We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Pearl D’Souza a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Pearl thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I often wonder what it would be like to work a regular job, a 9-5 that might suck the soul out of me for the hours I put in. But a job that also allowed me to completely disconnect from it once I am off the clock.

Being an artist/illustrator was always my goal, whether I consciously knew it or not. The fact that I now draw for a living is often a though that makes me teary eyed because I feel overwhelmingly grateful that I can create and share not only because I have to but because I want to. However being a creative also means associating your passion with money and that inevitably leads to phases where creating no longer feels fun or fulfilling. My work is also space where I am my most vulnerable self. It is linked to my day to day life, my mental health, the people around me, etc. Often times when I am struggling in one or more of these areas, my works takes a hit because I am unable to draw from myself.

In recent months I have been struggling with anxiety and depression. And while these issues are not exclusive to creatives, I can see my work deteriorate and suffer by the day. My work often demands a number of things from me (problem solving abilities, vulnerability, a unique voice to name a few) all of which are dynamic meaning no work day will be the same. The ability to quickly adjust and adapt while also maintaining your individuality as an artist is a balancing act I am still learning.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Pearl D’Souza. I am an illustrator and visual artist from Goa, India. My work reflects my passion for mental health, gender, the environment, feminism and social good issues on a larger scale. I also have a keen eye for local design and storytelling through comics. In a country like India, there is always an interesting balance between the old and the new, history and modernisation and tradition. My work attempts to explore all the interesting and often neglected in between spaces. I also love to explore the natural world through my work and can be found drawing plants and flowers in my journal

I am an independent illustrator that is trying to balance commercial and personal work. I have worked with clients like Google, Snapchat, FRIDA Fun, VOICE Amplified, Fila and Tinder to name a few. My commercial work includes illustration, storytelling, publication design and website design. I also run an online shop where I produce digital and handmade goods such as stickers, art prints, zines, clay trinkets, bags, etc. Here is where I channel all my personal work and values. I love being able to provide affordable art to people around the country, knowing that there is a piece of me that someone cherishes and loves. While my small business is not yet as profitable as I’d like it to be, I am still incredibly proud to be able to have my work travel. Being able to create freely and have people validate your work and experience is a special feeling.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

As a young illustrator in college, success meant fame. Being on social media and equating the value of your work with followers and likes really solidified this idea in my head. I was ‘good’ only if I was famous, on social media and in real life. I saw peers and artists I looked up to at the time get featured on lists with titles that read ‘Top 20 Indian illustrators to look out for’ and it made me feel like I was less than. Even though I was putting in a 100% of my efforts, I wasn’t being recognised for it. But as I began to work and grow in the industry, I came to the realisation that these lists didn’t matter. This took me a couple of years to fully process and unlearn. High numbers on social media and follower counts were all great, but it didn’t guarantee success or good work. I saw the same peers and artist work hit a wall, I saw them burn out, I witnessed their work decline. And fame didn’t help with any of that. I slowly began to learn that staying consistent with my work and making sure I am growing and learning is most important for my practise. The last few years have really been about focussing on creating a unique voice for myself that sets me apart from others in the industry. I am making sure I put in the hours so that I can redefine success for myself.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

With my small business in particular, the goal has always been to provide affordable art to anyone that came across my work. Art and design very often becomes a very exclusionary space simply because people cannot afford it. As a college student I rarely had enough money in my small budget to spend on a graphic novel I wanted or an art print I loved. Now even though I am on the other side of it, I still think about that college kid who just wanted to have pretty things, who wanted to express herself by putting up posters on her wall or wearing a tshirt by her favourite artist. It is this that fuels me to keep creating and keep selling so that everyone can have a tiny piece of art that they can afford and that makes their home a tiny bit more special.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pearldsouza.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pearl.dsouza/