Showing posts with label iloveindia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iloveindia. Show all posts
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Thursday, May 14, 2015
To Rishabh and Vanshika
Designed these cards for a wedding in close family. The events were all held in the beautiful Suryagarh, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
The illustration style has been kept similar to the folk art found on the walls of Shekhavati called Bhittichitra. The lazer-cut jaali, the colour scheme and motifs are all inspired from Rajasthan.
The illustration style has been kept similar to the folk art found on the walls of Shekhavati called Bhittichitra. The lazer-cut jaali, the colour scheme and motifs are all inspired from Rajasthan.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
A series of Dreams : Swapna Shrinkhala
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Sumangal 2011
When approached to design a calendar for 2011 for the Kalpataru group this year, we were delighted to be a part of this journey once more.
The group is well known for it's premium quality and style of construction. India-centric themes have been the highlight of these calendars for many years giving the group a profile that it is also rooted in culture, which is well received and appreciated. It is hence challenging to conceptualise a theme that is equally evocative and stunning year after year to bewilder the audience. However we all were keen to experiment as we did the previous year. And after a few rounds of internal brainstorming, meetings and presentations we were able to focus on a still broader concept, that was - symbols of prosperity in India.
We called it Sumangal 2011 - Painted prayers from folk India.
Research on this subject broadly indicated that the meaning of these symbols emerges from various faiths/beliefs from different regions of India with an unmistakable folk flavour. And hence came the inspiration for the rendition of these symbols in various Indian folk styles of expression.
We narrowed down to studying various "wall paintings" as they seemed an apt subject for our client, who's primary business is that of real estate. As we looked more and more we understood that these were not mere symbols for the artisan painting it but almost silent prayers of well being. And hence we got a title for the theme.
Some initial sketches and scans
Here is a glimpse of the calendar copy that has just arrived at the studio.
The calendar comes with a bookmark and pocket calendar. We opted for a red foil stamping for the title only. Otherwise appearing black it magically reflects the red sheen against light. Against an earthy rustic background, it adds richness. A similar feel is created onto the calendar flyleaf inside.
Each leaf inside has been given a special touch using various different inks and printing techniques to give the hand painted illustrations more volume.
Thermography in white on the shankh imitates rice paste.
Florescent green ink in leaves of the kalpavriksh lends extra freshness
Thakur ka ghar beautifully encases the deity in the house through Sohrai painting
Abrasive UV on a yantra gives it a tactile feel giving power each time it is touched
The kamal motif in lippan kaam imitates the mirror work See process
The surya spreads its radiance in a PVC Gold screen.
A moradi or peacock guards the walls of the meena tribe from rajasthan
A cluster of ten fish or matsya bless for good luck in marriage
A mrig or a deer symbolising man in harmony with nature
The seat of the rajput warrior on an elephant sparkles with gold foil stamped embellishments
The dharmachakra spreads the wisdom rendered in tibetian wall art style with effects imitating wood through a special UV
The magical spectre of the tarpa nritya captured with silver screen for the trees
With each of these folk symbols resting on its owner's desk we hope it brings them good fortune all round the year.
The group is well known for it's premium quality and style of construction. India-centric themes have been the highlight of these calendars for many years giving the group a profile that it is also rooted in culture, which is well received and appreciated. It is hence challenging to conceptualise a theme that is equally evocative and stunning year after year to bewilder the audience. However we all were keen to experiment as we did the previous year. And after a few rounds of internal brainstorming, meetings and presentations we were able to focus on a still broader concept, that was - symbols of prosperity in India.
We called it Sumangal 2011 - Painted prayers from folk India.
Research on this subject broadly indicated that the meaning of these symbols emerges from various faiths/beliefs from different regions of India with an unmistakable folk flavour. And hence came the inspiration for the rendition of these symbols in various Indian folk styles of expression.
We narrowed down to studying various "wall paintings" as they seemed an apt subject for our client, who's primary business is that of real estate. As we looked more and more we understood that these were not mere symbols for the artisan painting it but almost silent prayers of well being. And hence we got a title for the theme.
Some initial sketches and scans
Here is a glimpse of the calendar copy that has just arrived at the studio.
The calendar comes with a bookmark and pocket calendar. We opted for a red foil stamping for the title only. Otherwise appearing black it magically reflects the red sheen against light. Against an earthy rustic background, it adds richness. A similar feel is created onto the calendar flyleaf inside.
