In conversation with Aishwarya Varadharaj

Hi, I’m Aishwarya Varadharaj, an illustrator based in Chennai, India.

If you’d asked me a few years ago whether I always wanted to be an illustrator, I probably would have laughed and pointed you toward a stack of architectural drawings. I originally trained as an architect, a field grounded in sketching, design thinking, and problem-solving. Creativity was always part of the process. But illustration was something I did alongside it, quietly and consistently.

I don’t think I ever stopped drawing. Even when my life looked like something else. Some stories wait patiently until you’re ready to tell them.

As a child, I was a huge bookworm. Fantasy stories. Illustrated worlds. The kind of books you disappear into and come back from slightly changed. Those stories shaped my imagination in ways I didn’t fully understand back then. I was always building worlds in my head, characters, places, entire universes that felt very real to me.

Looking back, it all makes sense.

How I Became a Professional Illustrator

My illustration career began as a side hustle while I was working full-time as an architect. I spent evenings and weekends freelancing, taking on small illustration commissions for family and friends. What started as a creative outlet slowly grew into something much bigger.

There was someone very close to me who kept telling me, “What you do is special.”

I didn’t believe it at first. Not fully. But they believed it - enough for both of us.

That belief changed everything. It changed how I saw my work and how I saw myself. It gave me the courage to step toward what felt natural instead of what felt expected.

Project by project, illustration became my focus. In 2021, I officially transitioned into full-time illustration. It was intimidating, but it was also the most rewarding decision I have made.

My First Year with Bright Agency

I joined Bright just over a year ago, and it has been an incredibly supportive and motivating experience. Having representation as an illustrator made a real difference, not only professionally but creatively. Being backed by a team that understands your work allows you to focus on what you do best.

Booking my first project through Bright felt surreal. There was excitement, nerves, and a touch of imposter syndrome. But the process was smooth and reassuring. Clear communication, trust in my creative direction, and space to experiment made it a genuinely positive experience and set the tone for future projects.

Traditional Illustration and Digital Workflow

During college, I loved working with traditional tools like pens, ink, and paint. There’s something timeless about putting marks on paper. That tactile quality still influences how I think about illustration today.

These days, I work primarily on my iPad. Digital illustration gives me flexibility, speed, and endless room to experiment without worrying about spills or wasted materials. I can iterate freely, adjust compositions, and push ideas further.

My style lives somewhere between those two worlds, traditional illustration sensibilities paired with modern digital tools.

Building the World of Mice Unite

One of the most challenging parts of illustrating Mice Unite was imagining everything from Casper’s perspective. When your main character is a mouse, scale changes everything. A doorway becomes monumental. A room becomes a landscape.

Casper was the most fun character to draw. His expressive emotions and adventurous spirit made every pose enjoyable to design. Illustrating his reactions and movements was a highlight of the project.

Even though I have not visited London yet, I immersed myself in research. Virtual walks through streets. Tube stations. Quiet interiors. I studied light, textures, atmosphere, and detail. I wanted the settings to feel authentic while still carrying a sense of whimsy.

My process started with loose sketches and thumbnails. I allowed myself to explore freely before refining compositions digitally on my iPad. Working digitally lets me experiment endlessly, adjusting movement, expressions, and lighting until everything feels right. Some spreads came together quickly, while others took multiple versions before they felt balanced.

Dream Projects and What Comes Next

While children’s book illustration holds a special place in my heart, my dream projects extend beyond one format.

I am drawn to branding identity projects, packaging illustration, and illustration-led campaigns where storytelling shapes the entire visual language. I love leading creative projects from concept to final execution, building cohesive worlds that live across formats.

At the core of everything I do is narrative. Whether it is a picture book, a brand identity, or illustrated packaging, I want the work to feel immersive, thoughtful, and intentional. I want people to step into the world and stay there for a while.

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To work with Aishwarya, get in contact here.