What’s your earliest memory of falling in love with illustration or patterns? And how did your path eventually cross with Rohan Dahotre’s?
I think it comes from childhood and a few picture books that impressed me as a kid with their style and colours. But, of course, at that time I didn’t even know that it was called illustration or that it was someone’s profession to draw them (and in the far future, mine too!). I was passionate about drawing since childhood, and after graduating as a graphic designer and working for a few years in the field, I realised that I wanted something more creative, so step by step, I started moving towards illustration. That’s how I found my true passion in illustration and pattern design, developing it on my own through years of practice and exploration. And I absolutely love it!
So did Rohan when he saw my illustrations on Behance and wrote me a short message of appreciation. After looking at his work, I was impressed by his style too and even found it similar in some ways to mine.
As I remember, at that time, it was doodles on photos with animals, which eventually became very famous. Our rare chats about art turned into long conversations about everything after a couple of years, and we found a lot of similarities in our vision of life and values. Now we draw side by side, cheer each other on, and dream up creative projects together!
It still feels magical that art brought us together across countries.
What was your first impression of India? As an artist, how did stepping into India’s colours, chaos, and biodiversity affect you and your work?
I was absolutely impressed by the vibrant sights of India - women in sarees, men in turbans, auto rickshaws and colourful fruit carts. Standing on a chaotic street in Delhi left me in awe, and I immediately started a travel sketchbook to capture these moments.
After living in India for over five years, it has significantly influenced my art. The daily riot of colours, especially from sarees, transformed my palette from black and white to vibrant hues. Additionally, my love for birdwatching, sparked by visits to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary and Bhigwan, now dominates my art, highlighting the incredible variety of bird species I’ve come to admire.
Many creatives dream of working in different countries but are afraid of the unknown. What has moving across cultures taught you, not just about design, but about yourself?
It is crucial to emphasise the importance of being yourself, following your own voice, and remaining true to it. When I think of India, I see it as one of the few countries where people continue to wear traditional clothing in their everyday lives and deeply cherish their cultural heritage and art. This is in contrast to many places that have moved entirely into modernity, leaving tradition behind as if it were something outdated. It is truly beautiful to witness. This reflects how valuable it is to maintain your unique voice!
But at the same time, moving across cultures teaches you that it’s important not to get lost or completely merge into it, but to stay true to yourself, because you have your own unique and beautiful voice.
Your Ukrainian roots are very present in your folk-inspired patterns. Now that you’re living in India, how do you see your heritage blending or contrasting with the Indian visual and cultural language around you?
Actually, I can say that there are many similarities. After visiting the Crafts Museum and the Sanskriti Museum in Delhi and the Kelkar Museum in Pune during my first visit, as a fan of tribal and folk art, I was so in love with what I saw! And now, after living here and observing more over the past few years, I can see so many similarities - ornaments and motifs in decorative folk art, Indian tribal art, especially Gond, remind me a lot of famous Ukrainian naïve art (Maria Prymachenko, Polina Raiko). And even embroidered clothes, especially Kashmiri ones, remind me so much of Ukrainian traditional Vyshyvanka. So I would say Indian visual and cultural language beautifully complements my Ukrainian heritage.
Do you remember the first artwork or project where you felt this cross-cultural dialogue come alive in your patterns?
I feel it hasn’t happened yet. My patterns and illustrations are deeply rooted in Ukrainian culture, especially traditional ornaments and symbols that I grew up with. While living in India has inspired me in many ways - the vibrant colours, the wildlife, the feeling of being surrounded by such rich culture - I don’t think I’ve brought Indian cultural influences into my work yet in terms of motifs or patterns. I’ve tried drawing in the Gond art style (patterns and murals), but I tried to stay as close as I could to the true Gond motifs and not add anything from my side. But actually, it’s an interesting idea to create a series with cross-cultural dialogue!
You and Rohan are both independent creatives. What’s it like sharing life and a similar artistic path? Do you bounce ideas off each other, or is it more of a quiet parallel?
Oh, I’m so lucky to have such a like-minded and supportive husband! We talk a lot about art, discuss our freelance projects, share ideas, and plan future projects or collections for our Junglee Maau brand. We’ve never felt competitiveness, rather, we’re happy for each other’s success and help each other on the creative path to achieve more. It’s very precious.
A lot of your work celebrates nature, florals, and delicate details. Where do you usually draw inspiration from, especially now that your surroundings have changed?
Style-wise, my work still draws inspiration from Ukrainian decorative folk art, despite the change in surroundings. I feel that with distance and time apart from my country and with the war trying to destroy Ukraine and Ukrainian culture, my love and appreciation for my heritage have grown even more. But themewise, I’m inspired a lot by India’s diverse wildlife, especially birds. Observing nature through the seasons, especially on my quiet morning walks, gives me so much inspiration for my projects and sketchbooks.
What does a typical day in your creative routine look like? How do you balance client work, personal projects, and everything in between?
I’m still perfecting my balance between work and personal time, especially with tight client deadlines often taking precedence. These intense periods remind me how crucial it is to dedicate time to personal projects that recharge me.
I enjoy planning and have developed a routine that aligns with my productivity rhythm. This year, I’m focusing on having actual weekends, as freelancing often blurs the lines of work and rest, and I miss the excitement of looking forward to them.
A typical day for me starts with personal time: morning walks, birdwatching, yoga, meditation, and self-development. Once I feel recharged, I tackle work, commissions, personal projects, and marketing with a break for lunch, tea, and quality time with Rohan and our cat, Toothless.
As someone who handles the business side of your creative work yourself. How do you manage everything from commissions to marketing and licensing without burning out?
Burning out still happens sometimes, especially when big projects with very tight deadlines come up. But I’m working on it, trying not to compromise during those times on the things that help me rest and recharge. So, speaking about how not to burn out, these are the essential things: make time, even a little, for life beyond work, and fill it with things that bring you joy and happiness.
Many of our readers are emerging artists who want to make a living from illustration. What advice would you give to someone just starting in surface pattern design or licensing?
My main advice for artists is to always follow your own creative voice and vision. Trends come and go, but your unique style is what helps you stand out and attract the right clients. When it comes to licensing, I recommend thoroughly exploring this topic. Read books, take courses, listen to podcasts, and consult with creative colleagues. There are many nuances to understand, especially regarding legal aspects and pricing. It’s crucial to learn how the industry operates and to familiarise yourself with market standards.
Looking back on your journey from Ukraine, through design school, to building a creative life in India. What’s one lesson you keep returning to?
Follow your passion and be true to yourself, your values, and your creative voice, no matter where life takes you. Moving from Ukraine, where I was surrounded by familiar nature and culture, to India, with its vibrant and so different world, taught me that your inner world - your love for what you do, your passion, your kindness - can always guide you. Even when things feel uncertain or overwhelming, I try to trust my path, create from the heart, and stay connected to what matters most.
And finally, what’s a pattern you haven’t designed yet but is on your dream list?
It’s not exactly a pattern but rather an overall creative dream, to draw more of my personal hand-painted projects and hold a personal exhibition.
Read more articles in the Print Edition of Issue 69