Illustration

Annushka Hardikar : Visual Communications

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Annushka is a Visual Communication graduate from Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore. Her passion lies in concocting fantastical stories and illustrating them. She likes citrusy smells, tin boxes and fat dogs. She does not really like bad breath, too much red and messy rooms.

Why are you an Illustrator?
Since I was a kid I enjoyed reading books which had these gorgeous pictures. Since then I began drawing all the stories I read or made up. Going to college gave introduced me to the world of illustration. What I like most about it is that I can put down the most bizarre, personal or vague thoughts and it would actually make sense to somebody even across the globe!

Did you attend school for fine art or design?
Yes, I attended and graduated from Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore.

Tell us something about your Oh Nari So Sanskari project…
Oh Nari, So Sanskari! is a satirical take on stories of women from the great Indian epic Mahabharata. The zine sheds light on challenges that 21st century Indian women face, by placing Kunti, Gandhari and Draupadi in a modern context. On re-visiting the stories from the epic, I realized, although dynamic and capable, the women in the story were always shown dependent on the men in their lives. Being an Indian woman myself, there was a pressing need for accurate representation of the characters as aware, vocal, and opinionated. Using references from feminist history, pop culture and media, the zine comments upon stereotypes that have surrounded Indian women from time immemorial. I would want the reader to be left questioning the roles and expectations of our culturally rooted society.

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Ruchi Shah : In A Chat With An Illustrator

Creative, , 3 comments

Ruchi Shah is an independent illustrator based in Mumbai. She is an alumnus of IDC, IIT Bombay and the University of the Arts, London. She draws for small books and large walls. Her work allows her to explore places, spaces, materials and techniques.

Why are you an Illustrator?
I love drawing. Complex lines, textures and colours fascinate me. Chaos with overflowing and over filled windows, houses … an excess of anything is what I find visually stimulating. People, their faces and daily life with its momentary relationships; is what keeps the wheels spinning in my head – And creating images has become second nature to me.

Did you attend school for fine art or design?
Yes. Sophia Polytechnic for Applied Art. Visual Communication at the Industrial Design Centre SOD – IIT Bombay and another Master’s at Camberwell College – University of the Arts in London where I pursued Illustration.

You have a distinct style of illustration. How long did it take you to develop your style?
It’s roughly developed across a decade.
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Anoop Bhat : Illustrations

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Anoop Bhat is an architect and a freelance illustrator currently based in Bangalore, India. Born in Mangalore, he studied at Sir J. J. College of Architecture, Bombay. He works primarily in pen and ink and creates illustrations for gig posters, album covers and t-shirts for bands. 

He is currently exhibiting some of his work across venues in the UK as a part of the ‘Self Help’ art tour, a traveling exhibition put on by Cats and Bats – an art collective from Hereford, UK.

Why are you an Illustrator?
I have been drawing since a very young age, so that’s been there. I was decent at it and I didn’t have plans as such to make anything out of it. It did get me interested in design, so I chose architecture. I thought architecture was all-inclusive in a very mother-of-all-arts sort of a way – meaning, I knew I wanted to get into design but I didn’t want to restrict myself to say, graphic design or product design. Architecture allowed me to dabble in a bit of everything, including illustration.

If I had to pin-point a particular instance, it would be when I started listening to the kind of music that I listen to – heavily distorted, guitar-based music. It introduced me to a whole bunch of stuff – art, literature, history and of course, more experimental music. That’s what set off my interest in the relationship between art and music, their inter-dependence and the sub-cultures they’ve spawned together. I just wanted to be a part of it somehow and contribute to it in whatever little way that I could. I was pretty terrible with playing any instrument (still am) but I was decent at drawing things – so I said that’s it. That’s how it began really and it is why I’m still at it – to actively contribute to this sub-culture that I identify with.
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Twine Tree – compete, vote and shop from the most loved illustration community

Digital, Illustration, Interesting Things, no comments

With its unique concept, New Delhi based Twine Tree is attempting to transform the art and illustration scene in India by building a community of artists and art lovers. Working with the motto “Connecting Creatives”, Twine Tree is essentially a competition platform for illustrators, artists and designers as well as a meeting place for all kinds of creatives and art lovers.
Twine Tree continually hosts fun, quirky, often themed online competitions on its platform. Every competition is an opportunity for up and coming illustrators and artists to upload their work and compete. Twine Tree users vote and shop for their favorite designs and choose the winners. The most loved illustrations join the Twine Tree collection, get featured on Twine Tree products and are sold on the online store. The artists decide the price of the products featuring their work, retain all copyrights, and earn a share on every sale.
Says Yukti, co-founder at Twine Tree, “Our mission is to fill the world with beauty through art. We’re for all who have an idea, and need a platform to showcase their talent.” An illustrator herself, she would often challenge her creative skills by giving herself a random theme to illustrate on every week. With Twine Tree and its themed competitions, she wants illustrators to get inspired, illustrate and just have fun.
Currently, Twine Tree features winning illustrations on canvases and art prints, is developing new products to feature artwork and illustrations and will be expanding into t-shirts very soon.
Twine Tree is also extending the competition concept to offline events, with an offline illustration competition series – “Illustration Playground”. The first competition is coming up at antiSocial, Hauz Khas New Delhi on the 29th of November, 2015.
Says Yukti, “Illustration Playground, as the name suggests, is a way for illustrators to come together and just have fun. Come undone from the tried, tested and been there and we offer you a topic to doodle, paint, draw, articulate and play with at our debut illustration event. So keep twining and looking forward to seeing you on the 29th”
Illustration Playground | Website | Twitter: @twinetree

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Sonali Zohra : Dangercat : Art and Graphic Design

Graphic Designer, Illustration, Interviews, , , 4 comments

Sonali is an illustrator, photographer and graphic designer based in Bangalore. She goes by the alias; Dangercat.

