Blurred Visions

Trying to make a Short Animation Film: Part V

2012-01-14T19:42:00.001+05:30

A few of the old sketches I had made for the film, mostly character sketches.

Trying to make a Short Animation Film: Part IV

2012-01-14T19:26:00.002+05:30

A blast from the past.
Today I wondered to myself what I really have been doing for the past so many months that I have been working on my film, and what I have to show for it.
On the surface, I don't have much, because most of it was writing down story ideas which would evolve and morph through many many pages. But I had done a simple character design for my protagonist, who is supposed to be..well.. sorta like me!
Its not supposed to be very true-to-life, as in copying myself, but I definitely wanted to have the hint there somewhere.

The problem with drawing for me, is the conditioning that I have in my head, that I am very much aware of, but am unable to break from, ie: to draw realistically.
Drawing people, places, sketches, pencils, anything, I always tend to get lost into the details of rendering them realistically rather then capturing the pose, or gesture, or the essence of the drawing, which certainly was never what detail was on the back of the notebook on her lap or any other such random thing.
I would like to put the blame squarely on my past education at JJ where I had taken Illustration as my elective, and was often critiqued because my figures were never that powerful, realistic, muscle-detailed etc.
Yes, I completely understand the necessity for the study of anatomy, but that never meant we had to draw each and every figure as if it were a spread form said anatomy book!
But the blame rests upon me mostly. On my lack of effort. If only I put more effort into loosening up my hand with more sketching, more practice, till I found the 'style', or 'my groove', till I found what was right for me.
I have noticed, that the times when I have been life sketching constantly, either in morning sketching sessions or in general, my hand is obviously more free and spontaneous while drawing. Well, Duh! that's what they all say, draw, draw, draw! And so it comes back to bite me in the butt, my own mistakes.

So, these initial character designs had nothing in them. Yes, I did have a drawing which looked like a girl, but she seemed so.. generic. Like anyone could have drawn them. I couldn't find a trace of ME in them, or even anything beyond the flat surface. Looking at the character, I only felt depressed that I would have to sit and animate this thing in the future, there was no excitement, no eagerness. That's when I realized, if I don't feel like animating her even before I start, what would happen when I did start?
Well, I did try a few short line tests, and each time got more disgusted. I couldn't even seem to draw the character, however flawed she was, consistently for even a 2-second shot!

This dissatisfaction, coupled with me being not-so-pleased with my story itself, trying to make it funny, trying to make it dramatic, trying to make it perfect, led me to a period of almost a month where I, essentially, did nothing.
All I could think of was that I hated my story, hated my drawings, pretty much didn't do much but wallow in self pity. Meanwhile other projects and events I was involved with demanded more of my time, which I was only to happy to give, and my film suffered neglect day after day.

But I'm glad that things are looking up, and I have finally got my rear end in gear, and have started working once again.
I wish I hadn't slacked off then, because it only made my film suffer, but its a lesson learnt.(That I need more determination and and will power to sit and work!)

Trying to make a Short Animation Film: Part III

2012-01-14T03:15:00.000+05:30

What I wanted to write about was this simple piece of advice I came across which suddenly seemed to free me, in terms of the nitty-gritties of making my film.

'Simplify'

I quote from the blog I read it:
""Simplify" is always good advice, and it applies to everything. Simplify your film as much as you can, without making it bland and uninteresting, so that you can spend your time working on the parts that are important. "

Click to read the full article on Temple of the Seven Golden Camels.

It was as if I was liberated all of a sudden, and things began to fall in place in my head.

I was worrying about my need to finish my film on schedule and the restrictions my current amount of animation ability. I wasn't sure if my own doubts have had any effect on my character designs, or story length etc.

In fact the primary reason I had decided to try a minimalist approach for the backgrounds was that I was afraid of the time that might be wasted, not wasted but mis-spent, upon making detailed, extensive backgrounds, which might be better put to use on animation, or improving my animation.
I then, of course, justified this decision with the statement that my film was character-centric!

But reading this post made me realize, that the end ideal is not to have a perfect film, or amazing animation, or beautiful backgrounds/artwork. The point of making a film (or any artwork for that matter) is WHAT I want to convey with that piece of art.
And in the end, what I want my audience to walk away with is the Story. It doesn't matter how I tell it, but the fact that I manage to tell it at all.
So if that means I make minimal backgrounds, or simpler characters, or any other decision, if it works for the betterment of the story, then I should go with it.

Trying to make a Short Animation Film: Part II

2012-01-13T17:08:00.003+05:30

What comes after story?

Well, technically my story is this constantly evolving, morphing monster right now. And nothing happens exactly one after the other like walking down stairs, but rather each step overlaps and affects whatever is right behind or ahead of it.

I have been simultaneously trying to do 3-4 things at the same time. Which may account for some of the confusion one might experience by the end of this post.

Maybe it the wrong way of doing things, and there might be a better way. But right now for me, this is what is helping me move ahead with work atleast in minute degrees.

I am working on my story, storyboard, character design, figuring out the style and treatment of the backgrounds as well as working on my editing, staging, composition and layout skills.

