My name is Saidi Alifa (Suh-Yee-Dee Uh-Lee-Fuh), and I am a children's book illustrator from Malawi.
Like most people in my line of work, I have been drawing my whole life. I work with clients all over the world, and spend my free time making digital paintings and sketches.
My Journey to Illustration
Drawing has always been a part of my life, even though I’ve never had formal art training.
In 2010, after graduating from secondary school, I got my first laptop. That’s when I discovered Photoshop 7 and started experimenting with digital art. I was instantly hooked! Throughout university, I kept exploring the program and even made a bit of money creating artwork for people, mostly music artists.
Professionally, I trained as a Civil Engineer. The demands of that education meant I stepped away from art for about three years. After graduating in 2017, I worked in the engineering field for a while. But in 2019, I made a life-changing decision to leave that career behind and pursue art full-time. It hasn’t been a straight path—there have been breaks along the way—but drawing has been my focus ever since.
My first big break came in 2020 when I illustrated Racism Stops With Me for the wonderful Sydney Carlson. That project reignited my passion for storytelling through art, and I’ve been on a mission to sharpen my craft ever since. Truthfully, it’s a never-ending journey—there’s always something new to learn, and that’s what keeps me so captivated.
The decision to focus on picture books came gradually, then all at once. I’ve always loved creating illustrations that tell a story, and picture books feel like the perfect platform for that. There’s something magical about combining words and art to spark a child’s imagination, and I hope to keep making picture books for as long as I can.
Ready to Create Your Next Book?
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