That 50s Show Part IV

We have already established that 

Steve and Emma 

are in love.

But really, you gotta see it to believe it right?!

What better than a petite young lady

in a warm embrace with a tall, well suited handsome lad?!

Both of their faces lit up with a warm smile,

the one that's born out of a satisfaction for being in the moment.

Embrace on the first glimpse.

Tools : The good ol' pencil

Emma's arm in this first sketch looked rather chunky,

hence necessary steps were taken to make them toned,

as shown in the sketch below.

Tools used : Cartridge stained with tea and photoinks.

painted and lined with acrylics, water colors, poster paints, colored pencils, 

photo inks, rotring, and pretty much anything and everything!

There is a slight play with light and shadow 

to make the sketch come to life a bit.

A simple well cut evening dress in turquoise,

teamed with a simple pair of diamond studs,

spell a style that is refined with a classic bend.

The hand resting on Steve's shoulder is repositioned,

the reason for which I can't yet reveal, 

though I can say  that it is but a mere prop after all!

Steve clad in a brown suit, 

teamed with a classic white shirt

and a red tie,

is definitely inspired from Don Draper

(I wouldn't lie),

His big hand around Emma's petite frame

inspires a sense of security

like he will be there for her till eternity!

*sigh, how yummy is that really?!

And finally them both on the background we need em on!

What bliss on a winter-y gray stained sheet!

That 50s Show Part III

Introducing 

Emma

An independent young woman.

A successful dentist.

A perfectionist who is loved by her patients 

as much as by her family.

Steve thinks she still makes her college denims look hot!

Emma on the first glimpse.

Tools used : Cartridge stained with tea and photoinks.

Emily painted and lined with acrylics, water colors, poster paints, colored pencils, 

photo inks, rotring, and pretty much anything and everything!

The delicate nose,

A full red mouth that smiles a kind smile,

A flawless complexion (fit to star in a ponds advert),

A delicate yet strong jawline,

hint of cheekbones,

an overall pleasant personality 

who people would find easy to trust and love.

*sigh

Emma photoshopped 

to match the rest of the characters' skin tones you see!

Clad in her white clinical coat,

Green surgical gloves,

A pearl drop earring to hint a classic sort of taste in things,

Refined, classy, timeless.

Emma, right where we need her to be...

in a thought bubble!

Steve's of course!

The little brunette girl has beautiful soft curls,

Rosy pink cheeks,

Is clad in a ruffled puffy sleeve frock 

of red and white pinstripes.

A perfect poster child of the 50s, 

ready with a smile!

Emma on the background we want her on 

to fit into the layout and the overall scheme of things.

So this completes our lineup of the characters,

Next post onwards, I say let the story begin!!

Stay tuned!

That 50s Show Part II

A mellow and rainy monday to y'all!

So true to my word, 

here is Emily.

Emily on the first glimpse. 

Tools used : Cartridge stained with tea and photoinks.

Emily painted and lined with acrylics, water colors, poster paints, colored pencils, 

photo inks, rotring, and pretty much anything and everything!

 

A 50s style pin stripe shirt,

teamed with a black skirt,

worn under a white scalloped apron. 

Hair inspired from Ava Gardner but yet not there,

longer and pinned up in an effort to look younger!

Quite a plain jane, 

(unlike Emma)

A deliberate consideration of course!

 Emma gets a new mouth and new eyes!

And a stool to sit on!

It was felt that she was well way too plain!

Like she wasn't happy to get the call from Steve...

So Emily gets a makeover

A new smiling mouth

and kind brown eyes!

Emily gets a Phone!

A blue retro landline

with a long twisty chord,

the kind they had in the good ol days.

Whole point is the call she is getting from Steve after all!

Emily gets grocery too

To complete her make believe world,

we get her the staples,

granulated sugar,

milk, cereal,

tomato juice,

mayonnaise,

peanut butter,

and some tooth paste too.

And finally we have her on the background we need her on.

But I still can't reveal what Steve has to say to Emily,

all the way from his red phone

to Emily's blue one...

But its all about Emma!

So make sure to check out the next post for Emma!

That 50s Show Part I

Following is going to be one long post!

I've been working on a promotion campaign

for a collection for something under wraps, 

Now, I can't reveal what's it for, 

but would share the process

and perhaps even the entire print booklet all in good time!

It's a little story we have here, 

set in the modern day, 

but inspired from the 50s.

So you would find a lot of inspiration 

from Joe Bowler, Andy Virgil, and the biggies of the era!

Needless to say it is merely to depict a certain timelessness 

pertaining to the product in question.

Its also something I thoroughly enjoyed working on.

Also because its a whole lot different from what I've attempted so far.

So the results have been sort of surprising for me

and delightful of course!

I hope you enjoy them too!

