Tell us about yourself and your journey?
I’m Seetul, an Architect and an emerging Illustrator. My creative journey began during the 2020 lockdown and since then I've been balancing these two worlds. By day I'm immersed in architectural projects, primarily focusing on large-scale commercial projects. However, my evenings and weekends are dedicated to my passion for illustration, brand identity design, and bespoke commissions. My work draws inspiration from my love for travel, weaving the stories of my journeys into each piece. At Seetul Illustrates, it's a solo endeavour for now, and my cosy study in North-West London is the centre of my creative process, where I'm surrounded by my trusty tools and a world of inspiration.
5 things to know about me:
1) I am a qualified architect, having studied for over eight years! This background lends a unique perspective to my artwork.
3) My living room is a vibrant greenhouse filled with over 100 houseplants, all of which I draw inspiration from.
5) I find joy in designing and crafting beautiful, vibrant wedding stationery. My favourite part is combining elaborate details, vivid colours, and personal touches that transform a simple piece of paper into a meaningful keepsake for couples embarking on their journey together.
7) Travel and exploration are at the heart of my work. My illustrations gather experiences, cultures, and stories I've encountered during my trips. Each piece is like a visual diary, preserving the essence of the places I've been and the people I've met along the way.
9) I've been fortunate to produce bespoke commissions for The South Asian Film Festival in Los Angeles, provide a South Asian-themed graphic identity for Kedleston Hall working with the National Trust, and have had the opportunity to run multiple illustration stalls across London, including at the Urban Outfitters Flagship Store on Oxford Street.
Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
The world itself! I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience the beauty of diverse places such as Rajasthan, Bali, Sri Lanka, Mexico, and Vietnam. These trips have significantly influenced my creative journey, with the aim to capture the cultures, architecture, and the people that inhabit these spaces. Travelling allows me to immerse myself in these different environments, and I embrace these unique experiences. My work often combines these moments with my Indian heritage, which strongly impacts my artistic style.
Tell us about the creative process behind your work...
My South-Asian heritage and architecture are the two primary sources of my inspiration. The process begins by looking into my journeys for cultural inspiration. I have a practice of sketching places I've visited, which is why I make sure to capture plenty of reference photos during my travels. I then use these as a starting point to create mood boards using digital platforms such as Pinterest, helping me visually guide the direction of my work. Once the research and inspiration phases are complete, I move over to a digital drawing board – my iPad. Here, I sketch out my ideas, selecting a fitting colour palette (often characterised by matching the vibrancy of the print's location), and dive straight into the intricate details of the piece. I often get lost in this space of drawing for a while, but after development and iteration, I usually emerge with exactly the combination of detailed work I intended. In essence, my process is a blend of real-world experience, digital inspiration and, most importantly, just getting stuck in!
Sum up your art style in 3 words... intricate, personal & vibrant.
When I’m not designing, you’ll find me... indulging in a wide range of my other interests. I enjoy cycling, exploring makers markets, going to new restaurants in and around London, and getting lost in the pages of a good book. Though, most likely, I will be planning my next travel trip!
What’s next for Seetul Illustrates?
To keep the creative momentum going, my focus is on getting on with even more drawing. I have quite a few small business makers markets in the pipeline, and I'm actively working on a series of client commissions. However, my biggest ongoing project is building up my collection of prints, drawing inspiration from the places I've travelled over the last year or so. I'm really excited to get going on these new pieces of work!
Join Seetul on her creative journey @seetul_illustrates.
