Art is cathartic but also like a reflection of the world, from the world. The way individuals take it upon themselves to draw on a sheet a perceived reality from their naked eyes is beautiful. The capability that humans hold to transfer a flash of memory and communicate through painting to make it more accessible is an act of praise. Presenting artists who are masters of their craft and the way they choose to portray it through various styles.

Manu Saluja

Saluja art serves the purpose to keep the essence of the muse visible but also discharges what she wants to see in the world. The watercolour painting shown on her Instagram page is completely ethereal and so detailed they delineate the purpose of representation. The woman she paints with the mixtures of colours and different strokes and the diversity in those portraits leaves you awestruck. With the gravity they hold to show different narratives, Sauja’s art becomes an alternate window that focuses on shedding representation of various cloaked identities. Saluja art represents the dream that dissociates from a corrupt world but also keeps your grounded.

Manjiri More

Painting seems to capture, they captivate an individual in their most raw form forever within a frame. Manijiri’s page, showcases a variety of portraits in different contexts just still and it’s fascinating how still and still alive in time they appear. Manjiri as an artist manages to put tangibility to canvases making the emotions emotive. The colour gradient, the several precise lines and especially the wrinkles on people’s faces depict so much more than words ever could. The beauty oozing out through canvases is a delight and deserves utmost appreciation. A collection of oil portraits with various scenic beauties captured through Majiri’s eyes and hands are meticulously done.

Rakesh Suryawanshi

Rakesh shows a variety of art in form of sketches, oil, charcoal, and watercolour in various locations enclosing people and space in their stillness. The depiction of art shows the skills and effort put into every stroke and line of the sketch. A clear distinction between reality and art is visible and makes it more meaningful that entirely captivates the viewer. Suryawanshi’s page shows the scenic piece as well as the process of getting it down on paper. The way process of art creation is shown is intriguing and insightful at the same time. The alternation an artist can bring in reality and convert into a different one is provoking.

Prabal Mallick

The scenic beauty just simply elevates with the way Prabal plays with colours. The way a particular scene transcends into a gradient dreamy scene one of a kind and unreal is a sheer pleasure to human eyes. The mixture of colours and the way his work remains concise at the same time, a frame taken out from reality and presented for you to cherish. The skies, farms, beaches and flowers are exceptionally done with so much authenticity yet the essence of reality. Mallick’s page, is definitely a place to check out if you keep interested in curating art.

Gurmukh Singh

Gurmukh’s work seizes a piece of real-world on the sheet. His page shows a diverse range of work, showing a lot of potential that he holds in communicating through art. The use of colour is unique and detailed to an extent where they resonate so well with actual tangible subjects. The scenic beauty comprises a range of intricacies almost getting everything into account which turns out to be so artsy and conveys a different range of emotions. The watercolour seems as though drawn from a memory somewhere that remains embedded in everyone’s head.

Illustrations are visual representations that are used to amplify or clarify a concept, idea, or message. They can take many different forms, including drawings, paintings, photographs, diagrams, charts, graphs, and maps. They can be purely decorative or serve a functional purpose, such as providing instructions or showing the relationships between different pieces of information. The style and complexity of illustrations can vary widely depending on the intended audience and the purpose of the illustration. Today, we present to you some celebrated illustrators and cartoonists.

Illustrations by Rhea Singh

Rhea Singh is an illustrator who is passionately in love with flowers, lines and landscapes. Basically, she uses a plethora of hues in her illustrations and brings out the best in her work. Her Instagram page is a rainbow of colors. There wouldn’t be any flower that Rhea didn’t illustrate in its true essence. The landscapes one imagines are drawn and intensified enchantingly by her. She is a complete nature enthusiast portraying all its antics.

Cartoons by Phani Tetali

An academician, dean at UPES Dehradun, an illustrator, a cartoonist, a storyteller – this is what describes Phani Tetali as a whole. His cartoons majorly hold a sarcasm or satire on the world and his latest creations touch the growing fame of artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGpt. The cartoons put forward ironic situations to create light humor. His creations for sure established him as a great storyteller.

Illustrations by Vijaya Aswani

Vijaya Aswani is a growing illustrator and self made business woman drawing and dancing through life. She creates free spirited illustrations. Her work has a hidden story to narrate. Blending modern concepts with traditional culture, she renders fabulous pieces. She is known for creating personalized gifts like calendars and caricatures. Her creations can surely make one smile while conveying a message to the masses.