Do watch out for the next couple of posts 

and do leave me your comments / suggestions et al!

So here we go,

Or narrative starts with a bright young man by the name,

Steve

who's looking for something rather special for his girl, 

Emma

Thus he decided to give a call to Emma's sister,

Emily.

(Who you would promptly be introduced in the follow up post)

Steve on the first glimpse.

Tools : Good ol pencil

Its important at this stage to let you know

that Steve is an up and coming architect

working where else but New York!

(Those who know me, would understand the relevance of things here!)

Steve painted 

Tools used : Cartridge stained with tea and photoinks.

Steve painted and lined with acrylics, water colors, poster paints, colored pencils, 

photo inks, rotring, and pretty much anything and everything!

He has a Mac on his table,

and of course a starbucks on the go!

A land line that's red and retro

to match a lamp shedding light over

an orange pen 

resting upon a draft.

To add to the styling taking off from the 50s,

his hair are combed back and

he's wearing a suit!

(Blame Mad Men for that!!)

Steve touched up on Photoshop

And also given a Blackberry!

Now c'mon! who in New York can be a swanky architect,

and not have fancy phones?!

Also a Starbucks Mug, so his office space is personalized!

Steve cropped to the size we need in order to work with him further

He's also given a window!

You can see a certain building behind him

And all of a sudden, the light on the sides of the face is justified right?

Yes, it was all a part of the plan!

The blinds are also cropped and given a certain amount of shadow

so that one can tell there is glass behind and the window is closed.

(Not really relevant but blame the devil for the detail!)

Finally we have him on the background that we need him on.

Its just been desaturated.

(So much for all the photoinks!)

But yeah, makes Steve pop a bit more!

So stay tuned for the follow up post to know

what exactly Steve has to Say to Emily...

and we'll take it forward from there!

Jungle Book

Recently I got an opportunity to work on

illustrations for a customized "Jungle Book"

for Aviva through Abhiyaan.

Following are the exploratory sketches done

for varied postures, and moods of the lead tiger.

They were done in 2 styles :

Caricature & Realistic.

Tools used : Water colors, acrylics, rotring, Photo inks, colored pencils

The little cub shown in the process of being created.

Muthu the Elephant.

Following are the Cover Ideas for the booklet :

Finally the project didn't quite take off 

as we had hoped it would, 

but quite a handful to share nonetheless!

Life is a Jungle Book after all!

Where the Streets Have No Name

Much like my old canvas bag, 

The sky has turned gray again.

It's been pouring, Drop after Drop.

Time has begun to etch its worthlessness,

Claiming all that was left out in the rain.

They drag their feet,

Those dirty white tufts of cloud.

Like old men with radios, the nasal voice cackling through.

Riding on the restless waves, They enter you through your eyes.

Open you at the seems and expose all your lies.

 The sky has turned gray again.

Raindrops like little bubbles of floating angry dogs.
They jump, they lick, they yawn till they fall,

And think to themselves, 

"If only we had thumbs, maybe we could crawl!"

Nameless children huddle on heaps of discard,

On bright pink plastics and green glass shard.

The shy girls,

Smile their toothy smile.

The boys hang around for a while.

Their kurtis compensates,

For the garden there never will be.

They look at you with question filled saucers,

"Do you think we'll ever see the sea?"

  I spy on them with my one big eye,
I can see their mouth water for the machhli fry!
They huddle even closer and peek through the bars.

Sometimes they look right through you,

Sometimes they just stare at the cars.

They claw at the glass,

Their oil slick hair pulled right back.

Traces of red on the nails,

Which the dirt turned black.

 Their eyes glimmer like shimmery black fish,

If you threw a coin in.

Liquid shadows flickering in the corner,

Would make it sink right in.

They climb up,

They slide down.

They slip through the teeth,

And when they fall they frown.

The sky has turned gray again,

Right upon the streets that have no name.

On bright pink plastics and green glass shard.

Everyday looks the same.

09 Madness in 12

Yes so I have been away, 

blame it on technology (?)

or too much work (!)

But here I am now, 

with things to share!

Following is a calendar I did back in '09

for a dear dear friend.

It was ambitious enough to try chart his journey 

through the year based on knowing him from kindergarten

along with the seasons in Delhi.

Hope you enjoy them!

An Intro

It reads : 

So here is your calendar

It really is a planner...

Of all the important things you must do,

Along with the mountain dew! (yes we have code words!)

It brings to life, various facets of your personality...

Some are dumb, but some sure are witty!

Hope the actual year turns out just as happening,

Nahin to ho jaenge scene!

So happy birthday wishes these are

Baar Baar Lagaataar!!

January, 

Also being the month with the dude's birthday! So Happy 25!

Yes, Finally it all turned legal!

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December