Meet Ghazal Qadri – the Kashmiri illustrator creating art to make a difference

Both an illustrator and graphic designer, Ghazal Qadri has relocated from a picturesque valley in Kashmir, northwest India, to the sunshine state of Florida. There, she creates whimsical characters and settings for children's books and comics using a mix of imagination and keen observation.

"I love diving into my daily experiences and indulging in people-watching – a quirky habit that my partner finds amusing but which sparks endless creative ideas for me," says illustrator Ghazal Qadri. "Watching people's interactions and expressions helps me craft characters as lively and multi-dimensional as they are relatable."

Using a vector-based graphic style on more commercial projects, when the opportunity arises to create children's books and comics, Ghazal moves towards a freer form of work, which is colourful, playful and a little rougher around the edges. Everywhere she goes, she sketches in Procreate and jots ideas in her notebook that may later come to life in a story she's working on.

Birds are another passion of Ghazal's – as they chirp and flutter, she sees a tiny personality expressed through their movement. "Just like each bird has its own flair, I strive to give my characters and worlds a distinctive charm that makes them truly special," she adds.

One of her most meaningful projects was undertaken for UNICEF. The brief was to create a comic for Kashmiri children – girls in particular – who don't have access to mobile phones. To research the piece, Ghazal worked with children and listened to their stories firsthand, discovering their struggles and aspirations, but also their creativity. Some of their artwork was incorporated into the final artwork.

"It's a project that taught me the importance of empathy in design and how art can be a tool for advocacy and change. Creating something so personal and significant for my community was incredibly fulfilling," she says.

On a more light-hearted note, Ghazal has created greeting cards for Gifts of Love, enjoying the opportunity to celebrate festive occasions while incorporating hand-drawn lettering into each artwork. The colours give the artwork its energy.

Collaborating with the author EK McCoy and Atmosphere Press, Ghazal had fun anthropomorphising animal characters in a story about a squirrel that embraces how its white fur makes it stand out from the rest. The artwork brings something different by using photography for some of its backgrounds.

"From the moment I read the story, I knew it was something special – filled with heart and meaning. When it came to the illustrations, I wanted to create something that felt just as unique as Allie's story. That's when I decided on an illustration-over-images style. It was a choice that felt fresh and new, bringing a distinct visual depth to the book. Both the author and I loved how this approach turned out; it really captured the essence of Allie's journey," says Ghazal.

Then there are her Kath Baath playing cards - a personal project introducing people to Kashmiri culture, stories, and artistic traditions. The inspiration came from the traditional paper mâché patterns, part of Kashmir's rich arts and crafts heritage. 'Kath Baath' means conversation; the cards represent a way of starting conversations between cultures.

In future, Ghazal would love to collaborate with like-minded clients and non-profits to continue working on meaningful projects, although sometimes it proves challenging. At the time of writing, she's working on a graphic novel for Little Bee Books, due out in 2025.