Each pass of storyboard, and feedback received on it is helping me strengthen the actual story. Also principles of composition, layout and staging have to be incorporated in the storyboard as well.
I am also trying to decide how to treat my backgrounds, as I know that if i have detailed backgrounds with a lot of rendering, it will be a whole lot more work, and backgrounds are not my greatest strength. Also, my story is completely character driven, and keeping in mind time constraints, I am considering going with a minimalist approach. So from both viewpoints, artistic and realistic, it makes better sense to spend the time on making clear and simple backgrounds rather than spend more time to get super realistic rendered backgrounds which don't contribute to the story.

So now I'm exploring different styles and treatment for the same.
Artist like Quentin Blake and Ronald Searle come to mind, as well as the animations of UPA, which had such simple and beautiful backgrounds which was perfect for their shorts.

Some of what I've been reading/watching:
http://sevencamels.blogspot.com
http://vancegerry.blogspot.com/
http://animationbackgrounds.blogspot.com/
The 5 C's of Cinematography
The Art of Layout and Storyboarding
Disney's Illusion of Life
Shorts from UPA (watch on youtube)
Thomas Ott's Panopticum (graphic narrative)
Manta Ray's Hush (graphic narrative)

Also, I'm trying to learn about colour in compostion.
Man there are just too many things to figure out! :O

Trying to make a Short Animation Film: Part I

2012-01-13T16:36:00.000+05:30

The time has come.
After a year (almost- give or take a few months) of thinking, re-thinking, and waaayy more re-re-thinking.. I have finally come to the point where I am going to take the call to freeze the story for my diploma film.

Short history here- At NID, we come here for a 2 and half yr course, where 2 years are spent on the learning part, and the half (plus another half) are spent on an individual project where we actually apply everything that we learnt in the past two years. In my case, making a short animation film. So.. I'm on my on the last leg of my time here, and I have less than 6 months left to finish said project.

So, back to the topic.

I've decided to make the conscious effort to document (atleast from now on) all that I am doing, reading, writing, thinking and getting feedback on.

Why? Because, technically I have been working on the story of my diploma film for almost 7 months now, and there isn't an iota of actual moving animation to be seen! and if anyone were to ask me what I have been doing for these months, I have tons of writings and drawings, but explaining them seems just so difficult. And, I do know, that I have to finish my project with a complete documentation report of how I went about making it, justify my time take, the resources spent, the choice of story..everything! So.. to make things easier for me, my blog is about to become my journal.

Where have I reached till now?

I have a story (almost!)

So I've been reading a LOT! blogs, books, library, notes from other students and classes...

And I realized, the biggest challenge for me, personally, in making this film, is making choices.

Just a few months ago, I worked on a project where I assisted in inking for a short animation film.

There I realized that if I sat diligently, from 10 to 6, a LOT could be done! I mean, we did finish a 7 minute long film in 3 months! Granted, the pre-production was completed before, and the animators working on the film were much senior to me with years of experience, but the actual animation was accomplished within this short span of time! It was a revelation for me!

Immediately after this project I was to get back to working on my own film once again, and I made thousands of resolutions to work everyday, make a fixed timetable, and actually follow it etc etc,

and well, its almost 2 months now and I have zilch again. And that is when I finally learnt something about myself.

I could work non-stop when there was someone above me to make decisions or take a call on what worked or what didn't. Even though I did get a lot of freedom to try styles and so on, there was always the security in my mind that if I was wrong someone would call me on it.

Here, with my own project, everything is in my hands. Oh, it sounds wonderful, 'You can do whatever you want!' But then bang! comes the problem with that very freedom.. there are so many things I want to do, to try, some might not be appropriate or suited to my story, or those which I like but know I don't have the skills/equipment/talent/determination etc to do and so many other worries.

As it is, I have a tendency to overthink.. about everything! From what to wear to what to eat to myu choice of buying a tablet and so on.

And when something this big is involved, like an entire film, that will later reflect on months of work and has so much riding on it, its just.. so HUGE an endeavor, that it leaves me reeling everytime I think of it.

There are so many steps involved, thus, so many decisions.

Story, script, style, treatment, colour, tone, character design, storyboard, animatic, sound design, animation, style of animation, I could go on for ages!

But what did I learn so far?

That maybe storytelling was not my forte, after all I have taken months to just develop the story idea. But, its a learning process. It is, after all, my first individual animation film.

And everything I read, I have to stop reading somewhere and start applying those to my work.

But it is still important to keep learning, and keep challenging myself. It is a fine line where I have to decide whether to stick with what I know, which I realize isn't much, or try something new, and broaden my horizons. But when that 'something new' is beyond my scope, or just impractical, I need to stop and decide, and impose some limits somewhere. After all I can't do everything I want to in just the first film.

And this is where I stop this extremely long post, saying that I am trying to learn as much as I can, all the basics, principles, rules... and apply them wherever I can, but in the end, have a complete film.

After all if I have things just in my head and nothing to show for it, what is the point?

Postcards!!

