HELLO!

I’m Asawari Padhye, a children’s book author/illustrator from India. I am so glad to have you visiting my website.

I am an engineer by education and an artist at heart. Books have been my close companions since childhood. It is in the warmth of their words that I often seek solace. Through my kid-lit books, I wish to create the same sense of safety, belonging and amusement that I have been so graciously offered. 

As you take a tour of my work, you would be introduced to an underlying theme of storytelling. Each illustration is accompanied by a tale, inspired either from a personal memory or creative imagination. That’s why my illustrations are filled with warm expressions and a wide range of characters; humans and animals alike.

Apart from being in zone drawing, I enjoy meditating, practising yoga, reading books, watching animated movies, practising Kathak (an Indian classical dance form) or simply taking a slow-paced walk in nature with nothing but my thoughts.

I have been a member of SCBWI community since year 2022. Being a complete novice, I studied the art of kid-lit illustrations from scratch by attending courses from SVSLearn and Storyteller Academy. These courses helped me familiarize myself with the fundamentals like proper techniques of drawing, importance of value studies and the choice of color schemes as well as advanced topics such as character design, writing and revising manuscript, creating and submitting picture book dummy, etc. This in-depth professional guidance has been a key factor in paving my path in the children’s books world.

Today, I feel confident enough to be writing and illustrating my first picture book along with developing my portfolio. Getting published and represented are the next major milestones on my creative journey.