Each leaf inside has been given a special touch using various different inks and printing techniques to give the hand painted illustrations more volume.
Thermography in white on the shankh imitates rice paste.
Florescent green ink in leaves of the kalpavriksh lends extra freshness
Thakur ka ghar beautifully encases the deity in the house through Sohrai painting
Abrasive UV on a yantra gives it a tactile feel giving power each time it is touched
The kamal motif in lippan kaam imitates the mirror work See process
The surya spreads its radiance in a PVC Gold screen.
A moradi or peacock guards the walls of the meena tribe from rajasthan
A cluster of ten fish or matsya bless for good luck in marriage
A mrig or a deer symbolising man in harmony with nature
The seat of the rajput warrior on an elephant sparkles with gold foil stamped embellishments
The dharmachakra spreads the wisdom rendered in tibetian wall art style with effects imitating wood through a special UV
The magical spectre of the tarpa nritya captured with silver screen for the trees
With each of these folk symbols resting on its owner's desk we hope it brings them good fortune all round the year.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Experiments with random materials : Lippan Kaam
This year around we have had the fortunate chance to experiment a lot with some projects. Mostly they are experiments with materials, printing and paper that I have already shared in my previous posts.
This one is a fresh arrival at the studio and I am excited to share it here.
For a project we wanted to replicate a particular motif rendered in Lippan Kaam : Mud work from the walls of Kutch, Gujarat, India.
This work is actually created on the walls with a clay and dung mixture, motifs are created in bas-relief mostly freehand by memory by using palms and fingers pinching and shaping the mud mixture. The white comes from the sand of this marshland that is rich in salt content. The motifs are inspired from the rich and famous embroidery patterns and once the walls are done they look stunning with mirrors embedded in the mudwork, much like the embroideries itself.
And as much I was aware of the painstaking effort in creating these from my last visit to this breathtakingly beautiful place, where would one find the exact materials here in a city like Mumbai?
And so we did this little experiment...
On a ply-board we pasted a basic outline in a black and white print of what we wanted. Then carefully pasted a white chord (used to hold pyjamas) along this outline. Even though it seemed rather simple till then, it was tricky to get the intricate bits correct. For this reason we had to alter the design several times over.
Once this was ready, we made a mixture of plaster-of-paris and glue with water to pour over this basic framework. Getting the right viscosity here was important as we tried on a small patch first. Too thick would fill up the spaces and the chords would not stand out in relief and if too thin the POP would crack instantly. After pouring the mixture over, we still had to shape it with what we could get our hands on, but mostly very patiently with fingers. And then, wait for it to dry and settle.
Did think of sticking mirrors in the mud work but realised it would never show up in print correctly. So I left this issue to be dealt with at a later stage.
Even though the original art is an all white and a simple play of textures and relief work we tried giving some colour to it on Photoshop and were happy with the results.
Once we were done touching up our artwork the issue of replicating mirrors popped again. We succeeded in resolving this issue by using highly reflective silver foiling in the areas...and viola! It looks authentic as and stunning!
Can't wait to share the rest of this project. Shall do in another post real soon.
This one is a fresh arrival at the studio and I am excited to share it here.
For a project we wanted to replicate a particular motif rendered in Lippan Kaam : Mud work from the walls of Kutch, Gujarat, India.
This work is actually created on the walls with a clay and dung mixture, motifs are created in bas-relief mostly freehand by memory by using palms and fingers pinching and shaping the mud mixture. The white comes from the sand of this marshland that is rich in salt content. The motifs are inspired from the rich and famous embroidery patterns and once the walls are done they look stunning with mirrors embedded in the mudwork, much like the embroideries itself.
And as much I was aware of the painstaking effort in creating these from my last visit to this breathtakingly beautiful place, where would one find the exact materials here in a city like Mumbai?
And so we did this little experiment...
On a ply-board we pasted a basic outline in a black and white print of what we wanted. Then carefully pasted a white chord (used to hold pyjamas) along this outline. Even though it seemed rather simple till then, it was tricky to get the intricate bits correct. For this reason we had to alter the design several times over.
Once this was ready, we made a mixture of plaster-of-paris and glue with water to pour over this basic framework. Getting the right viscosity here was important as we tried on a small patch first. Too thick would fill up the spaces and the chords would not stand out in relief and if too thin the POP would crack instantly. After pouring the mixture over, we still had to shape it with what we could get our hands on, but mostly very patiently with fingers. And then, wait for it to dry and settle.