Illustrations by Shaivalini Kumar

The co-founder of Supernova Design Studio, Shaivalini Kumar is an art director and illustrator. Currently residing in Copenhagen, Denmark she is known for creating top notch wallpapers and illustrations. Her work is a perfect mix of bright tints and cool concepts. Patterns accompanied with the alphabet form a major part of her creations.

Illustrations by Maria Rose

Hailing from the Silicon Valley of India, Maria Rose is an artist and illustrator. Her illustrations particularly draw inspiration from plants and snippets of life around. She loves to develop intricate designs in human figures and present their emotions evidently. Most of her work revolves around humans and animals. Fairy tales, sitcoms and cosmic objects also form a part of her imagination.

Cartoons by Upmanyu Bhattacharya

An artist and animator from Calcutta, Upmanyu Bhattacharya is an emerging young generation talent. His illustrations are generally based on sceneries, landscapes, temples, markets and the like. The use of radiant tinctures in his work escalates the fascination of the viewer. The cartoons he creates are majorly a depiction of humans in their world. Certainly, one can’t afford to miss his woodwork and sculpting art. 

Illustrations by Sharanya Kunnath

An alumnus of Arts University Bournemouth, Sharanya Kunnath is an illustrator and designer. She is a gifted artist who designs and illustrates book covers. Her illustrations are an evidence of her thoughts and imagination. She also designs the English alphabet into a world of wonder. Her drawings of Maa Saraswati with a tinge of modern art are commendable. She also creates Mandala Art with detailed designs.

Illustrations by Juhi Mehta

Hailing from Bangalore, Juhi Mehta believes in illustrating what inspires her. From models and dresses to food and flowers, she has it all. She also specializes in creating customized wedding invitations. Her illustrations are a depiction of anything and everything one can see around oneself. The cool colors used by her are a cherry on the cake.

Globalisation started with the aim of making the world a global village. Since its inception, it has taken the world by storm. It made goods and services accessible to a totally new section of society that was left untouched previously. It has managed to bridge many gaps that existed before. Since its arrival in India in 1991, it opened many doors for India to go global. But along with many wide open doors of opportunities, a host of new windows of challenges also opened up.

Globalisation: The Saviour

Given India’s colonial past, India’s hesitation towards opening its doors to the global market doesn’t sound alarming at all. So, when it did open itself up towards the global market the results were very rewarding and not so rewarding at the same time. India’s soul lies in its traditions. And its handicrafts and handlooms are the most tangible form of its traditions. Given how important traditions are to India, one can only imagine how invaluable these pieces of handicrafts and handlooms must be for India. It’s India’s most tremendous pride and greatest asset.

When it opened itself up to the world during globalisation, India needed something unique to help make it stand out from the crowd. And thus, came into the global picture, Indian handicrafts and handlooms. The potential that Indian handicrafts held in the global market were observed when their export crossed Rs 1220 crores in 1990-91 from merely 10 crores in the mid-fifties. These handicrafts and handlooms ignited interest in the western world to know more about this Asian section of their global village. Thus, leading to a boom in India’s tourism industry. It looks like everyone is benefitting from it, but are they?

Globalisation: The Hidden Side

Globalisation did give India its fair share of global credit for its outstanding craftsmanship, but what about the true artisans? With an increase in their audience, one would expect them to thrive but sadly the reality is not the same. Given the rise in middlemen and trade entrepreneurs, the majority of the profit ends up in their lap. And the true artist is left to collect the scraps. This further leads to them hoping for their kids to have a better future than them. This means they wish for them to have a different occupation. Thus, the new generation either doesn’t always end up learning the age-old craft from their parents. Or if they do they don’t always end up practising it, and thus, the craft dies with it.

Given the lack of organisation and formal education, many local artisans end up working in highly exploitative environments which will make even a true craft lover turn their eyes away with tears. Along with increased audience globalisation also brings with it an increase in competition. A highly competitive environment means the cheapest product wins the bet. 

