We recently connected with Ehara De Zilva and have shared our conversation below.

Ehara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

One of my most favourite projects I have worked on is probably my final second year project for my BA Illustration Animation degree at Kingston University London. The project was called Exploring Practice, and it was a chance to reflect on the choices I made and interests I had developed during my learning journey to complete a project led by me.

During the project, I was quite burnt out in terms of ideas and inspiration. However, the only thing I could think about at the time was apple pie! Thus, the apple then became the entire focus and theme of my project. During my second year, I also developed a strong interest and love for bookbinding and printmaking.

Bringing these three aspects altogether, my Apple Project consists of a screen-printed poster titled an apple a day and a series of 6 different Apple Books, which explores the apple through book form and content. Each book explores the apple in different ways. From the many different varieties to the countless sayings and quotes, the apple has taken over! I love apples and this series of little apple books was made to celebrate the fruit and satisfy cravings.

My Apple Project became very meaningful to me because I was really proud of the amount of work I had produced and through the process of making the work I discovered what I enjoy making as a creative and my speciality as an illustrator. The project became something very representative of my personality and work I wish to create for my future brand and audience.

Ehara, 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?

Hello, my name is Ehara, and I am an illustrator based in Surrey, UK. I am currently in my final year of my BA Illustration Animation degree at Kingston University London. My practice as an illustrator is often research and process-led, with printmaking, bookbinding, writing and drawing being my main methods of communication and production for my work. I love making playful, colourful and endearing illustrations and sometimes the odd animation!

I have worked on a range of projects from book cover illustrations, animated trailers, stationery design and producing publications. I love to share my practice as an artist on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok where my audience can follow my process and practice through my video content. I also recently started an online shop, where I sell my illustrated prints, publications and stationery products.

As a Sri Lankan and a person of colour, I’ve noticed a lack of representation and recognition for creatives who look like me in today’s creative industry. My goal is to grow my brand and small business into a platform that also supports South Asian creatives and other creatives of colour, as well as encouraging greater visibility and creative opportunities for our community.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The obvious rewards of being a creative is getting to pursue your passion and enjoy what you do as a career. However, the most rewarding part, in my opinion, is seeing the impact your work has on the people who engage with it. For me, it’s incredibly rewarding to share my practice both online and through physical creations, sparking conversations and bringing a bit of colour into people’s lives.

What’s even more gratifying, though, is hearing directly from my audience about how my work resonates with them. A memorable example of this was when I was approached by new students at Kingston School of Art. They told me how much they enjoyed watching my videos on YouTube and following my artwork on Instagram. They even shared that my work inspired them to study Illustration Animation at Kingston. Knowing that my creative journey has encouraged others to take steps into their own journey is truly an honour.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Interestingly, pursuing a career in art was something I found quite daunting. Coming from a very typical South Asian upbringing, a career in art was something unheard of. I had no idea what a career in art looked like and whether it was even a “practical” career route, hence why I thought it was something I’d do on the side. However, I was rejected from medical school, which funnily enough was a great relief for my parents, and I took this as a sign from the universe to embrace the unconventional path.

I think going against the grain continues to drive my creative journey. I want to be an example for others who feel that art can only be a hobby, or something they can’t fully commit to. Especially for those who come from backgrounds like mine, I hope my creative journey can be an example where a career in art is not exclusive and it’s not just a passion—it can be a fulfilling career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://edezilva17.wixsite.com/ehara
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/e.h.a.r.a
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@e.h.a.r.a
• Other: TikTok:
  https://www.tiktok.com/@e.h.a.r.a

Image Credits

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