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Kalyani Ganapathy

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From A is for Anaar, written by Aruna Hatti, illustrated by Kalyani Ganapathy

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Illustrated stories in conservation, Current Conservation 2014

Her name is ‘Lilli’
A purple Billi,*
And far from silly!

Streaks of rose,
Around her nose,
And pretty little toes!

She’s positively well fed,
With a collar that’s red,
She sits in a flower bed!

*Billi = Cat in Hindi

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Mixed Media on Water Color Paper, personal work

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Artwork for Ruskin Bond’s Big Book of Animal Stories

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From Memory box, 2013. All the little things that surface after the rain. My life in the Western Ghats.

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Original artwork from The King’s Harvest by Chetan Raj Shrestha


Artist_Photo_UttamArtist Statement: I have always loved books and stories. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t hooked on Enid Blyton. I graduated in Advertising and Graphic Design after being repeatedly told I wasn’t good at drawing. After an internship in advertising, where I ended up deciding I would never come back, working at graphic design studios and a stint in textiles, I discovered that I really wanted to draw. I started drawing small narratives that I would write, and in a few weeks someone actually bought my artwork and I have never looked back. In a year I sent out a portfolio to publishers across India. Most didn’t revert, some called my style too niche, a few challenged me to translate my work for bookshelves.

Being an illustrator in publishing allows me to be a child again, to relive that wonder of being little, when I was in awe of the world. I illustrate fiction book jackets, books for children, and textiles.

Over the last year, I have ranged from being an illustrator with a brief synopsis and a two week deadline, to one who works closely with authors, translating their vision into a visual story. I enjoy the process tremendously. Increasingly, I see myself fitting into this role with ease. I’m currently working with a few authors. My newest role, however, is creating visual conservation stories for children and adults, which will begin next year.

In the future I aspire to create a book for children and adults without the written word.

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