But sadly the amount that goes into the making of these exquisite pieces of handicrafts and handlooms is not cheap and hence, the end value is always expensive. Plus, the traditional way of making these handicrafts and handlooms also takes a lot of time. In order to meet the increased demand cheap knockoffs started circulating the market. Using machinery rather than artisans cuts the production cost and the time taken to produce it by half. Plus it meets the global demand. But with all the profits the one who suffers the most is the true artist.

Afterword

Globalisation indeed helped uplift India’s local artisans by increasing their employment rate. But sadly this trend did not follow for long. With the arrival of middlemen and an increase in the demand for these handicrafts and handlooms, cheaper knockoff versions entered the market. This led to a loss of uniqueness and craftsmanship as goods were now produced by machines and a loss of tradition in general. The aim of globalisation is to create a global village but you cannot build a village with a profit-making mentality that only benefits you in the long run. The government has taken several steps to help artisans get their fair share of profit but a lot still needs to be done. And most of it starts with us becoming more aware consumers.

Teju Jangid, born and brought up in Jodhpur, Rajasthan is a digital artist. With an immense fanbase on Instagram, he is a self-taught digital artist. Currently working as a full-time freelancer, Teju Jangid is proficient in digital illustration, book cover design, concept art and the likes. Here’s a sneak peek into the inspiring journey of Teju Jangid becoming a digital artist despite all the odds in his life.

Since childhood Teju Jangid loved to experiment with colors and come out with some exceptional pieces of work. Recalling the first drawing he made, he says, “The first time I painted was when I was a sixth grader. I made a drawing of Lord Hanuman and took it to school. My friends and teachers appreciated the effort a lot. This gave me a solemn affirmation and I started improving my art skills.” In the initial phase he did not receive much support from his family. Coming from a farming background, Teju Jangid’s father wanted him to join the same and continue the legacy. Paying heed to his father’s advice, he started a job in the sales domain in the main city area of Jodhpur. But the moment he started working, he realized this wasn’t something he wanted to do. He quit the job and came back to his village and started helping his father on the farm. He worked in the fields in the day and practiced art whenever he got a chance. 

Teju Jangid kickstarted his career as a professional digital artist around five years back in the year 2018. He started with making pencil sketches of celebrities and sharing them on Instagram. His journey of success began when the renowned YouTuber Amit Bhadana posted his sketch made by Teju Jangid on his Instagram story. While recollecting some significant instances from his story Teju Jangid says, “I remember I made a sketch of Akshay Kumar’s character as Prithviraj Chauhan before the release of the movie. Akshay Kumar had commented on the post and to this day that whole thing remains inscribed on my mind and heart.” 

Teju Jangid idolizes the great artist Raja Ravi Verma and draws inspiration from him. Though he has never made one, he adores oil paintings to the fullest. He generally finds solace in painting portraits of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, characters from Indian mythological stories and folktales and the mighty rulers of Indian history. He takes pride in being attached to his roots and portraying the same in his art. He says, “In my early days, I used to paint and sketch on paper. The gradual shift from traditional tools of art to modern equipment was a challenging aspect. I learned and thoroughly enjoyed the whole process.” Now he feels like he has got detached from traditional art but wishes to explore it all over again.

Teju Jangid feels that social media, especially Instagram played a key role in shaping his career as a digital artist. Talking about the essence of art in rural India, he believes that rural India possesses a huge respect for art and artists but it is still not considered as a profession there. Being asked about his take on the upcoming generation of artists, Teju Jangid says, “Just two things for the budding artists – DON’T RUSH AND DON’T COMPARE! Don’t chase popularity and money, just focus on polishing your skills, fame, name and money will follow with joy. And don’t compare the first page of your story to the tenth page of someone else’s story. Compete with yourself, look back at your own versions and feel proud of how far you came!”

Teju Jangid considers artificial intelligence to be both a bane and a boon for artists. He concludes with a strong statement that AI can never replace humans, it can only accompany and facilitate them. He aspires to grow and develop his own self in the field of digital art and accomplish new horizons.

The invention of camera and photography in the 19th century marked an enigma in the art and culture of human history. The innovative intervention sowed the seeds of an avid ‘newness’ that people were looking forward to, both amazed and alarmed with the technology. Cameras changed the way art was perceived, made or created. This meant that with the camera capturing real-time scenarios, paintings need not be realistic anymore. Camera and photography introduced videography, and videography to films and movies. Art was getting expanded into a plethora of mediums. This was just one instance of technology seeping into the society. The sphere of art has since then be influenced by new technological inventions.

