Hi, I’m Laila, an Argentine illustrator. As a kid, I was lucky enough to have parents who were avid readers and instilled in me a love of books. I got my BA in English Lit but found my true passion after graduating, in a workshop for children’s book illustration in Argentina. After a few years of freelancing as an editorial Illustrator, I decided to pursue this MA to deepen my understanding of what interests me most: children’s books.

I like experimenting with materials of all kinds. It’s important to me to find the right medium for each story. Throughout the MA I’ve cherished time spent in the print room. I tend to be a perfectionist and the process of printing has freed me up, inviting looser, less measured brush strokes and happy accidents into my work. I’ve fallen madly in love with the soft textures of the offset press.

I am inspired by all sorts of things including everyday occurrences, current affairs, and memories. In my image-making process I often feel like I’m trying to capture a specific moment or experience, and the process of uncovering a story’s essence is a great, big, intuitive puzzle. A little like deciphering the meaning of a text in English Lit, but in reverse.

As a Third Culture Kid I am particularly drawn to themes related to identity and cultural expressions. I delight in quirky, comical stories, as well as the challenge of exploring difficult themes through metaphor. I am also very fond of drawing nature.

Website: www.lailaekboir.com

Instagram: @laila_ekboir

Email: ekboir@gmail.com