2011-12-28T20:09:00.001+05:30

A few of my friends have shifted abroad for further studies; and one of them was telling me how lonely she used to feel sometimes, so far away from home and family.
I myself have been staying away from home for 3 years now, but its still been in India itself, and its pretty fine compared to going to an absolutely new place where people speak funny and look at you strangely.

One of the things she told me was how happy she would get whenever she got any post, the snail mail kind.
Even if it was just junk mail or bills to be paid, seeing an actual envelope, addressed to you specifically was almost like a parcel from home. It beat email hands down! (or atleast that's what she told me :)

So, this year I decided, I would send some snail mail to everyone, for New Year!
Like many of my self initiated projects, I was not sure if I would actually pull it off, considering how lazy I am, and how much I procrastinate.
But then finally I sat, with 2 season's worth of Psych episodes on the playlist, all my watercolors, palettes and brushes spread out and a new bottle of waterproof black ink !Took some time out of my busy (not) schedule, and made about 20-25 postcards for my friends and family, and sent them all off with nice stamps of Rajiv Gandhi on top.

Mini paintings in the making...

Some finished ones! :D

All in decorated envelopes and ready to go!

Some Final ones!

Still here!

2011-12-13T01:15:00.001+05:30

Just a little post to say, I'm still here; and the attempt to keep the blog updated regularly is still being made... :)

Random comics...

2011-06-26T20:20:00.000+05:30

Some more scans..

Comics, some individual, more mostly co-created with Sonali Upadhyaya!
her blog- http://sevenmilesperhour.blogspot.com/

Also, some funny, some not so.. :P

Giant Sketch Dump!!!

2011-06-26T20:15:00.000+05:30

Well.. Its been 2 years and 2 months here at NID in Ahmedabad. We are now officially 3rd yr seniors!
But.. doesn't feel like it at all!! :P

But it has led to one thing.. our batch Pre-diploma display!! Which has led to this blog post after eons!
Being forced to scan all your work has this advantage! :P

So here is everything I could find from my sketching work (decent enough to post) from the last 2 years!!
I will try to avoid posting anything I might have already posted, but in case i have forgotten and double-posted.. hope u enjoy it just the same.. :)

If you had the patience to actually go through them all and reach here, then I Thank you!! :D

There will be another dump of various comics made by me and a friend in the next post...

Here be monsters..

2011-05-21T17:08:00.000+05:30

A promo for my upcoming classroom project...

Look out behind you...

Classroom Woes

2011-04-30T10:50:00.001+05:30

Sometimes it feels like I am going to be stuck in Ahmedabad forever! Because I'll never finish my work to convocate on time!
I have been working on my classroom project for ages, gone through a multitude of story ideas, most of which sucked, till I found one that didn't suck half as much. :)
I then proceeded to storyboard, whereupon, each run of the storyboard induced more changes in the story till I couldn't recognize it anymore!
I was getting more and more bogged down, till one of my professors gave me an inspiring lecture and interesting feedback, and I managed to come up with a new storyboard, which my guide... Approved!!! yay!

Anyway, here is something I doodled (with my new brush pen- thanks to Shruti) when I don't want to work! :P

Will post more updates on my entire project. Am planning to make this blog into a way of documenting my work. Plus, it should be fun to scan and upload the 10-14 differtn storyboards in vairous sizes that I've done and see if any of them make sense to others.

Breaking thru..

2011-04-12T17:24:00.000+05:30

Just some watercolor and mix media work I had done some time back and scanned recently.
I had made it with the idea of a person struggling through layers of darkness which are holding her down, to break free through to the light above. Till I ruined it all with the stark black ink lines in the bottom! Anyway.. here it is..

ATC's

2011-04-12T17:21:00.000+05:30

I was definitely procrastinating this weekend. Didnt even try to think about my classroom project, but what I did do were some ATC's for timepass.
Read about the Design 21's Support Japan greeting cards contest, and though I haven't made any greeting cards yet, I made some ATC's because they were handy and some markers were lying around.

Please contribute your designs too, at http://www.design21sdn.com/competitions/31 (hand made greeting cards for Japan)

Also some more ATC's I had made some time back.

(Inspired by the song, Blue eyes)

I spy

2011-04-09T16:16:00.000+05:30

A doodle of an anatomically incorrect spy; and how I see myself when I'm doodling said anatomically incorrect spy on my bed. :)

Noir T-shirts!

2011-04-09T04:40:00.000+05:30

Doesn't that sound just too good? I mean, what a combination! Film Noir and T-shirts! It was the latest competition in Threadless, and when a friend sent me a link to check it out, I had to make something for it, I just love the genre!
So here is the design!

The flame haired Femme Fatale, yet with a hint of vulnerabilty, and the hard-boiled detective...and of course who can forget the rain?

Vote for me on threadless if you like the Tee!!
LINK BELOW!! :)

Illustration Friday: Duet

2011-04-07T15:32:00.000+05:30

This week's Illustration Friday topic, just something i felt like drawing that actually got 'drawn-out' somewhat like I imagined it!

Fun with Gelatin paper

2011-04-07T15:31:00.000+05:30

I found a stash of coloured gelatins paper left over from an old light workshop. These are beautiful transparent sheets of the most beautiful, pure colours I have ever seen! I just had to do something with them. Actually I would love a lamp made with these somewhere, but for now I just did something with normal paper and pencil on paper.
So here is le Panda, and RED.
(Btw did you know a panda is called a panda even in french?)

