Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Emotive, expressive, character-driven storytelling with quiet emotional depth.
What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Skim latte, my sketchbook which also serves as my notebook, and a trusty iPad.
Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I love the spontaneity, fluidity, and the transparency of the watercolour, but since I have a curious little toddler around me, I feel more comfortable with blending digital and traditional media. Especially digital pencil and gouache or watercolour textures that still feel organic and ‘homemade.
Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Graeme Base inspires me with his intricate, immersive worlds, I love getting lost in the details. Axel Scheffler’s playful characters and expressive line work remind me how much emotion and humour can live in simple shapes. Studio Ghibli's magical storytelling and quiet emotional moments deeply influence how I approach mood and atmosphere. And oh, how I adore Helen Oxenbury’s babies, their softness, warmth, and honesty capture the heart of childhood in a way I’m inspired to express in my own work.
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
The Baroque period, where art felt like theatre! Its dramatic lighting and emotional intensity reflect the kind of storytelling I aim to convey in my illustrations.
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
My mum, my first drawing teacher, back when I couldn’t even draw a dot! She read Hansel and Gretel and Jack and the Beanstalk to me at night with such expression, I felt like I was inside the story. That’s when I first dreamed of bringing stories to life through pictures.
My mum, my first drawing teacher, back when I couldn’t even draw a dot! She read Hansel and Gretel and Jack and the Beanstalk to me at night with such expression, I felt like I was inside the story. That’s when I first dreamed of bringing stories to life through pictures.
Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
It’s a bit of a two-worlds situation! I do admin and polish final pieces on the kitchen bench, often while cooking dinner or making tea. But for dreaming and brainstorming, I retreat to a quiet desk in the rumpus room near a big window. That’s where stories take shape.
It’s a bit of a two-worlds situation! I do admin and polish final pieces on the kitchen bench, often while cooking dinner or making tea. But for dreaming and brainstorming, I retreat to a quiet desk in the rumpus room near a big window. That’s where stories take shape.
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
I love the sketching phase, when characters first appear, and the page starts to come alive with personality..jpg)
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
My advice: Stay curious, be kind to your creative self, and don’t rush the magic. Your voice will find its way through your pencil.
Children’s book illustrator and former early childhood teacher, Novia illustrated Dragon Guest Handbook and Our Map. With a background in graphic design, she blends storytelling and education to support young children’s emotional growth. Originally from Indonesia, Novia creates inclusive, heartfelt stories that honour sensitive voices and diverse experiences.
For more information, please visit Novia's website or follow her on instagram.
Children’s book illustrator and former early childhood teacher, Novia illustrated Dragon Guest Handbook and Our Map. With a background in graphic design, she blends storytelling and education to support young children’s emotional growth. Originally from Indonesia, Novia creates inclusive, heartfelt stories that honour sensitive voices and diverse experiences.
For more information, please visit Novia's website or follow her on instagram.
