We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Apurva Kulkarni a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Apurva, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve always loved cartoons and anime—they were a huge part of my childhood. In high school, I used to sketch chibi caricatures of my friends and favourite characters just for fun. But as life got busier with studies and work, I gradually let go of those “cutesy” drawings, never really considering art as a professional path.

Fast forward to 2019—I had to take a leave of absence from work and research studies due to health reasons, which left me with a lot of free time at home. Not long after, the world shut down due to COVID-19, and suddenly, I had nowhere to go and had all the time in the world. That’s when I found myself picking up my Wacom tablet (which had been collecting dust for ages) and creating cartoon-style illustrations for my brother’s friends’ kids. It was the first time in years that drawing brought me real joy.

But, as things returned to normal, so did my routine, and once again, art took a back seat. However, it seemed like drawing wasn’t ready to let *me* go just yet. In 2022, another life pause gave me the chance to dive back into illustration—only this time, I decided to take it more seriously.

Not knowing exactly where to begin, I started with food illustrations and posted them on Instagram—completely clueless about social media strategy. That’s when I stumbled upon Instagram art challenges and I started participating in prompt-based drawings and DITYS challenges. Through that experience, I connected with many wonderful artists and found myself embraced by a supportive and inspiring community. For the first time, I truly felt like I belonged. Surrounded by encouragement and creativity, I naturally found my way back to drawing caricatures—almost without even realizing it!

And THAT was my light-bulb moment. It hit me—*this* was what had been missing in my life all along!

Apurva, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi! I’m Apurva—a professional illustrator, design lecturer, and PhD researcher in design. My journey has taken me across different creative landscapes, from freelancing for private clients and a publishing company in India to academic research and teaching.

Born and raised in Mumbai, I’ve always been drawn to the world of art and design. My passion led me to Milan, Italy, where I pursued my master’s degree, and later to Melbourne, Australia, for my PhD. However, life had other plans, and I moved back to Mumbai, where I now continue my research work remotely while working as a lecturer and illustrator.

As an illustrator, I specialize in creating playful and cute artwork, often drawing inspiration from cartoons and anime characters. Whether it’s food illustrations, whimsical caricatures, or engaging visual storytelling, I love bringing a sense of joy and positivity to my work.

What sets me apart? I blend my academic design expertise with my artistic passion, allowing me to approach illustration with both creativity and a deep understanding of design principles. I strive to create illustrations that not only look good but also communicate effectively—whether for books, branding, or personal commissions.

One of the things I’m most proud of is rediscovering my love for illustration after years of putting it on the back burner. It’s proof that creativity has a way of finding its way back to you when you’re meant to pursue it!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Life has a way of pushing us toward unexpected pivots, and one of my biggest shifts happened when I had to move back to Mumbai from Melbourne during my PhD. It was a challenging transition—I had to rethink how I would continue my research while also figuring out my next steps professionally. At the same time, I found myself reconnecting with illustration, something I had loved but never considered as a serious career path.

During this period, I created ‘Citrus Flower’ (@citrus_flower15 on Instagram)—a name that, to me, represents both resilience and creativity. Just like a citrus flower thrives despite changing seasons, I found myself rediscovering my artistic side amid uncertainty. What started as a personal creative outlet slowly grew into something more. I began sharing my illustrations online, taking on freelance projects, and immersing myself in the creative community.

This pivot taught me that sometimes, change is the very thing that helps us bloom in ways we never expected. ‘Citrus Flower’ became a symbol of that growth—a reminder that even in difficult transitions, there’s an opportunity to create something fresh, vibrant, and meaningful.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Supporting artists and fostering a thriving creative ecosystem requires a collective effort from society—individuals, businesses, and institutions alike. One of the biggest challenges artists face is the undervaluation of their work, whether through low pay, lack of opportunities, or the misconception that art is just a hobby rather than a viable profession. Encouraging fair compensation, investing in arts education, and creating more platforms for artists to showcase their work are some ways to uplift the creative community.

In today’s digital age, AI has added a new layer of complexity to the creative industry. While AI can be a great tool to enhance productivity and assist artists in certain tasks, it’s important to recognize the difference between AI-generated images and the work of artists who spend years honing their craft, pouring their time, effort, and emotions into each piece. AI should be used as a tool to support and inspire artists, not as a way to devalue or replace them. Misusing AI to mass-produce art without crediting or compensating artists is unfair and unethical.

To truly support artists, we need to strike a balance—embracing technology while ensuring that human creativity remains at the forefront. This means advocating for ethical AI usage, protecting artists’ rights, and fostering an environment where originality and artistic effort are celebrated rather than undermined.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.behance.net/citrus_flower15
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citrus_flower15/

Image Credits

@citrus_flower15