Art & Craft
Creating A Digital Walkway To The Wonderland: Illustrator Aishwarya Vohra
Brightening the world with cute strokes of positivity, Illustrator Aishwarya Vohra shares her exploration of the digital wonderland with us.
Her unique gift is her vision, coupled with her dedication and her willingness to do whatever it takes. With every stroke, she creates a virtual macrocosm for the new generation of digital readers. The compelling illustrations proffer a foray into the world of endless wonder. Her compositions animate a digital wonderland replete with fanciful creatures and fantastic fan art. In soft lines and bright hues, the digital creations configure an imaginative landscape that holds the promise of a life as picture-perfect as a splendid pop-up book.
Early Life!
She was born in Delhi. Here, she spent her early childhood before relocating to Ludhiana with her family. With her head in the clouds, the dreamy-eyed young girl often wandered off into her dreamland. She fondly remembers that as a kid, her attention constantly drifted to the balmy haze of the wonderland, which she presently alludes to as the land of butterflies and puppies.
Around the clock, she found herself indulging in quick and free-handed sketches. Back in the day, she looked upon Visual Art as a creative medium for expressing thoughts and feelings. And she knew that she was good at it. There was neither anything more nor anything less to it-a pretty much, an open and shut case.
Although she participated in many art competitions and was nicknamed the class artist, it never occurred to her that she could build a career in digital art production. Accordingly, she decided to take up Commerce stream at school and afterwards pursued a degree in business administration. Looking backwards in time, she finds it hard to gather why she felt the way she did. Imaginably, she feared corrupting the joyful experience of loosely and quickly drawing anything that came to her mind. But now, she accepts that phase as an extended timeout of skepticism and incredulous misgivings.
A New Turn of Events!
Following the winding up of her college days, she witnessed a new turn of events. After graduation, she took up a job. Soon, she realised that job in itself was not just working out. Something was amiss. Thereafter, she left her job and returned home. At that time, she felt utterly clueless. For that reason, she started filling up some random forms.
After squandering about six to seven months, she decided to take a course in animation. As she never mused over launching a career in animation, she left the course midway and moved to Dehradun with her husband.
Life at Dehradun was peaceful but bereft of exciting job opportunities. Over the next few years, she travelled immensely and lived in a legion of cities. And strangely enough, the thought of taking up visual art never came to her mind. As far as her love for art went, she continued to draw arbitrary illustrations-more of random elements and whimsical doodles. Needless to add, it is conceivably safe to assume that artistry has been a constant part of her life.
It Is Never Too Late!
She shares that her husband persuaded her to take her hobby seriously. He convinced her that she was meant to become an illustrator. After much coaxing, she resolved to play in the familiar yet untested terrain of digital illustration-on the pretext of discovering whether it was a suitable option for her. And three and half years later, she is not only an illustrator, working primarily on books for children, but also a product designer who develops a range of merchandise.
Her career in the corporate sector, followed by a brief stint in animation, inadvertently set the stage for her half-heartedly wandering into the domain of graphical illustrations. Ever since then, her passion boasted her morale so much so that she confidently transitioned as a full-fledged illustrator. Indeed, the walkway to taking up the role of an illustrator was not critically coherent. Nonetheless, the chain of events suggests, more subtly than anything-it is never too late.
Creating Cute Illustrations!
Much like her like, all her characters are happy and joyful, and above all, are childlike. With honeyed echoes of playfulness, the illustrations offer a happy departure from the rigours of the real world. Understandably, the entire collection promises the delight of pure joy for every beholder. Fairly often, the imagery presents a template for the boundless expanse of imagination.
Her Instagram feed reveals an assortment of illustrations. Firstly, it is graced by fan art, which primarily includes Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, along with an occasional sling of Ghilbi inspired representations and recreated book covers. Then, one catches a glimpse of nature-centric illustrations that roll out light-hearted messages. Taking the lead, an elephant sounds forth the trumpet to be kind; a monkey playfully gibbers to be silly, and a giraffe proudly announces to embrace the weirdness.
More than that, a personalised tone often accompanies the digital artwork, to a greater degree in posts that sneak a peek into her day-to-day life, together with the selection of fan art. At times, she illustrates a girl with her head in the clouds, a skunk battling the dreaded Monday blues, and elsewhere she re-imagines herself as a bespectacled Hogwarts student.
Breakthrough Moment Of Her Life!
Every milestone is marked by a feeling of accomplishment. For Aishwarya, there have been more than one personal milestone. Foremost, the breakthrough moment was the appreciation she received for the customised cards that she had designed on the occasion of her brother’s wedding.