Did think of sticking mirrors in the mud work but realised it would never show up in print correctly. So I left this issue to be dealt with at a later stage.
Even though the original art is an all white and a simple play of textures and relief work we tried giving some colour to it on Photoshop and were happy with the results.
Once we were done touching up our artwork the issue of replicating mirrors popped again. We succeeded in resolving this issue by using highly reflective silver foiling in the areas...and viola! It looks authentic as and stunning!
Can't wait to share the rest of this project. Shall do in another post real soon.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Dharohar Continued
When a corporate turns 40 and has a legacy of its own it talks about the legacy of its soil at the turn of a new decade. A calendar design that was in process at DesignMembrane for the Kalpataru group is out now and we have received our copies to share in this space.
After a few rounds of theme presentations there was also a request from the client's end to develop and present on the theme of kings from different dynasties that ruled India in the past. We suggested a slight twist to it, listing down several dynasties from the first in the Vedic era to the era of post independence and seeking a derivative from each one. We knew each period would have some relevance in the present. For example, the Indian emblem came from the Mauryan times of Ashoka's pillar at Sarnath.
We called it "Dharohar", a sanskrit word that translates as "legacy".
Research was difficult initially. Our studio turned into a boring history class but with little chance of bunking it. But soon we were engrossed. It was not just about presenting the facts as is but somehow relating these with what we see around us today which is what made it interesting after all.
Soon ready with a moodboard for each month with all facts lined up with relevant images, a rough cut for the basic look and feel was also presented for the first three months so that the basic benchmark was set.
After loads of brain rattling, swapping one dynasty for another and eliminating a few, our basic theme and flow was set for the calendar (not necessarily in that order!). Our approach was a combination of pictures with illustration and we were also keen to later experiment with printing techniques but that was for later.
These dynasties with their respective legacies made it to the final cut...
*Mauryan legacy : Lion pillar-Emblem of India and the message of peace
*Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas' legacy : Dravidian architecture and a bureaucratic form of governance
*Satvahana legacy : First coinage
* Kushan legacy : The present form of Buddha
*Gupta legacy : Chess in its ancient form of Chaturanga and the beautiful cave paintings of Ajanta
*Pala legacy : First ever illustrated manuscripts
*Islamic Sultantes' legacy : The beautiful work of inlay from Bidar, Deccani painting
*Mughal legacy : The first rajput-mughal alliance:Jodha-Akbar and the message of love that emperor Shahjahan built for his beloved wife Mumtaz, the beauty of architectural forms and geometric patterns
*Rajputana legacy : Miniature paintings - Kishangarh's Bani Thani
*Maratha legacy : Shivaji's heroic tales and message of swarajya which also became the motivation behind the Indian Independence Movement
*British legacy : The Post, Railways and colonial painting
*Independent India : The spirit of freedom, National insignia - lotus, tiger and peacock
The calendar design breaks the routine perception of India often explored through kistch art forms. The photo-illustrations in a rather graphic manner aim to be both informative and evocative. Here are some pictures of the final print.
Mauryas - Indian Emblem form the Ashokan pillar in thermography to give a seal-like effect
Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas - The zari border in an imitation with screen printed gold motifs
Satvahanas - The symbol of their capital Ujjain, a cross with four circles at the ends screen printed in metallic copper
Kushans - The folds of the buddha sculpture can be felt with raised UV
Guptas - The pieces of the board game in foil
Palas - The stone wall in the background has a rough textured UV
Islamic Sultanantes - The Bidri metalware imitated with silver silk screen and foil stamping
Mughals - The emperors and their empresses in a spot UV
Rajputs - The motifs of the odhani replicated in an imitation of the real ones in gold silk screen
British - The imitation seal on the postal stamps in thermography
Independent India - The lighting on the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the motifs that represent the Indian insignia in glitter lamination to enthuse a feeling of celebration
Brilliantly printed and fabricated at Parksons Graphics, Mumbai. At our end, we kept a thumb rule of keeping "the effects" to the minimum and only in the front and not on the back side with the description text so as to not go overboard with it. All printing techniques were carefully selected for a single characteristic, only to add more meaning to the image and enhance the visual perception and sometimes add a dimension of touch, like in the folds of Gautam Buddha in the Dharohar of the Kushans.
