Hi, I'm Naafi ❤︎
I'm a kidLit illustrator based in Surabaya, Indonesia, creating warm, cheerful, texture-rich illustrations for picture books, board books, and middle-grade stories.
I'm a kidLit illustrator based in Surabaya, Indonesia, creating warm, cheerful, texture-rich illustrations for picture books, board books, and middle-grade stories.
✽ My story
I've been illustrating full-time since 2014. Since then I've illustrated 16 published books for clients in the UK, UAE, USA, Canada, Africa, and Indonesia, including Storytime Magazine, KhaleejiLand, Dar Waraqa, Zain Bhikha Studios, Grasindo, Bestari, and BIP Gramedia.
I hold a Master of Arts from Institut Seni Indonesia Surakarta. From 2018 to 2025 I taught illustration at the university level, and from 2024 to 2025 I worked as an art director and visual editor at the Indonesian Book Center (Ministry of Education and Culture), where I guided illustrators and helped shape books from the visual side.
✽ My style
I combine digital tools with traditional brush textures for a hand-drawn feel. Expect rich textures, warm and colorful palettes, and characters with big personalities, made for readers aged 6–8.
✽ How I work
1. Brief and manuscript: I read the text closely and talk through the story, audience, and visual needs with the author or publisher.
2. Character and style exploration: I design the characters of the book and create a color mood board.
3. Storyboard/ Thumbnails and sketches: I draw page-by-page thumbnails and rough sketches so we can agree on composition, pacing, and character poses before moving to final art.
4. Final illustration: I color the final artwork digitally, using textured brushes for a traditional, hand-painted look.
5. Revisions and delivery: Revision rounds and timelines are agreed upon together before the project starts. Final files are delivered in the format and resolution your publisher or printer requires.
I combine digital tools with traditional brush textures for a hand-drawn feel. Expect rich textures, warm and colorful palettes, and characters with big personalities, made for readers aged 6–8.
✽ How I work
1. Brief and manuscript: I read the text closely and talk through the story, audience, and visual needs with the author or publisher.
2. Character and style exploration: I design the characters of the book and create a color mood board.
3. Storyboard/ Thumbnails and sketches: I draw page-by-page thumbnails and rough sketches so we can agree on composition, pacing, and character poses before moving to final art.
4. Final illustration: I color the final artwork digitally, using textured brushes for a traditional, hand-painted look.
5. Revisions and delivery: Revision rounds and timelines are agreed upon together before the project starts. Final files are delivered in the format and resolution your publisher or printer requires.
✽ What I love working on
Picture books, board books, sound books, and middle-grade novels, especially stories about Islam, family, friendship, adventure, nature, animals, culture, and education. I believe illustration is a universal language that builds empathy and sparks curiosity in children everywhere.
✽ Selected clients and publishers
KhaleejiLand (UAE) · Storytime Magazine, Issue 136 (UK) · Dar Waraqa Publisher (UAE) · Ruqaya's Bookshelf (Canada) · Zain Bhikha Studios (Africa) · The Asia Foundation / Let's Read · Room to Read · SIBI (Indonesian Book Center, Ministry of Education) · Grasindo · Bestari · BIP Gramedia
✽ Teaching, talks, and community
I love sharing what I've learned. I've given talks and workshops for illustrators with Mezink Academy, Cakap Upskill, and Kreatif. id × Wacom Indonesia, Sebingkisah, the Indonesian Book Center, and several universities and communities, on topics such as picture book illustration, character design, and building a portfolio for publishers. I've also served as a judge for children's coloring and national poster competitions in Surabaya.
✽ Working with me
• Formats: picture books, board books, sound books, middle-grade covers, and interiors.
• Languages: Indonesian (native), English (conversational)
• Availability: Booking projects from November 2026
• Time zone: Western Indonesia Time (WIB, UTC+7)
✽ Let's create together
Got a manuscript or an idea you'd like to talk about? Email me at naafinurrohma@gmail.com or use the form below. I'd love to hear from you.
Thank you!