In the most recent, the digital era of the internet and smartphones has grappled the sphere of art with numerous new alternatives both in the form of its creation and its experience as an art lover. The art form currently produced in the 21st century, and since the second half of the 20th century is termed as ‘Contemporary Art’. Quite self-explanatory, contemporary artists are producing pieces in a culturally diverse and technologically advanced society, and these factors have a significant influence on the creation of art. An iPad has also conveniently become a canvas for the artist, or the NFT for the sale of the same. To dwell into this further, we can peek into the various mediums through which art is created.

The History Of Digital Art And Technology

Mixed media art was an avant-garde movement of the early 20th century, which itself molded the idea of what ‘true art’ is. With the advent of technology, the expression of art has only extended the medium and given us a wider prospectus to blend visual art with other kinds of elements. Digital art can be traced back to the ’60s, when a group of New York artists along with a few scientists and engineers worked collaboratively to create new artistic performances and pieces using the then technological innovations.

In 1980, computer engineers introduced the paint application which was an alternative to the manual paintings that the society was familiar with. This was the time when pixel art or 2D digital art was taking momentum in the art world. Soon after, software art and internet art followed. Digital photography and digital printing enabled a creative collaboration.

When Technology Meets The Art World: The Indian Scene

In India, the trends followed soon, and artists incorporated these innovations in music, films, and paintings. The digitization of art has immersed itself in the diverse and unique art forms of India. Indian folk arts like the Madhubani art is very famous in the west. The authentic aesthetically pleasing designs of the Madhubani art has been an area of deep intrigue for the outside world. To preserve this artform, attempts have been made through computer aided designs (CAD) to speed up the process of creating the art work instead of the conventional manual way which was time consuming. Museums and exhibitions are displaying these indigenous and local art forms of India online through virtual reality. This way the connection between the people and the art is always kept taut.

In a similar scenario, the paintings and the damaged murals of the Ajanta Caves have been restored using art digitization. The AI technology modifies the erased pixels and reinstitutes the lost or faded designs. With Virtual Reality, entire exhibitions are now put up online, with a 360 degree, panoramic view. Art galleries could be experienced through the screens from the comforts of your home. The control of the experience of the space is completely in the hands of the viewer. This was especially significant during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.

In this discussion, it is also worth mentioning the blockchain technology – NFTs (Non-fungible Tokens). While NFTs are not used in any way to create art or aren’t necessarily art pieces all the time, they have had an influence over the art community. NFTs are unique digital assets that can be bought and sold online. They work as proof of ownership, no other person can have a copy of the same. Artists put up their artworks as NFTs, and sell it online.

Contemporary Indian Artists Who Are Mixing Art And Tech

As mentioned above, India has long since been leveraging the benefits of technological art. In India, the first computer art exhibit in India was held in Mumbai in 1991. In August 1997, Vadodara, The first Indian Digital Art Workshop for Young Artists was held. It was a 3-week workshop which introduced children to painting with computers. Multiple events and workshops like these were domineering in the early 2000s to embrace the new medium and technique of art.

Throughout the years, multiple Indian artists have come forth and contributed much to the new art sphere. Some of these names are Anita Dube, Vivan Sundaram, Sheba Chhahhi, Atul Bhaa, Gigi Scaria, Ranbir Kaleka, Tabrez Alam, Pinkoblue, etc. Artists like Ranbir Kaleka experiment and combine film and painting together to create video arts, or like artists such as Tabrez Alam who merge together stills from movies with paintings. The mixed media create another kind of artistic piece which delves deeper into the nuanced quality of how we perceive films and to what element do we associate it with.

While art and technology has widened our scope for not only deeply expressing through the mixed media art but has also increased the possibility of viewing these artforms on an online platform, readily accessible to us. However, one also cannot ignore the negatives of the digital media. It can be agreed that technology has made it easier to reproduce multiple copies of ‘authentic’ paintings which lessens its value. One well-known and experienced example is that of Mona Lisa. You can find her in keychains, t-shirts, posters, etc.

Therefore, one can agree that technology has definitely dug up more pathways to create and experience art, it has also, at the same time, devalued the existence of the same art.