We got an interview with Akshara and she told us more about herself: "I'm Akshara Ashok, a 24-year-old architecture graduate turned illustrator. I started when I was in my third year and I knew right then that this is the job I want. So I tried to make it bigger and the goal was to be quite stable by the time I graduated so that I wouldn't have to pursue architecture. I didn't want to quit college because I don't like quitting and it's always good to have a backup, so never quit your education/job until you know you're stable enough. I graduated last year and I'm perfectly happy with my career now. It does have its own ups and downs but that's just a part of life. I think work has made me a better person."
Akshara tells us what the main goal of her illustrations is: "The main goal of my illustrations is to break taboos/common stereotypes surrounding women and everyday life. I want to strike up interesting conversations that most of us shy away from. The only way to break these stereotypes is by talking about them openly."
The artist shares how she got into arts: "I've always been an artsy kid. But the idea of pursuing art as a career never occurred to me growing up in an Indian family. Art is still not taken seriously in most places but anything's possible if you put your mind to it."
Akshara tells us what the most difficult part for her is: "You never know what the outcome would be when putting it out on social media. Sometimes the response is great and sometimes people get really mad because they don't want such issues to be discussed openly. And like any other artist, I do feel unmotivated sometimes. It takes a lot of work to get back to work at times like that."
"My comics mostly talk about women's issues, mental health, sexuality, and just everyday things. I believe that the purpose of my work is to convey a message rather than looking pretty, so I like to keep my style simple but cute. I add little details that normalize real bodies. When I started out, I was known for keeping it real/raw. I think that still stands. I would describe my humor as sometimes subtle, sometimes in your face. I don't like to censor anything in my work."
"I started creating these comics in 2017, I was in architecture school at the time. I was starting to hate college and life in general, making comics was just a coping mechanism that paid off in the long run. I graduated last year and I've been working as a full-time freelance illustrator and I love it! I'll continue doing this and see where it goes."
Akshara shares what inspires her to keep moving forward: "The satisfaction I get from doing something I love. And when people say that my comics make them feel less alone, it makes all of it worth it for me."
Here's some advice from the artist for future creators: "Create for yourself. Don't try to be someone else, it won't help you in the long run. If you're going to become a freelancer, it might get a little lonely sometimes and you'll have to manage a lot of other things along with it. It does take a lot of time and patience but if you put your mind to it, you can get there."
Akshara has some thoughts to share with our readers: "People weren't really appreciative in the beginning, to be honest, they still don't take me seriously sometimes because it's not a conventional job. But I never let that affect me because at the end of the day the only thing that matters is what makes you happy. Don't hold yourself back from fear of judgment. People will judge you, either way, might as well live the life you love."
