While we miss the lack of responsibilities that came with childhood and being blissfully unaware of the absolute wreck that is adulthood, most of us probably don’t miss the weird and debilitating fears we grappled with when we were young.

However, it was such an enjoyable theme—childhood. The challenge was a good way to get people involved and create entertaining content which is amusing yet meaningful. Challenges like these come with prompts which are often fun to draw. They also help you stay consistent and sometimes you draw something outside your comfort zone, and you learn a lot from that.

I painted a lot as a child, but took a long hiatus in between. Drawing again as an adult was extremely frustrating initially. But the more I drew and learnt, the more I gained confidence and realized that it is an enjoyable process. There is so much material out there and speaking to other artists also helped point me in the right direction. One crucial thing this journey has taught me is that instead of comparing myself to someone else, the key is to set little goals for myself and achieve those. I look back after a year at what I’ve drawn and keep challenging myself to do better.

A lot of my illustrations are influenced by stories, books about folklore and folktales, my own life experiences, and those of others. But they carry underlying themes of childhood joy and fascination, things which are simple yet profound, which people can identify themselves with. I also get inspired by little things. A new leaf in spring, the first vegetable to sprout in the garden, the smell of winter, simple stories and narratives, everyday things, books and stories I’ve heard or read as a child, the list is endless.

Colors fascinate me. My earliest memories of myself are drawing/painting. I was always a night owl, dragging my watercolors and pencils from room to room seeing if anyone was awake to keep me company. For every birthday, I asked for a set of watercolors as a present from my parents.