The Story of Vanasuma
I was born and raised on a forest farm nestled in the Western Ghats. My earliest memories are of wildflowers, monsoons, birdsong, and sketching under the canopy of trees.
I was homeschooled — nature was my classroom, and curiosity was my curriculum.
“The forest raised me. Nature taught me everything — wonder, rhythm, patience, and beauty.”
Though art has always been my way of seeing and being, I chose a more conventional path and studied engineering in Bangalore. I worked in the education sector — as a Teach For India fellow, a program manager, and later, at an alternative school.
Those years were meaningful but something in me longed for home — not just the place, but the pace and presence I had grown up with.
I returned to the forest farm to begin again — this time on my terms. I dove deeper into farming and creativity.
I completed a course in children’s book illustration from Riyaz, Bhopal. While not directly linked to surface design, it helped me reconnect with my artistic voice.
Today, I am an illustrator and surface pattern designer. I live, draw, farm, and raise my child in the same land that once raised me.
“There is no other way of being for me. Sketching, drawing, creating patterns — they are not hobbies. They are who I am.”
My creative process begins in nature — observing textures, leaves, birds, and old trees — and capturing what I feel through quick sketches in a notebook.
I draw by hand, often with ink or pencil, letting the lines unfold without force. Then I bring those sketches into my iPad, where I refine, recolour, and build them into seamless repeating patterns.
It’s a blend of intuition and technique, where organic lines meet digital precision. Every pattern is a quiet conversation between the surroundings and my tools.
Vision
I dream of a life where art, farming, parenting, and storytelling nourish one another.
Through Vanasuma Studio, I want to share a kind of beauty that grows slowly — the kind that’s honest, grounded, and alive.
Values
- Living slowly, with intention
- Rooting creativity in place
- Listening to nature’s wisdom
- Learning alongside my child
- Growing food, stories, and soul
You can explore my full range of designs in my Spoonflower shop, where they come to life on fabric, wallpaper, and more.
I’m also open to licensing enquiries and collaborations with brands that share my values — slow living, sustainability, and story-driven design.
Life at Vanasuma is more than art — it’s rooted in forest farming, education, and slow, intentional living.
Explore the stories, experiments, and ideas growing beyond the studio.
I create not to fill space but to honour it. My patterns are invitations — to notice, to listen, and to belong.
If my work speaks to something inside you — a memory, a way of life, or a longing — I’d love to hear from you.
Let’s talk about art, ideas, collaborations, or just a shared love for the wild and gentle.