Why are you a Graphic Designer?
I was inclined to the arts from a very early age. As an only child, drawing was something I did to keep my mind occupied. I kept journals where I would document what I learnt in school, wrote down lyrics of songs I was listening to, even made detailed accounts of school trips through photography and drawing. I added leaves and feathers and other things along the way to the pages and soon found myself focusing on the layout of the page itself. I remember enjoying drawing, painting, writing, taking photographs and filling up those pages so much; I didn’t ever want to do anything else.

Did you attend school for fine art or design?
Yes I did, College of fine arts Bangalore. It wasn’t the best of courses, but it did give me a lot of time to wander off and explore different mediums, I went on to study photography at Light and Life Academy in Ooty.

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Sharanya Kunnath : Artist And Graphic Designer

Graphic Designer, Illustration, Interviews, , one comment

Sharanya Kunnath is an illustrator and graphic designer based in Dubai. Her work centres around spirituality, mysticism, mythology, women, and nature. She is just starting out on her career, and hopes to work in the publishing industry, and with anyone who wants her to draw pictures.

Why are you an Illustrator?
Because I love words and images, and I like to draw.

Did you attend school for fine art or design?
Yes, I did. I went to the American University in Dubai to study Graphic Design, and then did a Masters degree course in Illustration at the Arts University Bournemouth in England.

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Samidha Gunjal : Animator, illustrator, Artist

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She hails from a small town, and was born to a doctor couple, having said that she is always extremely passionate about her own creative career path. She chooses to display her thoughts through her illustration work. Post her Architectural days she did her Masters in Design with a specialization in Animation from IDC, IIT Bombay. Now working as a freelance artist mainly into illustrations, 2D animation, comic art and painting.

Why are you an Illustrator?
It was child’s play in the beginning; I started writing the stories from my childhood and loved to read kids novels. Spent hours trying to understand the concept of story telling. Going ahead with the passion I choose to create my own illustrated world by story telling and drawing. After completing my Architecture, I got into IDC, IIT for my further studies in Animation. While working on concept art I realized the passion for Illustration and I made my illustration work my medium of communication. With the great admiration from my faculties I went ahead and illustrated my first Children’s book for Scholastic.

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Minal Dusane Mali : Illustrator & Graphic Designer

Illustration, Interviews, , , 3 comments

Minal Dusane Mali is a Mumbai based aspiring illustrator & Graphic Designer. She is also a co-founder of ‘Yomy Designs’. Her passion for art makes everything easy for her. She loves to experiment with different styles & various mediums. Her expertise lies in Character designing, Story-boarding & Vector Info-graphics. She has worked with variety of clients that includes Reliance Digital Tv, HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum), TVS Scooty Pep, 48 Hours Film Project, Axe Deodorant (HUL), Asian Paints, Bajaj Allianz Travel Insurance, AD2Campaign, Nimbuzz, Dum Maaro Dum Movie, Bombay Se (Dubai), Ekam Amritsari Kitchen, Godrej Hair Dye etc.

Why are you a Graphic Designer?
I believe, illustrations & designs are a strong medium of communication. Right from my childhood days, my frequent visits to art schools & exhibitions inspired me to take graphic design & illustration as a profession. I developed a strong liking for the subject by constant practice & improvisation. For me it’s a way to express my ideas & thoughts.

Did you attend school for fine art or design?
Yes. I graduated Bachelor in Fine Arts from Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Arts, Mumbai. Having spent 4 years at the art collage I honed my design skills and also learned the practical application of my creative ideas.

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Rahul Babu Narayanan

Illustration, Interviews, 4 comments

“I am an illustrator and designer based in Bangalore, India. I graduated with a BFA in Applied Arts from College of FineArts Thrissur, Kerala. I am  currently working as a designer in Chumbak.
Apart from dreaming visuals all day long, I love watching abstract movies, listening to great melodies and riding my bicycle all over town. ”

Why are you an Illustrator?
I started drawing ever since I was a kid. Of course, it was just a hobby then. After schooling I realised that Art is my world and I didn’t want to do anything that didn’t involve art.
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Charbak Dipta : Illustrations

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Charbak Dipta is a Commercial Illustrator,cartoonist and graphic storyteller. An M.A. In Philosophy from Jadavpur University,Kolkata, he started his career as an illustrator in the Times of India.He worked for various tabloids, magazines in between as a cartoonist and illustrator. Currently he is working as a freelance illustrations and writing comic books all over the world. Charbak Dipta is also a trained singer/musician from ITC SRA, Kolkata and Calcutta School of Music.

Why are you an Illustrator?
I primarily consider myself a story teller.  The best way to tell stories is the audio-visual medium but since its a very costly and one of the most toilsome job,  I prefer illustrating my ideas.  Here I am an one man team with control in everything from lighting to body language and that is without any barrier.  Thus, I illustrate.

Did you attend school for fine art or design?
Never. I am a self taught artist. I think art cannot be taught just like the 1st ever painters i. e.  the cavemen.  They did not learnt painting from anyone.
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