Indian line illustrator Anita Tiwary relies on intuitive practice, interconnection and dream inspiration

The world may be depressing at the moment – what with environmental efforts falling short and general motivation lying low – but Indian visual artist Anita Tiwary revives hope with her dreamy artwork aesthetics.

Known for her multi-coloured lined illustrations, which fuse people and planet in perfect harmony, Tiwary's surreal images are optimistic in their utopian presentation of vibrancy and aliveness.

"In my dreams, I receive signals from otherworldly planets or species to create narratives on the canvas," says Tiwary. "My dreams also inform my intuitive process, which combined with my memories allow for a hybrid abstract approach which I embed as a source of creativity in my paintings."

Raised in India's spiritual city of Varanasi, Tiwary purposefully incorporates magic within her art. She cites her father's influence as why she kept drawing throughout her childhood while her dreams fuel her visions which she realises on paper. Each piece is an experiment in reimagining new worlds of possibilities where humans and animals can co-exist peacefully.

"My work is about the interconnection of all beings with nature and the universe," says Tiwary. "The hybrid characters in my paintings honour their connection to each other. The featured figures share a mutual desire for a compassionate and harmonised world."

Inspired by real-world landscapes and known for her use of space, layered forms, and the presentation of irregular perspectives, Tiwary's‘ scapes may seem chaotic and busy, but they also present cohesion and compatibility, something for humanity to strive for.

With a formal art education behind her and international exhibitions as far-reaching as India, Singapore, France, China and Japan, Tiwary has proven that her method of metabolising images does resonate with audiences.

She relies heavily on intuition in creating her paintings and tries to evoke important messages within her works. Tiwary will initially sketch out a draft and then give definitions to the drawings with lines and colours as the image comes to life. She works across mediums – from colour pencils, pastels, watercolours, mix-media and acrylics – to allow for a more experimental process and varied approach depending on her feelings.

One such painting – Hybrid Honey Bees – aims to reflect the bee population's significance and its relation to human culture and survival.

"Bees are essential for protecting natural biodiversity, and we need to save and conserve them," says Tiwary. "God has given us species in various shapes, sizes and colours in different forms like humans, animals and nature, yet a soul resides in everyone. We all need to open our eyes to be able to appreciate the simplicity and abundance of nature. Everything is connected to everything else. If one species disappears, it will affect the existence of other dependent species. I want to raise awareness of how important protecting honey bees is for maintaining healthy ecosystems. Their survival will only serve to maintain human well-being."