Monika Verma: Ambartive Is A Blend Of Faith And Imagination, Where Divinity Meets Design (Illustrator & Designer, 111K Followers)

Monika Verma Interview

Instead of chasing every trend, I focus on creating pieces that feel true to my voice

Q. Your art feels like poetry in pixels — intimate, quiet, and deeply emotional. For someone discovering your work for the first time, how would you describe what "Ambartive' stands for?

Ambrative began as something deeply personal before it ever became a brand. ‘Amba’ comes from the Hindu goddess I’ve grown up believing in — a source of strength, clarity, and protection in every season of my life. ‘Artive’ reflects the creative spirit that drives my work.

Together, they form Ambartive: a blend of faith and imagination, where divinity meets design. 

Q. Many of your illustrations explore loneliness, healing, and the quiet strength of women. Do you begin with a personal emotion, or do you build from the stories of others that resonate with you?

My work doesn’t usually lean into loneliness or quiet emotions. I’m more drawn to creating playful, vibrant, and abstract geometric pieces. A lot of my inspiration comes from nature, whimsical characters, and the world around me, especially seasonal moments and everyday scenes. I also like to add textures, vibrant and joyful colours, and play with gradients to add dynamic visual effects.

But whether it's a bold shape or a fun color story, it still starts from something I’ve felt or noticed. I translate those little sparks into visuals that feel alive, joyful, and expressive. So in a way, it’s less about portraying emotion directly and more about capturing the energy behind it.

Q. The digital art space is often fast-paced and trend-driven. How do you protect the stillness and vulnerability that define your work while growing your audience online?

The digital space moves fast, but I’ve learned that my creativity doesn’t have to. I protect the ‘stillness’ in my work by staying rooted in what genuinely brings me joy — creating art that feels playful, expressive, and naturally fun to make.

Instead of chasing every trend, I focus on creating pieces that feel true to my voice. That honesty naturally builds a connection with my audience. The internet can be loud, but when you stay consistent with your own rhythm, people who resonate with it always find their way to you.

Q. Art today lives as much on screens as it does on walls. Do you think the medium changes the way people feel your work, or even the way you create it?

The medium definitely adds its own flavor, but the heart of the artwork stays the same. On screens, people discover my work in quick, scroll-sized moments — which means the colors, shapes, and overall mood have to communicate instantly. On a wall or in print, the same artwork breathes differently. 

But for me as a creator, the process doesn’t change. I still build every piece with the same intention — to make something joyful, expressive, and visually engaging. The medium just becomes the space where the viewer experiences that energy in their own way.

Q. You’ve built a strong personal voice in a sea of sameness. What were some creative or emotional boundaries you had to set to keep that voice authentic?

One of the biggest boundaries I set was choosing not to chase every trend. The digital art space moves fast, and it’s easy to get pulled in a hundred directions, but I’ve learned to protect my style by creating only what genuinely feels like me.

I also keep a boundary around comparison, it’s normal to look around, but I don’t let it dictate my work. Staying connected to what excites me creatively, instead of what performs best online, is what keeps my voice consistent.

Of course, working with dream clients means adapting and growing, but I make sure any changes still align with my voice. That balance between flexibility and staying true to myself is what keeps my work authentic.

Q. Many young artists struggle with the fear of not being 'enough.' Has there been a moment where you questioned your art, and what pulled you back to it?

In the beginning of my journey, I definitely had those ‘am I doing the right thing?’ moments. I wasn’t sure if choosing art and freelancing was the right path or if I would ever ‘make it’ the way I imagined. That fear is so real when you’re just starting out.

But the more I created, the more things aligned — clients found me, opportunities grew, and I slowly realized that this is exactly where I’m meant to be. Today, I’m genuinely happy with my career. I’m living the dream I once used to overthink.

And for anyone standing at the starting line of their own creative path, trust your spark. Keep making the work that excites you, share it, let yourself grow with it. When you move with that kind of honesty, momentum naturally starts to find you.

Q. Your work often says more in silence than words ever could. How do you know when a piece is done, when it’s said everything it needed to say?

For me, a piece is finished when it reaches a quiet sense of balance, when the composition falls into place, the negative space feels intentional, and everything sits exactly where it needs to be.

Because my style leans toward playful, abstract forms, I rely a lot on intuition. There’s a moment where the artwork stops asking for changes. The shapes settle, the rhythm feels right, and the whole piece speaks clearly without needing another element.

That’s when I know it’s done, not because it’s perfect, but because it’s complete in its own voice.

Q. And a fun one to close. If one of your characters could step out of your canvas for a day, who would it be, and what would you two do together?

If one of my characters could step out of the canvas for a day, I’d choose the one that feels closest to the heart of my style — the fun, abstract figure built from bold shapes and clean forms.

 The Illustration 

I imagine we’d simply create together. Seeing this character work the way I do, making decisions, choosing forms, building rhythm — would feel like watching my own creative mind from the outside.

There’s something powerful in that idea: observing your style take on a life of its own. It turns the process into a mirror, reminding me why I design the way I do and how instinct and intention come together in my work.

It wouldn’t be dramatic or loud, just a meaningful moment of understanding my art and myself through a different lens.

Bio:

Monika is an illustrator, designer and content creator based in India. She specialises in vector illustrations, pattern design, and short motion graphics.

She love to create illustrations inspired by nature, retro style, bold graphics, and modern characters. Her work often features bold, vibrant, cute, and abstract elements, incorporating grain textures to add depth and playful gradients for dynamic visual effects. She also enjoys illustrating food, seasonal themes, and special occasions.

Dhe creates illustrations for a wide range of projects, including branding, packaging, book covers, and magazines. When she's not creating art, she enjoys exploring nature, getting lost in a good book, or indulging in a good cup of coffee.

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Interviewed by: Rupal Kargeti