Story time: how lines become language to my soul, and what they might whisper to yours.
“Every wish that's got your heart on the edge of breaking —is a wish worth making."
A wish worth making - Wish. Disney.
🌸 Who am I and why I draw
My name is Anxara, I’m 34 years old, a proud Malagasy woman living in Antananarivo, Madagascar. I’m a mother of two, happily married, and deeply in love with the quiet magic of papeterie, booknooks, fantasy tales, picture books, and quirky gadgets that spark joy… and of course! Drawings.
🌱 Why I start from afar
I am a self-taught artist. Like many, I once held the dream of becoming an illustrator or animator—a dream born in childhood and nurtured in adolescence through scattered sketches and quiet practice. But I come from a place where art schools don’t exist, where resources are scarce, and where the pressure to secure a stable job outweighed the pursuit of creative passion. For years, I lived without a local role model, without a clear path forward.
Only in the past two years, something shifted. I found inspiration through Instagram and YouTube, and I saw one - also self-taught - creator in particular that came from the same country as me succeed in finding one's way in the world of children's illustration, it lit a fire in me. She made me believe: “Izaho ihany ko tokony ahavita rangah a! ” (man! I could do it (became and illustrator) too! let’s go!) That simple truth cracked open a door I thought was sealed shut.
🎨 Drawing as sanctuary
I always knew I will never stop drawing, even if I thought this door was sealed shut, in the hardest moments of my life, the only wish that rose from my heart was to draw. It wasn’t just a hobby. It was a lifeline. Drawing is my sanctuary, my way to weather any storm. To stop drawing would be like forgetting how to breathe. I draw because I love it beyond words. So I believe I carry a gift, maybe one meant to be shared.
Now, I’m determined to change the course of my story. I’ve invested time, effort, money, and patience. I took all the Domestika courses I could, I became a SCWBI member ! I am will to do all I can. Not all at once—but step by step, I know the path will unfold. I now feel ready.
🤍 Why you can rely on me
Even in a world reshaped by artificial intelligence, where things are evolving rapidly and uncertainty looms for emerging artists—I remain unshaken. I believe in the power of a personal voice, one born from lived emotion and true experience. In every stroke, I strive to breathe a fragment of my humanity, hoping it resonates with something universal.
I am a real human, and I draw with devotion, care, and trust. My style is organic, blending digital art, sometimes with scanned textures and materials that give each piece a soul.
🌟 My ikigai: a calling to illustrate
I now step into our common story as a picture book illustrator.
Through every illustration, I dream of leaving a legacy—weaving values, warmth, and wonder into the pages.
I want my art to light the way for children, to offer comfort, imagination, and hope.
This is my Ikigai—my reason for being. And if my art can breathe life into your own reflections, then I know I’m walking the right path.