Afterwards, the first-ever professional collaboration as a book illustrator with a first-time author jazzed her up to explore the field of visual art, especially the art of digital production. In the recent past, some associations have become close to her heart. She illustrated P. J. Tierney’s Hamish the Hedgehog: the Kitchen Critter and Mallory Smyth’s Ollie The Owl: Discovers Hoot She Is. Moreover, she partnered as an artist to develop a series of merchandise for the Happy Wagon.
The Way Ahead!
She confides her reluctance in gearing up for a long term vision. Therefore, she sets out to effectively execute short-term plans. Additionally, as opposed to the concept of a hardened or a concrete plan of action, she refers to short-term plans as vague plans. As she looks ahead, she aspires to work on many books for children, develop learning tools for young learners, and collaborate with more like-minded folks for product architecture. And more importantly, she hopes that the audience gains a greater understanding of the artist in her.
Her Five Point Mantra For Success
- Be patient. It takes time for things to work out.
- Strive for constant improvement because there is no substitute for hard work
- Be authentic. Accordingly, it is significant to find your strength and let your personality shine out in whatever you choose to do
- Build a community. You grow when you assist others in their growth.
- Stay humble.
What comes across as most significant is that life is as straight or as crooked as one makes it out to be. In the face of adversity, the resilience of the spirit illuminates the dark sky of formidable challenges.
Above all, life has a way of surprising us. At least, that’s what we like to think. Maybe, life will surprise everyone in a good way. From time to time, we need dreamy eyes to see the wonders of the world, a grateful heart to feel the wonders of the world, and perhaps a pair of bunny ears to listen to the wonders of the world. You never know the walkway to the wonderland may be around the corner.
Art & Craft
Unveiling the Abstract Realms: Ram Kumar
Journey through the vibrant landscapes of an Indian art maestro Ram Kumar, a luminary in India’s artistic cosmos, who redefined abstraction.
From figurative to abstraction, Ram Kumar, a luminary in India’s artistic cosmos, is a beacon of inspiration, revolutionising the canvas with his abstract strokes. Born in 1924, Ram Kumar’s journey from the corridors of academia to the bustling street of Paris and finally to the serene landscapes of Varanasi captures a profound evolution in both his art style and thematic preoccupations.
Ram Kumar was drawn into the art world due to a chance encounter with an exhibition at the Sarada Ukil School of Art while pursuing his Master’s in Economics at St Stephen’s College in 1945. He enrolled in evening classes at the art school under the guidance of artist Sailoz Mookherjea. Kumar started to hone his skills in still-life portrait painting, gradually transitioning to capture the urban decay and human condition of Delhi and Shimla through his paintings. During his formative years, Kumar’s art reflected a vibrant energy, often depicting scenes of everyday life juxtaposed with deeper existential themes. His works, such as “Why Can’t I Sleep” and “Oppression”, reflected the underlying social and political currents shaping post-independence India.
In 1948, Ram Kumar’s artistic journey took a significant turn when he joined a Hindi daily newspaper as a journalist trainee and crossed paths with artist J. Swaminathan. This encounter solidified his commitment to art, and began a lifelong friendship with fellow artists such as S.H Raza, F.N. Souza and K.H.Ara. The year 1949 witnessed Ram Kumar’s first solo exhibition in Shimla, where his paintings caught the eye of Dr Zakir Hussain, the then Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University. Inspired by the early success, Kumar embarked on a journey of artistic enlightenment to Paris.
With its rich cultural tapestry, Paris was a crucible for Kumar’s artistic evolution. Under the tutelage of renowned artist Andre Lhote, Kumar delved into the work of lines, curves and colours, imbuing his works with a newfound dynamism inspired by the works of radicals like Louis Aragon and Roger Garaudy, as well as encounters with luminaries like Pablo Neruda, Kumar’s art began to reflect a deeper engagement with human emotions and societal realities. The years spent in Paris were transformative for Kumar, artistically and ideologically. His encounters with the works of Courbet, Rouault, Kathe Kollwits and Edward Hopper instilled in him a deep appreciation and sensitivity to the human experience, which would manifest in his later works.
When he returned to India, Kumar was drawn to the ancient city of Varanasi, where he encountered a land brimming with spiritual fervour and existential angst. The stark contrast between the city’s vibrant rituals and its silent decaying structures became a recurring motif in Kumar’s art.