Also a demented/retarded ballerina just for fun, and yes, she just killed that man!

Norwegian Wood

2011-04-05T14:58:00.000+05:30

I made a poster for the recent Norwegian Wood movie poster competition.
I took part in it simply because I like the song by The Beatles, but read a lot about the film, and more about the original book and found it quite interesting! Am definitely going to try and find a copy of the book to read. :)
Though it hasn't won anything, I still personally like it quite a bit as an image ;)
The line drawing was done on paper and then in illustrator, and the rest in photoshop.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Mime in a glass box

2011-03-02T22:01:00.001+05:30

So many thoughts in my head, its just building and building, till one day I will explode!!

Thus, a few self depreciating images with new markers and a new mini sketchbook.

Bonfire Night

2011-02-19T20:20:00.000+05:30

Something I had drawn in the middle of winter when the small bonfires the kaka always lit at hostel gate made you just want to sit in front of it forever, warm from the tips of your toes to the ends of your hair...

Took out the tablet after ages.. and forgive the blind-looking woman :P

Drawn on paper, colouring on PS.

Random

2011-01-15T17:11:00.000+05:30

Been drawing a little bit lately after a while, somehow all my resolutions to draw and sketch more are continuously being broken!!

But I have been trawling the web for the past 2 days, and been heavily inspired by artists on behance! So here are some of the results!

Entangled: this was a photo I had taken on one of our college trips, and somehow the web stuck in the wire just made me want to draw something trying to escape from there.

Pattern: Never thought I would have the patience to actually finish this, heavily inspired by an artist on Behance, but I liked it all the same.

This is the one of the cats who keeps invading the animation studio, and tries to get warm by jumping onto unsuspecting people's laps, or stretch in front of the computer's heat vents!

More sketches

2010-10-29T14:07:00.002+05:30

Elephant sketches

2010-10-27T20:31:00.000+05:30

Sketching elephants at 6.30 in the morning can be fun, but not so much fun once you're done and just want to crawl back into your bed and sleep instead of attending class :P

Sketches

2010-10-23T19:55:00.000+05:30

Morning Sketching at Old City in Ahmedabad, near Teen Darwaza, at the famous Jama Masjid.

I hate 3D!

2010-09-02T18:18:00.000+05:30

I hate modelling in 3d softwares!!! Why does my super simple lego man take me more time than the other who seem to be constructing the Vitruvian Man, complete with perfect costume, and with complete success!!! :(

Thinking aloud...

2010-09-02T13:52:00.000+05:30

Just introspection...

Self Portrait

2010-08-31T22:23:00.000+05:30

Just a doodle of myself...

Illustration Friday- Immovable

2010-08-30T21:53:00.000+05:30

Finally I have moved my posterior, shaken the cobwebs out of my brushes, and painted something!

Its this week's illustration friday topic- Immovable.

Random..

2010-03-19T14:35:00.000+05:30

Some weird compositions i had tired out for an assignment misunderstood :P

Yes that is Tyra banks ;)

The first one was done directly on Photoshop, and the second all from different images on the net with a little bit of rain added in PS.

As the Semester draws to a close..

2010-03-11T21:33:00.000+05:30

It is 11th of March..
Not a famous date, at least not that I can remember.
But the just a month away awaits the summer holidays, home, free time, etc etc.
A year in Nid has gone by so quickly, and it seems like it was just yesterday that I had come here for interviews and studio tests. So much has happened, so much that I expected, so much I never did, things learnt, some unlearned, so much gained, so much more lost.
Has it been a fruitful year? I find it difficult to answer that question. No doubt I have learnt a lot here, but have I put it to any use? I don't think so, not yet. I sit here on my blog when there a million other things i should be doing, much more that I should have done, and said.
So many new people in my life now, yet i miss the old ones the same, these holidays yet again I will make the resolution to keep in touch, and I know that most probably this year too it will be broken, even though i have more people to keep in touch with.
Once again I make the resolution to do something useful in the vacations, and yet the suspicion remains that nothing will come out of it, nothing has for the past three years!
Life revamping is in order, long overdue infact, maybe this is the lucky year?
Here's hoping for a better month, atleast what is left of it, and a better life.

*Crossed Fingers*

Too much redness!

2010-02-18T17:39:00.000+05:30

Valentine's Day is a sham! All the commercialization, the flowers, the cards, the cupids! Too much!

Where has the meaning gone?

Title Sequence Design

2010-02-14T14:15:00.002+05:30

Title sequence design for tamil movie, 'Anbe Sivam' made in Elective course here at NID.
Made with a bit of live action footage of water, After Effects, and Illustrator.

(link to youtube for full size version)

Cats and Rainbows

2010-02-05T13:20:00.000+05:30

2 more drawings done!

Thats 'Rainbow', which immediately led me to think of a greedy little leprechaun with his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,

and, 'Cats'.. just loads of Black and White Cats! :) this one took me some time to think of so many cats but I liked the final output, though it was not exactly what I had envisioned.

