Richa Bhembre

Tell us something interesting about yourself:
Hi, I’m Richa. I’m an illustrator from the sunny shores of Goa, India — powered by doodles, dreams, and an unreasonable number of dogs (the more, the merrier).

When I’m not drawing or daydreaming, I’m probably vibing to music that makes my sketchbook dance.
I create art that’s equal parts whimsy and mild chaos — with a sprinkle of dog hair for authenticity.

Current job title:
Freelance Illustrator.

How would you describe your identity?
Indian.

Tell us your favourite medium for reading:
Books.

Tell us your favourite location for reading:
On my bed, with a hot cup of coffee or tea.

Book title:
Not specified.

What inspired your creative process in writing or illustrating your book?
I take into consideration the people, location, and small details in the book before I start doing my research.
Obviously, travelling helps in finding ideas and inspirations :)

Favourite character or moment from the book – and why?
Favourite character – Shoo – it’s cute, playful, and comes of help when required :)

What themes or messages does your book raise?
The importance of accepting and embracing a child's unique differences and nurturing their individual talents, rather than trying to force them to conform to societal pressures.

How would you describe your artistic or writing style in three words?
Vibrant, intricate, and fun.

What aspect of the story did you most connect with, and how did it shape your illustrations?
I connected with the people and location, and I was able to use my experiences to create illustration characters and landscapes that went with the book.

Materials and techniques used for this book’s illustrations:
Adobe Photoshop / Procreate.

Favourite illustration – and why?
I love the illustration of the police explaining the scenarios of where locals would have spotted Kabir… I think it’s very fun and intricate, and I loved illustrating it.