The 1960s marked a watershed moment in Kumar’s artistic career as he transitioned from figurative to abstract expressionism. His “Grey Period” changed from vivid colours to muted tones reflecting the sad realities of human suffering and mortality. His cityscapes of Varanasi, rendered in Cubist aerial views, symbolised the existential angst that permeated his work. Kumar’s later works continued to explore Varanasi’s spiritual and existential dimensions, albeit with a newfound sense of transcendence. His “Benaras Series”, characterised by ethereal blues and a sense of collective spirituality, captured the city’s timeless allure while evoking a deep sense of human emotion and longing.
In retrospect, Ram Kumar’s artistic journey is a testament to the transformative power of exploration and introspection. From his early realist works depicting the bustling streets of Delhi to, his later abstract compositions inspired by the charisma of Varanasi, Kumar’s art transcends boundaries and speaks to the universal human experience.
In a world marked by constant change and upheaval, Ram Kumar’s timeless artworks serve as poignant reminders of the enduring power of art to reflect, provoke and inspire. As we navigate the complexities of modern existence, may we find solace and enlightenment in the enduring legacy of artists like Ram Kumar, whose abstract brushstrokes continue to resonate across time and space.
Art & Craft
Exploring The Symphony Of Water-Colour Artists
Dive into a kaleidoscope of Watercolour artists—where every stroke and shade tells a story of boundless imagination.
In the vast landscape of artistic expression, creativity knows no bounds. From photography to the art world, a myriad of voices and visions intertwine to form a rich tapestry of human experience. This article embarks on a journey through the diverse realms of artistic creation through watercolour artists, celebrating the unique talents and perspectives that shape our world.
Dhirendra Mandge : @mandgedhirendra
Dhirendra Mandge has a portfolio featuring around 36 group exhibitions and 5 solo showcases. His artistic endeavours encompass figurative and abstract forms, with a current focus on exploring Indian heritage architecture. Mandge draws inspiration from the majestic historical forts, their unparalleled architectural marvels intriguing him. To him, heritage serves as a bridge linking the past with the present, embodying a timeless connection.
Rashmi Soni: @artist_rashmisoni
Rashmi Soni’s painting exudes the ethereal beauty of simplistic things, capturing moments of serenity and introspection. With delicate brushstrokes, she infuses her work with a beautiful mixture of colours that evoke a sense of wonder and tranquillity. Her eye for detail and mastery of colour invites viewers into a world of quiet contemplation.
Gulshan Achari: @gulshanachari
Gulshan Achari’s bold and dynamic compositions command attention, drawing viewers into a whirlwind of vibrant colours and swirling forms. His paintings pulsate with energy and movement, reflecting his passionate exploration of shape and architecture. Achari’s work challenges traditional notions of art, pushing boundaries and inviting viewers to engage with simplistic beauty.
Dhruba Mazumder : @dhrubafinearts
Dhruba Mazumder’s evocative portraits capture the complexity of human emotion with remarkable sensitivity and depth. Through subtle nuances of expression and meticulous attention to detail, he breathes life into her subjects, inviting viewers to glimpse the inner workings of natural beauty. Mazumder’s paintings resonate with authenticity and vulnerability, powerful reflections of the human experience.
Harshwaradhan Devtale: @harshwardhan_devtale
Harshwaradhan Devtale’s intricate layers of colour and texture create a sense of depth and dimensionality, inviting viewers to explore the interplay between light and shadow. This watercolour artist blurs the line between painting and reality, resulting in works that are extraordinary to witness.
Abhijit Jadhav: @abhijadhav_artist_official
Abhijit Jadhav’s cityscapes evoke a sense of wonder and awe, transporting viewers to otherworldly realms of imagination. Through watercolours he creates cityscapes that have paused their busy day just for him, capturing the moment through his imagination, memory and creativity.
Chetan C Sadashivan: @chetan.c.s
Chetan C Sadashivan, through meticulous attention to detail in his watercolour paintings and a keen understanding of form, captures the beauty and complexity of everyday life. Chetan’s paintings invite the viewers to pause and reflect on the inherent beauty of the world around them, reminding us to enjoy the beauty in simple moments.
Rahul Vishwakarma: @rahulvishwakarma.12
Rahul Viswakarma’s painting is poetic, this watercolour artist paints vivid portraits of emotion and experience, weaving them into tapestries of beauty and longing. His evocative paintings depict visuals of cities that are ethereal and immersive clubbed with his eye for meticulous detail, giving one solace and inspiration.
