Maheswari Janarthanan
Maheswari Janarthanan is an artist, illustrator, and designer. Her work is an expression of her love of art, beauty, nature, and people. The art she creates is a fusion of both the real world and imagined worlds. Over the course of her career she has worked with a variety of clients including The Jungalow, CreativeMornings, Diaspora Spices, Mijita Wine Co., Santa Clara Magazine, and Masala Chai, and her work has been featured by a range of publications like Architectural Digest, Buzzfeed, and Studio DIY.
Hi Maheswari! Tell us about yourself - how did you get to where you are today? What first sparked your interest in design?
Right from my childhood, I was very interested in art and crafts. I was a silent, shy child who preferred staying home and painting rather than going out and playing with friends. My interest in fine arts led me to study art and design in college, and this opened up a whole new world for me.
Maheswari Janarthanan
How would you describe your aesthetic and how has your design style changed over time?
It has taken me a while to develop my design style, and I am happy with it right now. My aesthetic is a mix of folk art and bohemian styles. My exposure to different art forms, working with people from different cultures and backgrounds, and my love for travel and interiors have really helped me develop my style and taste.
What is your creative process like and how do you approach creative collaboration with clients or teammates?
My creative process is pretty basic and simple. The first thing I do when I start a new project is to research and find inspiration online and offline, followed by rough sketches and many revisions until the final artwork is created. It is pretty much the same creative process for other mediums like ceramic and paintings.
What has been one of your favorite projects that you've worked on so far? What would be a dream project?
Recently, I created illustrations for a wine label called Mijita Wine Co., and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed working on this project, and I am happy with the way the designs have come out. The main reason I was able to enjoy working on this project was the freedom I was given by my client. Throughout my career, I have worked with some incredible people. My dream project would be to create editorial illustrations for magazines. I enjoy flipping through travel and food magazines and admiring the illustrations.
Where do you find inspiration?
People and nature are my greatest inspirations. I can spend hours in a botanical garden just admiring all the flowers and plants. The detail and the design blows me away. Music and books also inspire me.
Do you have any favorite design resources or tools that you use in your work?
Alliance Graphique Internationale, Pinterest, and I follow a lot of art and design accounts on Instagram. All my digital artworks are created using Adobe Creative Suite. When I am painting I usually prefer using Gouache, colored pencils, and pastels.
What advice would you give to designers who are just starting out?
Practice, practice, and more practice. I can see how my style has evolved over the years with constant practice. Though there were times when I wanted to give up, my love of art and design kept me going.
What are you working on now and what’s up next for you?
Right now, I am working on wedding card Illustrations. I have been thinking of learning motion graphics - I always find myself very intimidated when it comes to animation and all the technicalities. I want to challenge myself and take up this personal project.
Thank you for sharing with us Maheswari! To view more of Maheswari’s work, visit her website and follow her on Instagram.
Maheswari was nominated by Noun Project. All art courtesy of Maheswari Janarthanan.