Charming Illustrations Radiate With Joy… and Plenty of Dazzling Patterns

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Illus­tra­tor Meenal Patel dig­i­tal­ly draws peo­ple among col­or­ful sur­round­ings and awash in pat­terns. Delight is a com­mon theme that runs through her work as char­ac­ters live (and often explore) a friend­ly world around them. “I am inspired by moments of child­hood won­der, strong women, tex­tures in nature, lit­tle joys from every­day life (hel­lo ice cream) and my Indi­an-Amer­i­can her­itage,” Meenal writes.

Meenal is the author and illus­tra­tor of two chil­dren’s books where peo­ple of col­or are the main char­ac­ters. “I believe in the impor­tance of all peo­ple hav­ing the oppor­tu­ni­ty to see them­selves reflect­ed in art as well as see­ing into oth­er people’s worlds through art,” she says, “most espe­cial­ly the young humans in our lives who are so great­ly influ­enced by the imagery that sur­rounds them in ear­ly life.”

Meenal sells her books, prints, cards, and fab­ric in her Etsy shop. Fol­low her on Insta­gram to see more of illustrations—including time-laps­es of her work in progress.