Conclusion:
One thing is abundantly clear: art knows no boundaries. Across cultures, genres and mediums creators continue to push the boundaries of expression, inspiring and challenging us to see the world in new ways. Let us celebrate the richness of diversity and the transformative power of creativity through these beautiful watercolour paintings.
Art & Craft
Instagram Portrait Artists: Just Looking Like A Wow!
Presenting Instagram portrait artists who are bound to blow you away with their harmonious blend of reality and creative whimsy.
Art as a creative form is difficult to master. But it’s even more difficult to decipher. Understanding a piece of art can never happen linearly as it is bound to branch out to various interpretations. Though it’s rather tempting to decipher each artist’s work, it’s only right that we give you the choice to go do it yourself at your convenience. Hence, we present to you Instagram portrait artists who are bound to blow you away with their skills.
Debojyoti Boruah
Breathing life into canvases, Debojyoti’s artworks capture life at its true essence. From the shiny gleam on your cheek to the slight wrinkle that forms around your eyes when you smile, each facial contort is meticulously captured by him. An Instagram portrait artist who believes in bringing realism out with his acrylics, you should check out his page if you are a realistic lover.
Sri Priyatham
Sketches that capture reality with a bit of creative flair, Priyatham’s works are a sight to behold. Each stroke and tension carry with them a lot of thought and emotion. Emphasizing and hiding just the right amount, he is one such Instagram portrait artist whose portraits are bound to make you stop and ponder.
Amit Naik
Balancing reality with an artistic sheen, Amit’s paintings remind you of the beauty in this lost world. From sketching to painting, his page is heaven for anyone looking for the lost sparkle in this world. An Instagram portrait artist specialising in portraits and cityscapes, check out his page to see the world through his gleaming creative lens.
Himani Jhawar Shah
Many consider sketching one of the easiest art forms, but the kind of sketching that looks exactly like a painting in greyscale requires much more effort than an average artist will put in. Adding layers and textures to her artwork, Himani’s sketches will bewitch you for a long time. The definition that each of her sketches holds is a testament to the expertise of this Instagram portrait artist.
Parag Borse
An international award-winning Indian artist, Parag’s works carry a tale within themselves. Playing with different colour palettes it’s the background in each piece that tells more about the portrait than the foreground. An Instagram portrait artist whose works with soft pastels are bound to leave you in awe.
Bansuri Mahendru
Taking the art of creating portraits to another level, Bansuri’s works carry with them a vintage whimsical charm. The soft strokes of her brush and serene background are bound to calm any turbulent mind. Bearing a resemblance to Baroque paintings, this Instagram portrait artist is here to soothe your soul with each brush stroke at a time.
Nilisha
Capturing figures in an overlapping manner, Nilisha’s works carry with them several intertwining tales. Each of these tales reveals different aspects of the painting making one stop and stare for hours trying to figure out the creative marvel they just witnessed. The layering technique used by this Instagram portrait artist is a testament to the artist’s expertise as a storyteller.
Anoop anu
A portrait artist whose pencil captures reality better than a DSLR camera. Anoop’s work is gonna stun you into silence. The way he captures each strand of hair with such precision is a feat that many artists dream of achieving. From pop culture to real life, Anoop tries to capture whatever catches his eye. He is an Instagram portrait artist for those looking for hyperrealistic portraits.
Harsha Kaveripura
Capturing portraits with his flair, Harsha’s works capture a sentiment like no other. From capturing beauty to the harsh reality, this Instagram portrait artist expertly uses art as his medium of expression as he doesn’t shy away from expressing his views through his works. A must-visit page for those looking for beauty with wokeness.
Do check out these Instagram artists!
Art & Craft
Palette Knife Technique : A Unique Genre of Art
Palette knife art technique is a phenomenal genre to explore. Here are five artists wielding the palette knife with finesse.
Art is magic, it is mystic and it is unfathomable. It encompasses a whole wide range of styles, techniques and mediums. Amongst the techniques of painting, one is the palette knife art technique. It employs a palette knife i.e. a blunt tool used for mixing or applying paint with a flexible steel blade. This technique is generally used on canvas and is now being used to create decorative handmade artworks. Here we present five phenomenal artists who are using their palette knives with precision and craftsmanship.
Ritu Kumar
Ritu Kumar is a modern artist or an abstract artist. Her strokes of colour have carved some of the most spectacular paintings in the art world. Her page is truly a visual pleasure of vibrance and texture. She uses palette knives with such precision that landscapes, abstracts and florals, all come to life. Her works are a pure reflection of precision and spontaneity. Not only palette knife art, Ritu has a niche in resin art as well as gold leaf art. By adding abstraction to ethnic art, she has been pleasing clients all over the world.
