Today, I’m interviewing the spectacularly skilled cartoonist and children’s book writer, Arrthi Little. Arrthi comes from a blend of cultures (Sri Lankan, German, and British), and has found herself uniquely placed to tackle issues, such as language barriers and stereotyping. Notably, she had designed a greeting card for the Thinking of You Week campaign, which incorporated her theme of creating connections between people. I think we can all agree, greeting cards with well-placed illustrations can extend their messages to all people, no matter their languages.
With that introduction out of the way, I hope you’re as interested as I am to find out more about Arrthi, below.
Hi Arrthi! Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed. Let’s get straight into the first question … Looking through your website, your artistic style was immediately apparent. I know achieving a unique and consistent style can be difficult for creatives, and I was wondering if you could describe how you developed your style; and, in particular, were there any struggles along the way?
Thank you for interviewing me, Shahema, and what a great question to start with! I would say the pivotal point of creating my own drawing style came around a decade ago, in my early twenties. I was keen to show off my skills as a new BA (Hon) graduate. I did all kinds of techniques to demonstrate that I can design to suit any aesthetic. However, I felt I had no identity as an artist, nor a style that people can instantly recognise or associate with me. It was not until I settled for the unashamedly cute, that I started to really carve out my own look – ‘Cute, Chubby, Cheeky!’
My personal experience of being an illustrator and a designer is that clients often believe artwork happens very quickly. But we both know that’s not the case. To really highlight how much work goes into being an artist, I’m going to pretend I’m a client. Arrthi, I’d like you to design an illustration for a greeting card – what is your process for achieving the final result?
Firstly, you typically design a range rather than a single design. If I was asked to design a new greeting card range, I would like to know the theme and who the target audience is (for example dinosaurs for preschoolers). I would select a few classic dinosaurs that people are familiar with. I would play with the poses and expressions, letting my imagination take off. Once I am happy with the designs, I would finish it off with a strong colour palette. FYI – I am launching my own children’s dinosaur card range next year!
The impression I have gotten (please correct me if I’m wrong), is that you’re currently self-employed. For anyone who is considering working for themselves, could you please highlight anything you wish you knew before you chose to be self-employed?
Yes, I am self-employed! To be honest, when I graduated from my animation degree I thought I was going to get a job in a studio. Although, I am glad I persisted with freelancing, as being self-employed allows me the time, between commissions, to really focus on my own work. All I would say is that it’s not for everyone; it can be an isolating lifestyle. You have to be determined and focused. Self discipline is everything!
What are the best parts of your job?
The best part is working on my own projects. And I have chosen to hone my area of expertise to commercially appealing content for children. Creating positive works that will entertain and inspire. There is also a therapeutic part of my job when it comes to inking and colouring. The added thrill is when I pump up the tunes (^_^). It’s bliss!
And, finally, are there any projects or goals you’re currently working on, and would like to share? I’m excited to know what’s coming …
Thank you! It’s always nice to get reactions of excitement. I am currently working on a middle grade comedy. It’s a comic book – rags to riches memoir about a loris named ‘Rameni’. I am also launching a range of children’s greeting cards early next year. My collections include dinosaurs, animals and robots. Alongside these is my humour brand, the ‘Cheeky Legends’, who are a group of mythical, free-spirited nudists. It’s a collection of pun-based greeting cards that will make you laugh!
Sadly, that brings us to the end of the interview. If you loved getting a glimpse into the world of Arrthi, I would highly recommend following her from the links below.
Until next time, readers, take care!
Interviewer: Shahema Tafader
ARRTHI LITTLE
Arrthi (Arty) Little is a cartoonist and children's writer based in Hampshire with a background in character design. Her mission is to create a universal beacon of positivity using an array of entertaining stories and empathetic characters.
