree in visual design, I attended Grafixx, a brilliant independent comics fair in Belgium. Seeing artists put out their work this way, it inspired me to explore narrative illustration more seriously. Before that, I didn’t really imagine it as a possibility. I then worked in animation for a few years and studied Authorial Illustration at a master’s level. I like to think my practice doesn’t fit into any one category and is always evolving, but stories have always been at the core.

What’s your current favorite medium or style to work in?

I draw both analogue and digitally, and I like to move between mediums. I like making imperfect or messy drawings because I think they’re a fitting reflection of life, in a way. I wouldn’t say I have a fixed style but I do use lines, textures and bright colours in my work. I always find myself coming back to wax or oil pastels as I love the fluidity and boldness you get when you work with them. Recently, I have been using the animation feature in Procreate, and it’s been great to bring movement to my illustration work.

Who or what influenced you the most in your career so far?

There have been many artists who have influenced me, one that comes to mind is Malik Sajad, who is a graphic novelist from Kashmir. I am also very inspired by picture books like Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and the work of illustrators like Brecht Evens and Anna Haifisch.

What subjects and themes are you most fascinated with? 

I love drawing people, I think the human form is something very familiar to us, yet each person is so unique and characteristic. I also like to draw landscapes, busy cities, and food. I find drawing through observation helps immensely to draw fictional stories as well. In my personal work, I am interested in the idea of collective memory and shared cultural history. Recently I’ve been developing a narrative based around a character, Baagh, that sort of embodies collective memory as a living, breathing creature.

How do you approach color in your work?

I would say I am very intuitive when it comes to colour. I tend to draw from warmer colour palettes, but I’ve found it changes as I move from one place to another as I am influenced by what’s around me. Having moved to London, I can now see cooler tones appear in my work.

Share a recent favourite project and talk us through its process and creation.

I do like projects with client briefs as they are a creative challenge but recently, I self-published a comic zine ‘Aloo Kachaloo’ which is also a popular Hindi nursery rhyme. It’s a playful visual story where two veggie-inspired characters meet in the supermarket. Initially, I started with some sketches to build out the two characters, each inspired by potatoes and brinjals (aubergines). I made rough panels for the story, drew the illustrations out digitally and then printed the comic in 4-colour riso. In the first edition, I stitched the binding with green thread using a (very old) sewing machine. It was really satisfying to see the book come alive and hold it in my hands in the end.

Describe your dream project.

I would love to curate an anthology with fellow artists and publish it internationally. Another dream project would be to do a Google Doodle, the young me would be very impressed if I got that one!

What’s next for you?

To find a studio space soon, so I can work with more traditional media, and on a larger scale. One with lots of sunlight! I also have a few art markets coming up this year, which I’m looking forward to.

Rapid Fire Round - Quick answers! And add a few words if you like :)

Working alone or in a team?

In a team; I love a collaboration.

If you could time travel, which year would you go to?

The late 90s (for the fashion)

What superpower would you like to have?

I’d love to breathe underwater.

Trends - follower or hater? 

It’s hard to keep up with trends.

AI - embrace and adopt or scared and avoid? 

For art, avoid. AI cannot replace human creativity!

Loves to work earlier or later in the day? 

Later, definitely.

Thank you Sana!