New drawings..

2010-02-04T13:43:00.000+05:30

Found a new site recently..
http://www.drawitgame.com/

It gives you a topic each day to draw.. Something I need to make myself do! draw everyday..
well here are the first few attempts..

Stars:

Clothes on a Chair:

Faking it!

2009-12-17T02:26:00.000+05:30

We are having a course on Sound Design as a part of our course here at NID, and I never thought it would give me such a appreciation for things we hear!
Not to mention the realisation of how exactly the audio we hear in any moving picture is created.
I am not an audiophile, I love my music, but I hardly bother much about levels, and bass and all that jazz.. I just know when I like it or not and so on, I know the audio quality of my laptop is not that hot, and my phone just frankly sucks! but I didn't know how to appreciate a good pair of stereo speakers, and whole right nad left headphones things, and why Bose speakers are that hot!
Now there are positives and negatives to this new found knowledge..
One- I can put it to use in future, in terms of listening, the sounds I will record in the future for my film and so on,
but the downside?
I really know how badly my speakers suck, and too bad I just cannot afford any nice speakers etc right now!! Damn it! I have started wishing for all the things I used to mock before (citing others as audio/music snobs!) Well it looks like I'm about to become one myself..

Anyway.. this has made me realise a whole host of things, like how awesome that battle scene in Narnia really is, and how much the sound contributes there! Or how fake the film medium really is, considering that absolutely everything is recreated in a sound studio, and even if it is a sweet romantic scene with a soft little sigh and kiss at the end, and audio effects are all recreated artificially in a studio later!
How does that make me feel? A little sick, to think we get fooled into believeing that artificial world that has been created, that we actually fall for some of these characters, empathise with them, cry with them or laugh with them.
It brings to life how cynical and disillusioned the producers of those sounds and effects must be, or infact anyone in the glamorous world of film-making.They, who are involved in the business, would be the worst off in the end.. we still watch the end product, and love it and appreciate it.. but no matter how beautiful the end product, those creating the sounds itself would never be able to disassociate themselves sufficiently to forget how it came about, and thus remain, in a sense, the losers, just with heavier pockets.
And yet, it is this unreal magic which captivates us and keeps us spellbound, day after day, year after year, for the past so many decades! This same thing for which we shell out so much money every Friday or weekend, or even once a month! to be introduced into not just a fake story in a fake world, but also somehow be trapped into believing everything not just purely on visuals, but that sound.. which creeps upon us unsuspectingly, whihc introduces that realism, and makes us believe...

Entangled

2009-12-03T22:19:00.000+05:30

Entangled by the twists and turns life often throws at you, its easy to get so caught up you don't even realize that you are trapped till you are hanging by a thread somewhere in mid-air.

Rough sketch for this week's Illustration Friday topic.

Daily doodle!

2009-12-02T01:15:00.000+05:30

A group assignment this week, and we have been divided into 2 groups of 5 each.

After endless calls, we finally met to discuss, and work.. ofcourse not accomplishing anything really!

2 hours of not doing much, we dispersed again to have garam chai!

Some sketches from the time we were supposed to be thinking of each person's individual contribution to the assignment.

Jazz is the Sax!

2009-12-01T00:40:00.000+05:30

There was a Jazz concert on Sunday night at the NID Riverfront. Riverfront, as we discovered much to our amusement later, refers to the Backfields of the campus! That certainly got a laugh from all of us, as many had spent a good part of two days trying to figure out what Riverfront referred to!
The performer? Saskia Laroo.. evidently she is a big thing where she comes from, which would be Holland.
Well she was... amazing! Never heard Jazz before, and never knew why it was so awesome or whatever, but that night made a convert of me!
Such music, it invigorated me, made me head bang! me! I'm the one who usually feels sleepy listening to loud music and with flashing lights! Yes, I have slept even in a disco, with music and dance on full blare all around me!
But anyway, getting back to the point, I loved it! Loved!
Now if only I could find her albums online somewhere to download!
I also tried to be the overachiever and tried to draw/sketch there. Went fully prepared with my trusty pens and small doodle book, but didn't account for the fact that the stage would be lit up and the rest of the place in comparitive darkness.. so I couldnt really see much to draw.. tried anyway, and came up with some of my most crappy doodles, add darkness to really jazzy music, impatience, foot tapping and pulsating crowd.. not exactly the ambience to draw patiently and in one continuous line!

The results... Fun, late hurried dinner, some sketches, and no sleep as had to then sit and complete the assignment I had been putting off for four days!

People sitting on the grass and listening...

The Director sitting and enjoying the show as well.

A photographer who kept coming in front of Saskia, and the bass guitarist.

Daily doodle!

2009-12-01T00:13:00.006+05:30

Didn't manage to complete my set target of 30 posts of good work by the end of the month, and cheated as well with the old work demonstration! :( Its already 20 minutes into 1st December..

Very little drawing done this weekend! though it was a 4-day weekend! Watched movies, fooled around, somehow managed to waste a hell lot of time! and not managed any work!

Just 2 measly drawings done! One for Saturday and one for Sunday!

