Our Story

At Kindle & Grace, our mission is to nurture a sense of belonging, inspire connection, and spark imagination through our colorful line of paper goods, gifts, and art classes. Each product in our collection features the fantastical artwork of artist and illustrator Kanika Khurana.

 

Kanika Khurana is a British Council & Ken Sprague Fund award-winning Indian artist, illustrator, and surface designer whose work focuses on themes of natural history and our connection with Mother Nature and one another. After graduating from Western Connecticut State University in 2017, Kanika began teaching and exhibiting her work, designing and selling greeting cards, stickers, and calendars.

Fun fact: Illustration is Kanika’s second career. Although art has always been her passion since childhood, she initially chose a more practical path of studying Physical Therapy at Manipal University, India. She had a career in Physical therapy before moving to the US to study art for the first time. Kanika graduated with an MFA in Illustration from Western Connecticut State University in 2017 and has been making art and teaching since.

Teaching Experience: Western Connecticut State University, Brookfield Craft Center, Society of Illustrators NYC (Museum of Illustration), NYC Parks Art & Culture, Sanatan Dharm Mandir, Central Christian Church.

 

See all of Kanika's art & illustration at https://www.kanikakhuranaart.com/

 

 

Our story, in the words of our founder Kanika Khurana:

Hello!!  Welcome to our creative dwelling!

My name is Kanika. I am a seeker, first and foremost. During my journey within, I have found that following my creative calling is the easiest way to cleanse my soul. I am a visual person, as I predominantly think and process life experiences in terms of visuals.

 

Often, I have been asked about my transition from healthcare to art.

Here goes my story:

While in high school, dedicatedly wading through the quagmire of syllabus, tutorials, and examinations, I chose to become a Physical therapist because I showed a definite academic inclination towards science. I performed well but reached a roadblock. I decided to rediscover my aspirations. I realized I was a seeker and that my creative calling was the most fulfilling among the many paths I discovered during my journey. I found my Zen in art. I am a free spirit and hope that as a happy individual, I will be a better person, worker, daughter, spouse, and citizen.

In my little but significant experience in the field of health care, I have observed modern-day ailments are of stress-related origin. That is because people had more time at their disposal in earlier times. They spent time making things beautiful or artistic. They produced buildings with ornamental gardens, paintings, and sculptures. Art held an honored place since beauty served to enrich their souls with spiritual joy.

We, as human beings, have a gift of reflection. With that, we can appreciate art. Since beauty arouses joy, therefore great art can bring spiritual enchantment. Through my art, I hope to able to give people a sense of peace and harmony. By doing this, I could still heal people on a metaphysical level.