Of Vectors, Panda Virus & Tattoos

HOLA!
Apologies for the extremely delayed update, but here it is!
There's lots more I couldn't put up because I don't have a scanner; but it will be up soon :)


First up an entry for Nicola Formichetti's 'PANDA VIRUS CHALLENGE' for his nicopandanation blog. I love Formichetti and had MAD fun working on this, and was really glad with the way my first GIF (*stars in eyes*) worked out! It is also up on the Nicopanda Nation blog IN DEMI-ANIMATED GLORY HERE, for some reason it refuses to animate on the blog. Mugler FW12 shoes love :)

NEXT, my recent obsession TOMMY TON'S PHOTOGRAPHY :O If you haven't seen it, I suggest you check it now and here. This illo was based on one of his photographs, here. I wanted to take reference (for once) and I could see this becoming a bit David M. Buisan-ish. Ok, no I'm not even comparing. But it was fun to work on the tattoo details, my characters never have tattoos! Probably because there's hardly anyone in India with decent looking tattoos you want to draw :[

Also, I FINALLY worked on more vector portraits! As much as I resist using gradients, I somehow always end up using them. I think I should work on vectors without gradient next.
First up, dancer/ model/ hot-thang DANIEL GAROFALI. Also, he put this up on his Facebook!

Next, the most striking looking model I've been going mad over for ages now, miss LINDSEY WIXSON. I love how she's so distinctive looking. And, those ridiculously psycho Gareth Pugh X MAC lashes. This portrait took much longer than expected!

Last up, some fun Chumbak work for V-day, a part of their Kamasutra collection! As they say, it is 'Continuing their tradition of the Non Nude Kamasutra.' :)
The Kama Sutra boxers' design + a quick mockup! You can get yourself one here.

And here's the mug, design + the final print. To buy one, here.

Image courtesy: Chumbak

Ha! There it is :)
Do leave feedback and have a lovely day! :D

Threadless Loves Pin-ups entry: WAKE UP ALONE. Vote!

Hi

I just submitted for the Threadless design challenge 'Threadless Loves Pinups'.
And what better contemporary pin-up icon than the amazing Amy Winehouse! I'll need ALL the help I can get to get as many votes as possible! Vote. Spread the word. Get a free hug :)
 Do vote: HERE.

2012 IS HERE!

HI ALL!
It's 2012, the year the world has been raving about for a long, long time and living up to it already, it started with quite a blast for me, literally. My laptop fell and my hard disk gave up and died. Urgh. Still getting over that :(
Apart from that utterly delightful news, THERE'S LOTS OF WORK TO SHARE!
You have been warned; this will be a really, reeeally long post :)

First up, my second The Small Picture comic courtesy Manta Ray Comics, titled 'GAON-VILLE'. I worked with the ever-so-amazingly-clever Arjun Kolady, who scripted the piece, with Dileep Cherian's thoughtful edits.
The piece was first seen published in the daily Mint, on December 14, 2011. Higher res version, here.

I recently collaborated with a Delhi based fashion blogger, Surabhi Chauhan AKA Lovestruckcow on a series of fashion illustrations of the best six in Indian fashion during 2011, 'Six Best in 2011' for her blog LOVESTRUCKCOW.
First up was for the Goa based designer, Savio Jon and his Spring Summer 2012 collection.

Second, Suneet Varma's Couture 2011 'KamaSutra' collection.

Third up, the amazing Kolkata based Sabyasachi and his Fall 2011 collection.

Fourth, Alpana & Neeraj with their crazy awesome Fall 2011.

Fifth, the larger-than-life Manish Arora's Srping Summer 2012 collection in Paris.

And last, Rohit Bal's Couture 2011. Excuse me, I've been watching too much Samurai Jack :)

I had crazy fun working on these, and I do hope it shows :)
All of the illustration blog entries can be found right here.


Ok, so I've been following Hellen Jo's absolutely RAD badassery for a good two years now, and she makes drawing on Post-Its look irresistibly delicious. I could not stop myself. So here they are, my first set of Post-it obsession. I've been  listening to a lot of  Lana Del Rey & The Black Keys' latest album recently (And an unending supply of Gaga), as must be evident below. Also, some Studio Killers love!
The scans do not do justice to the fluorescent markers & glitter wax crayons abused for this noble cause.

Also, the scans might not even look like post its anymore. Here's a picture of my sketchbook with all of them, AND IT REMINDS ME OF THIS.

Me and my parents went to a trip recently, Mussourie+ Poanta Sahib. It was freezing cold, I got a mega-swanky-ass hotel room all to myself and I finally met the extended family after ages :'D The joy!
These are some of the sketches done during the course of 7 days.
First, some train sketching! Hello, sleeping uncle :)

Below is my dad, sleeping like a baby. He slept through the entire journey because he wasn't too well. Also, I love drawing him, I could do it forever :)

Some street sketching in Mussourie.

Poanta Sahib, the living quarters.

 Men in pagris of all sizes, loads of fun to draw! :)

 The langar sewa, evening chats and lots of vegetables to cut :)

 Langar sewa, people making chapatis and making fun of how I was standing and sketching instead of helping them out :P

My sketchbooks are becoming better friends with my precious brushpens, and here's some of the sketchery they've been whipping up! Lots of ladies ahead :)

And last but not the least, some Chumbak work :D
A 'Pehelwaan' boxer design. I had SO much fun working on this :D Now I can proudly wear it around too. to get yourself one, here.

And, a quick mock-up.

Then, to an 'OM' keychain :) Below is the design and a picture of the final product :)

Do leave feedback and have a louwely, prolific year ahead :)

Of Halloween, Chumbak-ing & More Gaga

HOLLA!
Long time, I know! Been busy working on tonnes of things and documenting my diploma project yet here I am again :)


My niece, the Halloween baby Humairaa just turned a year old on Halloween. everytime I see her she looks cuter and now there are four tiny fountain ponytails and a whole lot of mischief to add to it all! This was a little illo I made for her birthday :)

One morning I logged onto my Twitter and saw a bunch of drunk Lady Gaga tweets dancing all by herself! My hands ached to draw a Gaga and here's my first, quick 'Drunky Gaga' illustration. Also, her father calls her 'Loopy'!

And now for some work I did for them loverrly, loverrly folks at Chumbak (there's no way you don't know about them, right?)! I had a whole lot of fun working on all of the stuff!
First up, a pack of Bollywood themed playing cards, 'Bollywood Masti'!
It took me a lot of time to figure who to include and how to stylize and yet be able to have a common language throughout. Also, it took a while to conceptualize on the Jacks (the famous Bollywood villains). But we overcame, and I'm pretty happy with the result :) You can get yourself a pack (or two) here! 
For larger resolution, here.

I worked on two A6 notebook designs, 'On The streets of India' & 'How to Kiss Bollywood Style in 4 ways'!

To work on the details and the gags was good fun and the 'kiss' notebook is even a mug! The notebooks, here :)

There's also a keychain design I did based on 'The great Indian Auto Ride'! I was skeptical about the details in the final product, but they came out great! Below is the design, and a horrid, blurred picture of me holding the final keychain. To get yourself one, proceed here :)

Lastly, I worked on 'Incredible India', one of 'The Small Picture' features by Manta Ray Comics. The Small Picture is a full page comic that appears every Wednesday in the daily Mint. The piece was scripted by Leela Alvares, who I worked with in collaboration on the artwork.

The piece was first seen published on 19th October, 2011.
For larger resolution, here.

More stuff to come very soon!

Feedback of all shapes & sizes welcome :)

Have an amazing day!