I'm getting very impatient these days, don't have that patience I had with the one line drawing, and then I scribble and ruin it. The strength of this lies, in my opinion, in recognizing the main contours, and knowing where to lead the line. If I were to just scratch around all over the place, then I'm sure anyone could draw without lifting their pencil or pen off the page!

Need to be more patient, and not draw in a hurry.. just not going to happen that way!

There are some examples of impatience coming up soon! Really terrible work sometimes!

Once again at the BMW

Had a drawing session with all the young kids on campus for a X'mas display! They are cute enough, till they start shouting, screaming for more chocolates, or just don't want to draw! I donot have my mother's patience for dealing with them! Managed to complete just one page after many starts, when either the subject moved away, or more likely, I was beckoned by one of the kids.

Well it wasn't as bad as I'm making out, somewhat fun to listen to their conversations, and see what they come up with!

Group pic!

2009-11-29T11:38:00.000+05:30

A sketch I had made eons ago for my friends..sadly it went into the never ending pile of 'personal projects that never got done!'

Forgive me if you are unrecognizable!

My caricature/portrait skills are iffy at best! (Thats why there are names! :P)

Reminiscence..

2009-11-29T01:07:00.000+05:30

Talking to a lot of old friends today made me realise a lot of things.
Firstly- I got so busy talking on skype with 2 people while simultaneously talking to 3 other people in 3 differnt messengers, that i did not do any work at all! :P
2ndly- That sometimes friends hold much more value than we give them credit for. Especially old friends! these are the people who knew you for years, who studied with you everyday, who got to know you even when you didn't want to be known. After all the times, trying as well as the good ones, it is quite a friendship that has resulted. These friends, who despite you being a lazy ass, make the effort to call and talk at least once a week, who make the effort to get to know the new friends you have made at this new place.. these are the friends worth having. And these are the friends who grow closer with distance, and yes absence makes the heart grow fonder, just as it makes the heart sometimes forget easier.
I really need to be less of a lazy bum and write more, call more, make a leetle bit of an effort and be a better friend!
Miss you all back in Bombay!

Crossing Chickens!

2009-11-27T22:21:00.000+05:30

A board game developed for the same illustration project..
Based on Snakes and Ladders, with a little difference!
the chicken crosses the bridge to go UP, and slides down a slide, when it comes Down!

(BTW it can be actually played, just get some dice and playing pieces!)

Why did the Chicken Cross the Road???

2009-11-26T22:49:00.000+05:30

One of Life's unanswered questions that continues to plague mankind... one that has thousands of answers yet not one single one that can be termed as the right one..

My attempt at answering this age-old question with a few illustrations..

This was my Final Year Illustration project, a book titled 'Why did the Chicken Cross the Road?' with as many answers as I could find from the various sources, online or otherwise.

Some of the pages follow..

I hate it when the Title gives away the Plot!

To cross or not to cross, That is the question.

And God came down from the heavens, and said unto the chicken, "Thou shalt cross the road" and the waters parted and the chicken crossed the road.

She was reacting to a traumatic incident in her childhood which she will now share with us in detail.

Newton- For that one chicken crossing there is an equal and opposite crossing happening simultaneously.

Did the chicken cross the road,

Did he cross it with a toad?

Yes the chicken crossed the road,

But why he crossed I've not been told.

Donot concern yourself with the chicken that crossed the road, the answer lies with the chicken that did not cross the road.

To go boldly where no chicken has gone before.

I came, I saw, I crossed!

That's all for this time around folks!

This and that..

2009-11-26T16:36:00.000+05:30

Human nature is so funny.. no wait, it can't be called funny, maybe interesting is a better word. You really have no idea what to expect sometimes.. not from others, not from yourself.
HUmans themselves are such fickle creatures, they change like a chameleon's colours, and often what is on the surface is exactly what is not real!
Everyday throws something unexpected at you, and sometimes, even if you had planned for it in some long ago time, you don't react they way you expected to. Sometimes its difficult to even explain your reaction. Are you happy? sad? confused? that is a word I seem to rely on a lot. nowadays. When its difficult to explain, even to yourself what exactly you feel like that particular day.. happy, sad, depressed, irritated? What when it is all that, and yet none exactly?
And when someone inspires some strong emotion in you.. be it love, hate, anger.. expressing it sometimes is not an option, for whatever reasons..whether it is for your own reasons, for someone who is close to you, or just because its not the right thing to do.
Life seems to be filled with such moments daily.. and there are always endless more thought provoking sessions.

Daily doodle!

2009-11-26T12:04:00.000+05:30

In the BMW once more.. I really need to get out somewhere else!! :P

People

That famous green NID bus in its usual spot! I love the colour!

Supah-Man!

2009-11-26T11:48:00.000+05:30

Yes! I confess! I like Superman! The movies, the comics.. I watch Smallville too!

A sketch inspired by a question in my class on why I actually like Superman.. maybe its just that lock of hair which falls so beautifully on his forehead? (yes, it does look quite nice, especially in the movies!)

Happy Birthday Sonali!

