There is still the notion that an illustrator is a failed painter. Nayak says, “Publishers fail to understand that to be able to get a good illustration in their books they need to hire someone who specializes in the field and you have to give them time to work. I also see a lot of my work in the market, but I can’t show them proudly, because I know I was pushed to do the work in a hurry.”

Atanu Roy, who has worked on The Puffin Book of Magical Indian Myths, with Anita Nair’s text for company, took five years to complete it, says, “In India, publishing is text-oriented. The people behind the work are not visually literate. If you look at publishing houses abroad, there is an art director and an editor. There is also a problem of egos here. And you have to learn to keep your ego aside when you work for a child!”
And to think all this goes behind a colourfully illustrated children’s book.
Turn the page.
(With inputs from Neelima Menon)