Anisha Kotibhaskar is an artist, a children’s book author, a content writer by day, and a mother 24×7. She has two bachelor’s degrees—one in Education and another in Microbiology, and a master’s degree in Communication Studies.

Other than creating and exhibiting paintings, Anisha loves to write for children—stories that are more about the magic of everyday lives than those about fantasy. 

We asked her about her latest project as an illustrator, KUHU LEARNS TO DEAL WITH LIFE by Sonia Dogra.

How did you approach this book? 

Starting a project always begins with understanding the context and setting of a story. In this case, it was a middle-class family living in the hills. It helped to search similar pictures available on the internet. The best part is when you know what you have to show, but there is always room to add your touch to it. That’s what I did.

What is your favourite type of design work?

I enjoy making hand-drawn illustrations, though it may be considered old-school by some. But I enjoy sketching, erasing, and getting my hands dirty with colours.

What is your favourite design tech?

My favourite design tech would be a real brush! Though I am quite a beginner in the digital work, I enjoy working on Canva.

How do you adapt to new styles or techniques? 

Styles come and go, but some things remain evergreen, like your pencil and paper. I enjoy seeing works of other artists on Pinterest, and if I like something, I try to take inspiration from it. Austin Kleon, author of the bestseller STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST, says that at the end of the day, we copy from one another, but even when we do that, we bring something of ours into it, making it unique. 

What is your greatest career accomplishment?

I feel grateful for having published five children’s books, which were written and illustrated by me. And I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon. I love creating things for children, engaging them in different ways, and delivering delightful experiences through books. 

Is there a question you would have liked us to ask you but we didn’t?

Yes, a question like ‘What’s your take on AI-generated illustrations?’ Being able to feel, comprehend, emote, and produce is a truly human capability. Hence, I will always support art generated with hands (or a stylus pen). Especially when it comes to books and stories, translating an emotion into pictures is what we humans are good at. Let’s not outsource what we do not need to outsource.