Ganesh Panda
Ganesh Panda, a Mumbai-based professional artist bestows the viewers with a joyous carnival of bold brush strokes and zestful compositions. His works majorly consist of sceneries, landscapes, riversides and everything in the world that is enough to narrate stories of humans. Light and shadow – the two aspects and their interplay creating a mesmerising effect form a major theme of his works. Blue, yellow and green along with a myriad of shades of these colours, Ganesh brings stories to life. He chooses diverse subjects and boldly experiments with the palette knife technique. To find out more about him, check out his website.
Neeraj Shirvaikar
Neeraj Shirvaikar who calls himself Bard of Bombay is a storyteller and miniature maker who blends narratives into the palette knife art world. His human portraits and natural landscapes speak volumes. His strokes tell stories and the vibrance in them carries a sense of movement and emotion. None of his pieces are silent, all of them tell tales; of cities, of people, of skies. The cityscapes tell certain compelling narratives and give the viewers something to explore the depth of imagination.
Salona Singh
Salona Singh is an art professional from the cultural capital of India – Kolkata. His oil paintings are realistic and surreal at the same time. His palette knife art is a combination of grace and intensity. He uses the palette knife to craft minute details in his works. His pieces are intense and refined with a harmony between bold pigments and delicate shades of vibrant hues. Indeed his artworks showcase his magic; a mastery of the palette knife technique. Know more about him here.
These artists are exemplifying the versatile and dynamic nature of the poignant palette knife art. The rare art form being one of the most difficult ones is being paid due reverence by the artists. Their choice of styles, subjects, themes, strokes and colours bring forth a mesmerising tapestry of the art form.
Art & Craft
Clay Artists For That Perfect Insta Glam or Kawaii Charm
In recent years clay art has gone beyond pots and mugs and has entered the world of fashion, check out our picks of some talented clay artists on Instagram!
Going beyond the realm of just being a decoration, clay art has reached the heights of practicality with the creation of clay incense stick holders, earrings, etc. And if you are new to this form of art we understand how overwhelming it must be as the amount of products that it can create is truly limitless. Hence, we bring to you our picks of the clay artists you must check out on Instagram!
Cry (@clayberry.in)
Looking for some cute charms to add an extra layer of Kawaii to your everyday things such as pencil pouches to mobile phones? Then this Instagram page is just for you. From Sanrio to Ghibli characters to cute bunnies and ice cream they cover it all. The best part, they do take custom orders!
Made of Clay (@madeofclay.in)
Looking for some sustainable yet chic earrings that capture each season and theme perfectly? Then this Instagram page is just for you. Dedicated solely to clay earrings, the craftsmanship of each piece of work is bound to leave you awestruck. The design and quality of work are clearly worth the hype. The amount of detail the clay artist has given to each piece is truly out of the world. Splurging on their work is totally an investment as their pieces are timeless!
Polymer Clay by Leah (@pupletcharms.in)
If you think you have seen all things Kawaii wait till you explore this Instagram page. They take their Kawaii(ness) very seriously! The colourful work coupled with a glossy finish is bound to make you scream UwU. The precise execution of these cute charms highlights the fine craftsmanship the clay artist holds and has probably honed with practice. You are bound to splurge more than you planned!
Craft Castle Store (@the.craftcastle.store)
Looking for some cute funky Y2K style clay charms and accessories, then this is your page! From detailed gothic charms to pixelated character charms, there is no limit to this clay artist’s ability to bring our imagination to life. From anime to dogs to keychains they can make it all with an extra dose of Kawaii!
Clay Confetti India (@clayconfetti.in)
Looking for trendy jewellery that is a good blend of Y2K and minimalism? Then this Instagram page is for you! The ability of this clay artist to tone down the loudness of Y2K fashion just a bit to let the minimalism shine makes their pieces a perfect choice for any formal or informal occasion. From glossy finish to matte finish they have it all!
HandyBloom (@handybloomhb)
Looking for some clay work to gift someone? Or is it something crochet that you think will be more appropriate? Or perhaps it’s candles that will make the perfect gift! Whatever it is they have you covered. Specialising in customised handmade products for gifting, they are sure to come up with something great personal for your loved ones. And their clay work truly takes the cake. From incense stick holders to clay mugs they can do it all!
Do check out these pages for all your clay art needs!
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