--- title: "Children's Book Illustrator & Custom Character Design in Mumbai" description: "Need a children's book illustrator? I create expressive character designs and storybook art, blending traditional ink textures with modern digital finishes." canonical: https://mytribe.in/voyager_of_dreams/custom-illustration/storybook-character-artwork last_updated: 2026-02-10 --- # Children's Book & Custom Character Illustration Tribe Verified · Illustrated for Pratham Books By [Shirish Ghatge](https://mytribe.in/voyager_of_dreams) · Available online; Based in Mumbai · ₹7,500 per illustration (estimate) Part of [Custom Illustration](https://mytribe.in/voyager_of_dreams/custom-illustration). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/voyager_of_dreams/custom-illustration/gallery) I translate stories into visual worlds, focusing on expressive characters that resonate with readers. From graphic novels to children's books, I build scenes that feel warm, familiar, and full of life. ## Photos and videos - [Video: A quick video tour of the Marathi children's book 'Karanje' (The Fountain) that I illustrated. It's always special to see the final printed book.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/1ee86823-ed69-4746-9db3-8d470102bda4) - ![A full spread illustration from the book 'Karanje'. This scene shows the main character playing near a leaking water pipe, a common childhood memory for many.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b1c24a81-3690-4427-90a7-617ef6fea0fa) - ![Another scene from 'Karanje', where the main character's friends join in the fun. I focused on creating dynamic and joyful interactions between the children.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/156b7400-0780-4e89-88a2-a98bad7f5d8f) - ![A close-up of an illustration showing a tender moment between the young boy and his mother in the story. Capturing emotion is key in children's book illustration.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/68ee2e5b-239a-44be-9269-f23a57f79881) - ![In this illustration, the main character discovers he can plug the leak with a stone. I aimed to capture his sense of curiosity and discovery.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/11268113-e9cf-48cf-ad82-3eb7ee7ae66b) - ![A detail shot of the main character's happy expression. Creating appealing and emotive character art is a core part of my service for storybook projects.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/f030b12e-0923-43e8-b3cd-3ce31a0e9a8d) ## About Storybook & Character Artwork For storybook projects, I don't just draw scenes; I map out the emotional journey of the characters first. My process starts with rough pencil sketches to get the gestures right, ensuring the interaction between characters feels dynamic before we move into clean lines and digital coloring. Illustration is not just about drawing what's on the page. It's about finding the specific rhythm of a scene. When I worked on the Marathi children's book *Karanje* (The Fountain), the challenge wasn't just to depict kids playing. It was to capture the specific curiosity of a child discovering a water leak—the joy, the spontaneity, and the messy reality of childhood. I follow a structured workflow for all storybook commissions. We start with conceptualization, where we discuss the narrative arc and tone. I prefer sketching on paper first—there is a tactile quality to ink and pencil that digital tools can sometimes miss. Once the gestures are locked in, I move to Procreate to add color, depth, and the final polish. This hybrid method gives you the best of both worlds: the raw, human feel of a hand-drawn sketch and the crisp, clean finish of modern digital art. My approach to character design focuses on relatability. I want readers to recognize the emotions on the character's face immediately, whether they are happy, surprised, or thoughtful. This is why I emphasize expressive faces and dynamic poses. If you have a story that needs a visual voice, I am happy to walk through the process with you. We can start small, perhaps with a character concept or a cover design, before committing to a full book layout. For those working on graphic novels or editorial content, I provide layered source files so your team can easily handle the final print or web integration. My aim is to make the entire collaboration transparent, from the initial character sketches to the final delivery of the print-ready files. ## About Shirish Ghatge I believe every story has a visual rhythm waiting to be captured. Whether you are developing a children's book or a graphic novel, I work closely with you to make sure the characters reflect the spirit of your narrative, keeping the process collaborative and honest. [See all of Shirish Ghatge's services](https://mytribe.in/voyager_of_dreams) ## More from Custom Illustration by Shirish Ghatge - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/voyager_of_dreams/custom-illustration/featured) - [Large-Scale Mural Design](https://mytribe.in/voyager_of_dreams/custom-illustration/large-scale-mural-design) - [Portraits & Character Studies](https://mytribe.in/voyager_of_dreams/custom-illustration/portraits-character-studies) - [Editorial & Conceptual Illustration](https://mytribe.in/voyager_of_dreams/custom-illustration/editorial-conceptual-illustration) - [Live Sketching: Capturing Mumbai's Pulse](https://mytribe.in/voyager_of_dreams/custom-illustration/live-sketching-capturing-mumbai-s-pulse) - [Digital Illustrations & Patterns](https://mytribe.in/voyager_of_dreams/custom-illustration/digital-illustrations-patterns) - [My Sketchbook Journey](https://mytribe.in/voyager_of_dreams/custom-illustration/my-sketchbook-journey) ## More services by Shirish Ghatge - [Art Education & Speaking Engagements](https://mytribe.in/voyager_of_dreams/art-education-speaking-engagements) - [Live & On-Location Sketching](https://mytribe.in/voyager_of_dreams/live-on-location-sketching) ## Similar work from other experts - [Custom Illustrations for Stories & Concepts](https://mytribe.in/vartoons/digital-art-illustration/illustrations-for-stories-concepts) by Varun N Rao · Digital Art & Illustration · Based in Bengaluru; Service available online - [Custom Illustrations & Character Design](https://mytribe.in/ravi_l_pujari/custom-caricatures-illustrations/custom-illustrations-character-design) by Ravi · Custom Caricatures & Illustrations · Available online; Serves clients across India - [Digital Illustrations That Tell Your Story](https://mytribe.in/shraddhadoodles/branding-graphic-design/digital-illustrations) by Shraddhadoodles · Branding & Graphic Design · Design services available online and across India - [Custom Illustrations That Tell Your Unique Story](https://mytribe.in/youknowhertoo/custom-illustrations-artwork/your-story-illustrated) by Divya Bhatia · Custom Illustrations & Artwork · Available online & across India; Studio in Goregaon West - [Expressive Custom Digital Portraits](https://mytribe.in/mallikamohta/custom-digital-illustrations/expressive-portraits-characters) by Mallika Mohta · Custom Digital Illustrations · Digital artwork delivered online - [Custom Digital Portraits and Stylized Illustrations](https://mytribe.in/megvinart/custom-portraits-illustrations/digital-illustrations-sketches) by Megha Vinod · Custom Portraits & Illustrations · Available Online; Ships across India ## Book To book Shirish Ghatge, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%20Shirish%2C%20I%20saw%20your%20Storybook%20%26%20Character%20Artwork%20and%20would%20love%20to%20discuss%20a%20project%20I%20have%20in%20mind.)