The Magical World of Illustrator Taarika John

The bus is about to leave, people get on and off quickly. A hand quickly grabs the railing of the entrance door, before the bus closes its doors. He walks a few steps to find a seat in the back, finds it and immediately takes a book out of the heavy backpack he carries, closes his backpack and opens his book with the excitement of a child opening a present. In front of everything that happens, an artist observes him carefully and begins what she never imagined as a child, which would become her passion and profession; draw.

Taarika John, an Indian artist who has lived in New York since 2019, started in the art world at an early age. She spent many hours redrawing her favorite pictures and there was no family celebration where she didn't give away her signature drawing of "Taarika John Production".

We had the opportunity to talk with her and she told us about her beginnings, the brands she has worked with and how her parents motivated her to follow what she was so passionate about.

Since what age did you start with your illustrations?

I started drawing at a very young age. My parents encouraged me to be curious and to create. Every birthday, anniversary, or celebration in my family was a reason to make a hand-drawn card branded with a "Taarika John Production" logo on the back. I was also a voracious reader, and I especially enjoyed looking at the illustrations, sometimes spending hours attempting to carefully redraw my favorite images. Reading evoked my interest in storytelling and has continued to cultivate it. 

Looking back, it seems obvious to me that this is what I should be doing, but it took me a long time to see it. I went to college to study Graphic Design but constantly found excuses to incorporate drawing into my work. I worked in advertising, publishing, and events and constantly worked on personal and professional illustration projects in my spare time. It was only several years later that I gave myself permission to take the plunge into full-time illustration. 

We know that you are from India and currently reside in New York. How long have you lived in NY?. Do the illustrations you made at that time have much to do with the cultural change you experienced in those years?

I came to New York in 2019 to attend graduate school. Living in New York definitely influences my work. A lot of my work is observational and reflects my surroundings and experiences. My approach to creating this work is still the same, but my subjects and themes reflect my environment. 

What inspires you when creating your illustrations?

It's the ordinary that most often fascinates me, the mundane moments, routine, order, monotony - I'm always attempting to document daily life. My process and practice are personal and selfish; I make my art because I feel compelled to but this also makes it that much more meaningful to me when the work resonates with others. 

How do you define your art?

I like to think of my art as a way to document my life - what I see, think, feel, consume and contemplate, conversations I overhear, snippets of strangers' lives observed in parks and public spaces, stories people tell me, everything I think is essential to documenting my lived human experience. 

Dunkin / Taarika John

What do you consider has been your greatest challenge in the world of illustration?

Professional illustration requires you to wear several hats. You have to handle marketing and accounts, client relationships, fee negotiations and contracts, and social media, besides the actual research, iterations, and execution of each project. It can also be a lonely career, requiring many solitary hours spent drawing at your desk and a great deal of self-motivation. Juggling so many different things at once can often be overwhelming, but I can't imagine doing anything else.

We know that you are a graduate of the MFA illustration program at the School of Visual Arts, we congratulate you on that achievement. What do you consider have been the most significant contributions to your career as an illustrator and visual artist after graduating from MFA?

My time at SVA allowed me to focus on my creative work without the distractions and pressures of professional life. It allowed me to dedicate more time to writing and acknowledge that it was a significant component of my practice. This opened new doors to old ideas and accelerated new ones. This time has helped me find my voice as an artist and influenced the work I'm making today. 

Over The Top / Taarika John

Which one(s) are your favorite visual artists and why?

There are so many artists that inspire me; the list would be too long!. Of course, some of my favorite artists are my classmates from my time at SVA - Carles G.O.D, Arif Qazi, John Rego, and Karlotta Freier - all creating brilliant and inspiring work. 

You have done many collaborations with brands like: WeWork, Nat Geo Traveler, Levi's, Red Bull and others. What advice would you give to all those artists and illustrators who have not yet been able to make large collaborations and see their work much more exposed, like yours?

There's no shortcut to practicing and honing your craft; the more you draw, the better you get. But I think it also helps to be purposeful about the work you are making. Look closely at the work of artists you admire; what is it that appeals to you, and what makes the image work?. It's also helpful to identify what kinds of projects you would like to be hired for. It can be tempting to be a jack of all trades, but it might be more helpful to focus on a few things you are passionate about and can be really good at. People can only hire you based on what they see in your portfolio. If you haven't had the opportunity to make editorial illustrations but really want to, make your version for an article you enjoyed reading. Personal projects can be powerful; make the work you want to get paid to do.

Are new projects coming up this year?

I'm working on many short comic projects, and I'm also hoping to finally complete my graphic memoir project from last year.

Midnight Snack / Taarika John

MTA Men / Taarika John