For this talented South Asian illustrator, art is more than a profession—it’s a blend of texture, story, and passion. From childhood memories in India to working with global publishing giants, her journey has been one of exploration and creativity. Now based in New York, she juggles her full-time role at Scholastic with freelance picture book projects, infusing her unusual, textured style into every piece.
Maithili, your illustrations are so full of life and texture! Can you tell us the process behind achieving that rich, textured look in your work?
I’ve always been fond of textures! It’s one of the first things that draws me to a piece of art. Before I switched to a digital medium, I worked mostly with coloured pencils. I noticed that they mimicked the natural texture of the paper that I was using. I thought it was beautiful! So, when I switched to a digital medium, I tried and tested multiple brushes/techniques to make sure I was maintaining that effect in my work.
You grew up in India and are now based in New York. How have these two very different environments influenced your art style?
That’s a great question! Though they are at other ends of the planet, the cities that have influenced my work are similar. I grew up in a chaotic city in Maharashtra with lots of sounds, bright colours and movement. Cut to New York City, which is just as crazy. But in both these cities, as fast-paced as they are, you will always find peace. And I think that is reflected in a lot of my pieces where, within the overly cluttered backgrounds, the character is undisturbed.
How has a childhood memory influenced your creative work?
A couple of years ago, I made an illustration of our family’s first car- A Maruti 800. We travelled all over Maharashtra in this car and had some of the best family memories. It was my dad’s first car and then my mom’s until it became unusable.
We had to sell it at some point, I hoped we wouldn’t. The owner doesn’t drive it but uses it to block their parking spot in the city. In my illustration (04), I show it stuck up in a tree, can’t be used or driven, but is simply treasured.
You’re working full-time, while also illustrating for various publishers. How do you balance these two roles?
It’s very difficult, but I truly enjoy both jobs. I create a spreadsheet with all the dates I need to hit for the next three months and go from there. I block out certain days/weeks/weekends for specific projects and work most evenings after 9-5 and on Sundays. For anyone planning on doing this- it is very important to take breaks! You want to always put your health first. It’s always best to be honest with your publisher/ team about your workload and let them know beforehand if you’re going to be missing a deadline.
