I'm Lav, an illustrator and animator. I grew up in Kolkata, the city that sparked my love for the arts, good food and the importance of naps. Growing up, if I wasn't colouring on all the walls, I was most likely walking around my neighborhood feeding stray pups and getting in my quota of daily pats. In a surprise twist, when the time arrived to choose career paths, my parents were convinced I should pursue the arts instead of medicine. After much protesting and pouting, I resigned and gave in to live out a dream I didn’t know I could have but felt instinctively sure of (thanks Ma and Dada!).

I graduated in Animation Film Design from the National Institute of Design, attended the Summer School Program at Gobelins Paris and started off my career in animation. But there was a childhood itch I had to scratch! Growing up in India in the 90s, while turning the pages of a book, I eagerly looked out for the illustrations, but there were always too few!! However, as an adult in the arts, it dawned on me that maybe I could make this happen.. myself?! And hence I simultaneously also started illustrating children’s books outside of work hours as a sweet escape to immerse myself in story with the promise to add more drawings in books. 

Since then I have been lucky enough to have illustrated several children's books, worked as an animator, pre-production artist, head of design, episodic director in animated content and even worked on kids games - but most of all worked with incredible people!

I'm a storyteller at heart and through my art hope to create immersive worlds, with a strong focus on character arcs. Where they meet, is truly my happy place! My focus is on book related projects and I dream of writing and illustrating my own book one day!

I now call Melbourne my home, where I live with my husband and our darling pup Raia. When I’m not drawing, you’ll find me exploring new walking trails and struggling to use my maps to find my way back, boxing at my favourite gym, spontaneously cooking recipes not in the weeks plan and unpromptedly breaking into song and dance.

(pic credit - Satyam Agarwala)