Project Closure : Dec 2010
After a few rounds of theme presentations there was also a request from the client's end to develop and present on the theme of kings from different dynasties that ruled India in the past. We suggested a slight twist to it, listing down several dynasties from the first in the Vedic era to the era of post independence and seeking a derivative from each one. We knew each period would have some relevance in the present. For example, the Indian emblem came from the Mauryan times of Ashoka's pillar at Sarnath.
We called it "Dharohar", a sanskrit word that translates as "legacy".
Research was difficult initially. Our studio turned into a boring history class but with little chance of bunking it. But soon we were engrossed. It was not just about presenting the facts as is but somehow relating these with what we see around us today which is what made it interesting after all.
Soon ready with a moodboard for each month with all facts lined up with relevant images, a rough cut for the basic look and feel was also presented for the first three months so that the basic benchmark was set.
After loads of brain rattling, swapping one dynasty for another and eliminating a few, our basic theme and flow was set for the calendar (not necessarily in that order!). Our approach was a combination of pictures with illustration and we were also keen to later experiment with printing techniques but that was for later.
These dynasties with their respective legacies made it to the final cut...
*Mauryan legacy : Lion pillar-Emblem of India and the message of peace
*Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas' legacy : Dravidian architecture and a bureaucratic form of governance
*Satvahana legacy : First coinage
* Kushan legacy : The present form of Buddha
*Gupta legacy : Chess in its ancient form of Chaturanga and the beautiful cave paintings of Ajanta
*Pala legacy : First ever illustrated manuscripts
*Islamic Sultantes' legacy : The beautiful work of inlay from Bidar, Deccani painting
*Mughal legacy : The first rajput-mughal alliance:Jodha-Akbar and the message of love that emperor Shahjahan built for his beloved wife Mumtaz, the beauty of architectural forms and geometric patterns
*Rajputana legacy : Miniature paintings - Kishangarh's Bani Thani
*Maratha legacy : Shivaji's heroic tales and message of swarajya which also became the motivation behind the Indian Independence Movement
*British legacy : The Post, Railways and colonial painting
*Independent India : The spirit of freedom, National insignia - lotus, tiger and peacock
The calendar design breaks the routine perception of India often explored through kistch art forms. The photo-illustrations in a rather graphic manner aim to be both informative and evocative. Here are some pictures of the final print.
Mauryas - Indian Emblem form the Ashokan pillar in thermography to give a seal-like effect
Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas - The zari border in an imitation with screen printed gold motifs
Satvahanas - The symbol of their capital Ujjain, a cross with four circles at the ends screen printed in metallic copper
Kushans - The folds of the buddha sculpture can be felt with raised UV
Guptas - The pieces of the board game in foil
Palas - The stone wall in the background has a rough textured UV
Islamic Sultanantes - The Bidri metalware imitated with silver silk screen and foil stamping
Mughals - The emperors and their empresses in a spot UV
Rajputs - The motifs of the odhani replicated in an imitation of the real ones in gold silk screen
British - The imitation seal on the postal stamps in thermography
Independent India - The lighting on the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the motifs that represent the Indian insignia in glitter lamination to enthuse a feeling of celebration
Brilliantly printed and fabricated at Parksons Graphics, Mumbai. At our end, we kept a thumb rule of keeping "the effects" to the minimum and only in the front and not on the back side with the description text so as to not go overboard with it. All printing techniques were carefully selected for a single characteristic, only to add more meaning to the image and enhance the visual perception and sometimes add a dimension of touch, like in the folds of Gautam Buddha in the Dharohar of the Kushans.
Project Closure : Dec 2010
Friday, November 27, 2009
Dharohar
When a corporate turns 40 and has a legacy of its own it talks about the legacy of its soil at the turn of a new decade. A calendar design in process at DesignMembrane.
More coming up soon!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
ILOVEINDIA
A lot of traveling around and learning from different cultures, we came to value and preserve our own in a small studio initiative called ILOVEINDIA. This would explore the multi- dimensional facets of the Indian visual culture in a manner that is evocative and informative.
For starts, it is this set of six coasters. More on this, till we get some stores where we can make available more from this range.
Project begins: March 2009
For starts, it is this set of six coasters. More on this, till we get some stores where we can make available more from this range.
Project begins: March 2009
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