2009-11-24T01:05:00.001+05:30

A birthday comes and the first thought that crosses the mind is, 'What do I give her?'
Well I had to scratch the grey cells for this one, but finally inspiration came from the subject herself, and her love for sleeping!
Sonali will nap even if she gets 5 minutes free, and she is a pain to awaken, as she never actually awakens when u try to wake her!
A comedic take on a surprise b'day party gone awry. Imagine if she never woke and realized that you had come to wish her? And thus this mini-comic was born...
Hand drawn in a notebook, then photocopied and watercolored before the tearing out and sticking on colored paper and shaped into a book.

Sarkhej sketches

2009-11-24T00:59:00.000+05:30

The doodling done when at Sarkhej for the Heritage week celebration.

Waiting for the performances to begin...

Study of the Architecture...

Finally they begin.. Introductory speeches!

The performance begins..

Parvati Baul

Jodhpur musicians

Sikh musicians

Random doodles

2009-11-24T00:52:00.000+05:30

Some sketches at the BMW, Mess during dinner, and a few from class...

Sketching at dinner...

In class once again:

Heritage Week celebration

2009-11-23T00:33:00.000+05:30

Sarkhej at night, such a beautiful sight I didn't expect to see.
Lit up by lights galore, some electric and others with a rosy glow,
Music to soothe the spirit or lift you up in the moment,
and the chilly night, sprinkled with twinkling stars,
'twas a night to remember.

World heritage week being celebrated in Ahemdabad as well led to us managing a trip to Sarkhej to attend a concert with Sikh musicians, Baul singers and Rajasthani songs.
A cold night with pigeons providing background score to the music, with good company, and a sketchbook, was a wonderful experience! A future concert has been announced for next month 18th and 19th, and I'm all ready for it already!

A few photos, and sketches to be scanned will follow..

The lamps all over the place, floating candles in a chai glass, kept on rose petals!

Flood lights illuminating the structure, and the pigeons!

Old comic: Markandeya

2009-11-22T11:47:00.000+05:30

Since we are discussing so many comics, and am going to be involved with making some more for another 5 weeks, I thought this would be a good time to review the comic I had made last year as an assignment in JJ for illustration class.
It was a comic on Markandeya. and had a lot more text than visuals, and communicated purely with the words rather than the image.
Anyway I thought it was a good idea to look at it to see how much I have improved! :)

(Yes there are many goofs in it, was a very last minute colouring job, and Yamraj is quite hilarious! And the many shortcuts I have taken are also visible, the repeated Markandeya's, the lousy panels, lack of gutter space etc.)

Selfish people, selfish me.

2009-11-21T13:04:00.000+05:30

Having had a heated discussion with a friend has resulted in a lot of thinking once again.

It probably happens when a person doesn't debate or argue, but rather almost tries to shove their opinions down the other's throat. But I'm not here to criticise that person, but just my take on their views.

Indians should be more selfish, and think about their own priorities more.

Well, that is the topic for debate today!

Let me state the arguments:

Indians give priority to most things except themselves, they should be more like the westerners and be a little selfish and think about themselves more and others less.

But let me point out my objection to this.
Forget the fact about Indian or Western, forget whether it is a man or woman, or anyother restrictions you could impose. Just think about each individual, with their own unique thoughts, personality, vision, mindset and so on.
If each of these individuals inhabiting this earth were to think and act out of completely selfish reasons, for their own personal gain, would it not affect at least one other individual that had nothing to do with this person?
We each donot live in a bubble of our own, each and everything we do has some repurcussion on the lives of somebody else, intentionally or unintentionally.
If each one were to act in their own 'selfish' way, and never consider anything or anybody else, how would we survive as a society? What is that which makes us different because we as humans can think? The fact that we need to think of such things! Otherwise we could just be like animals and only the survival of the fittest would continue.
But the very fact that we have established a society, where many different individuals co-exist proves that we have the insight to look to the future, think where our actions may take us, and make the necesary adjusments, or compromises to live together.

More arguments! That we pander too much to others, and at every point of our lives there is someone we try to please, appease, impress, or satisfy, be it parents, family, friends, peers, collegues, teachers, or even society.
This may be true. I am not saying that it is completely right to subject oneself to the constraints imposed by all other factors all the time. But there is also that immeasurable quantity, emotion.
Do we not love our family? So if it means coming home a little early, or making a phone call once in a while, does it not justify the pleasure of seeing them happy? Does a parent not love their child? Is it not that emotion which makes them give up so much of their happiness for their offspring? The compromises my own paretns have made for my brother and me make this clear to me, and if it were me, I hope I would have been strong enough to take the same decisions.
If you profess to love someone, would you not take their feelings into consideration? If that person say, does not share your feelings, would you still try to change their mind? Of course yes! But at the risk of losing them entirely? Does their opinion not count for anything? Do their values stand for nothing? How much of yourself can you impose on them? The last factor to consider.. what if they are completely opposite to you in every way? would you go to the extent of trying to change the person they are to be with them? Then in my opinion, that is not love or even affection, but some mindless desire to be with that person because of your perception of them being somehtign they are not.

