We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nikitha Raju. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nikitha below.

Alright, Nikitha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

For me, it wasn’t one big dramatic moment, it was more like something slowly unfolding and then clicking during COVID.
Growing up, I never thought art could be taken up as a profession. It just wasn’t encouraged as it was hard to get consistent income, and honestly I didn’t even know it was an option. My mom used to tell me I had a natural talent and should pursue it, but I never listened. Instead, I chased other dreams, I even became a pilot for a few years (thanks to my dad who believed in me the most) because I wanted adventure and loved every bit of it, and later I moved to the US, started working in IT, and became a mom.

During COVID, I was working from home full time as a young mom, and I was very overwhelmed, anxious, and disconnected from myself. I was also diagnosed with postpartum depression, and I felt like I was losing who I was.

That’s when art came back into my life in a way that felt different, it wasn’t just a hobby anymore, it felt like me again. I would paint during nap times, and thanks to my husband stepping in to take care of our son, and those little pockets of time gave me so much relief. When I started prepping for my first holiday markets in Sacramento, I realized this was something I wanted to share beyond just myself.

That’s when I knew, I didn’t just want to make art, I wanted to build a creative path around it.

From painting and surface design to art journaling and holding space for therapeutic art sessions online, it’s become more than just what I do, it’s who I am.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Nikitha Raju, a surface designer, illustrator, and therapeutic art facilitator based in Sacramento, California.

Creativity has always been a part of me, but my path here wasn’t straightforward.

I grew up in Bangalore, India in a time when art wasn’t really seen as a career choice. Most people were encouraged to pursue engineering, medicine, or management. I had a more adventurous path, trained as a pilot for a few years before moving to the US, building a career in IT, and becoming a mom.

It wasn’t until COVID that I truly came back to art in a serious way. Working full time from home, caring for my young son, and struggling with postpartum depression left me feeling disconnected from myself.

Art became my way back. What started as painting during nap times grew into preparing for local holiday markets, selling my work, and slowly building a creative practice that feels like home to me.

Today I create surface pattern designs and illustrations inspired by nature, everyday life. My work has been licensed for products like children’s apparel. I also sell products directly, like yoga mats, greeting cards, gift wrap, tea towel calendars, and more, often created with a soft, playful, nature-inspired aesthetic that people tell me feels calming and joyful.

Another side of my work is therapeutic art. I guide people through art journaling and creative practices as a way to release stress, reconnect with themselves, and find clarity. My sessions aren’t clinical therapy, but they are safe, supportive spaces where people can slow down, look inward, and express themselves through color, texture, and creative play.

I think what sets me apart is this blend of design and healing, on one side I create art that people can use, gift, or surround themselves with, and on the other, I help people tap into their own creativity as a form of self-care and emotional release using breath work, EFT and Ho’oponopono techniques.

What I’m most proud of is that I’ve built this path by staying true to both sides of myself, the designer who loves patterns, color, and bringing ideas to life on products, and the facilitator who holds space for people to feel lighter, calmer, and more connected through art.

I want people to know that my brand is about more than just pretty things, it’s about creating with purpose, building community, and making space for joy, expression, and healing.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I think NFTs opened up an interesting space for digital artists and AI art.

They give creatives a chance to monetize their work in new ways and connect with collectors who value digital ownership.

But personally, my heart is more in creating tangible art, things people can hold and feel the textures, use, or experience, whether that’s a journal, a card, a yoga mat, or even a guided art session using different art media like paints, colors pensils, soft pastels, clay, etc

I love that sense of connection that comes from someone engaging with my work in their everyday life.

So while I see the value in NFTs, it’s just not the direction I feel drawn to right now.

I think one of the biggest challenges right now is how much attention and money flows to big box stores and big brands.

They dominate the market, and it makes it harder for small businesses and individual creatives to be noticed, even though the quality of what we create is often just as good, most of the time even better.

I believe artists and makers deserve to be given a real chance, and to be paid fairly for the work they put in.

It’s also frustrating that many big companies use ideas or art from small vendors, repackage it, and sell it for a big profit while the original artist gets a fraction.

If society really wants to support artists, it means choosing to buy from local makers, valuing originality and authenticity , and understanding that behind every product there’s someone’s time, story, energy which means recognizing the real investment, the cost of materials, the hours of labor, the trial and error, that goes into making something by hand or creating a service.

For me, a thriving creative ecosystem is one where small businesses, independent artists, and makers are celebrated, supported, and fairly compensated.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nikitharaju.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bynikitharaju/