So many questions.. none that can be answered with a single statement, none that will be accepted by everyone. That itself shows us the difference in each and every person in society, and the fact that we should at least accept that there are other opinions out there which matter, other than your own, and that we all may or may not be right.
I may meet a person tomorrow who may share completely opposite views to my own, and I accept, I may not be right at all, and all my theories may be thrown out of the window, but they still exist, as much as your do.

Comix: the sequel

2009-11-19T23:20:00.000+05:30

The 2nd day was as much a flop as the first day was succesful..
We had to basically explore panels, spacing, gutter, angles and so on with a simple action.
My interpretation of the action had the action (Vibration of Cell phone), as a thing which caused an entirely unrelated story to happen, involving two characters and a chess game.
Anyway let me post the pictures before I give the game away..
(I have discovered that I just cannot, repeat cannot draw chess pieces without breaking my head against a wall!)

Synopsis:

Two old men are playing a game of chess, one looks a little khadus, or mean, while the other seems a simple enough person.

the first person is reaching for a piece to make his move with a trembling hand when suddenly the table starts shaking.

He panics and thinks, Earthquake!

The next set of panels show that as the bald man gets increasingly peturbed, the other seems very calm.

Finally the vibration is revealed to be the buzz of the other man's phone which he them calmly answers.

Reviews, comments and criticisms welcome!

People

2009-11-19T22:54:00.000+05:30

Well, here are some examples of what I really do when class is going on..
Sketches of 5 of my classmates..
the rest will come next time.. need to spend more time in class to draw them .. :P

There is Sudhakar, Gunjan, Anirban, Sonali and moi.

(So technically, that just 4 of my classmates)

Doo the doodle!

2009-11-19T22:51:00.000+05:30

Comic book class:

Some random doodles

Flop Show comics: TM

2009-11-19T01:32:00.000+05:30

This is where the blog starts to go downhill.. and keeps going that way..
Having been inspired by my classmate Gunjan, and of course all the comic book exposure, has led me to believe (mistakenly), that I too can be funny, draw little comic strips, and make people laugh.
Now, though I know in the light of day (or rather in the dead of night) that I am not as funny as I thought I was, sleep deprivation causes me to launch this fantastic new venture anyway..
I present to you, ladies and gentlemen, and the regular 'ole guys and gals out there, Flop Show Comics (TM)!
Yes, this is where you can see the worst of the worst, the most terrible drawings of Sekhar, (the co-ordinator), my poor over-drawn classmates, and the fresh meat delivered daily with some of Sekhar's jokes, and some of mine.
Lets begin, with the unveiling of the logo!

and show how the process began..

The contributing factors, including random points heard in class...

And Finally, preparing for the first issue!

and then proceed to the very first bad joke..

(Its an inside joke, so this excuses you from not being able to understand!)

Next,

Don't worry.. There might be more on the way.. after all, I have just begin...

The Vastrapur Expedition

2009-11-19T01:10:00.000+05:30

Weather so beautiful, it made you forget that this same place could be hellishly hot at 45 degrees in the summer.
Yes, at three in the afternoon we went to Vastrapur Lake, bundled up in warm clothing, the sky overcast and soft light filtering through. It was almost an adventure, taking a bus and then changing over at a cross-roads, and finally arriving at our destination. A well-deserved treat for making it at all, was the flavored soda at the Soda Shop opposite, after which we finally proceeded to the lake.
The lake of course, after all this, was quite a let down. There was hardly a ripple in the water, and what we could see was the numerous couples sitting together in all corners available, and many left over in the open areas too. (there are not that many corners as one would think!)
The only thing missing was romantic violin music in the background, and someone to share it with, though even if I had grabbed Sonali by the shoulders and smooched her, I doubt anyone would have given a damn!
Anyway, smooching, couple-dom and weather aside, it was a nice outing, which resulted in a few good sketches. Done with microtips of 2 point-sizes, and some coloring on PS.

Sitting at the Soda shop resulted in a few doodles...

The Lake itself..

The contrast of people sitting: one lone man on a bench, while right opposite, the lovey-dovey couple.

And last, but my favorite.. tiny cityscape.

Comixxxxxx!

2009-11-18T23:47:00.001+05:30

Finally.. the long-awaited Comic Book Course hath begun!!
Millions upon millions of students sigh as they are denied the admission to the Animation department,
The soft sighs rise to a crescendo of wails as the co-ordinator begins with the newest course..
Graphic Narrative, or simply...
Comic Books!
Seriously, it has been the most longed-for, highly anticipated and oft controversial course of the syllabus, and as the journey begins, excitement builds.
Never thought I would ever make a comic book, let alone a mini-one after the first day of class, LET Alone the fact that Sekhar might say that it wasn't THAT bad...
Anyway.. enough with the talking, lets move on to the actual artwork..

(The story is explained at the end, so that it is clear to those who might not understand/like/or look at the entire thing!)

The story goes thus:
When my father got transferred from Chennai to Mumbai, both my brother and I were extremely excited. One of the main reasons being that we were to go with our father by flight to the big, bad city!
The comic explores this excitement, the heartbreak of leaving behind school best-friends, promises made of letters to be written, and travel in a flight finally. Confusion surrounding the seat-belt, air-sickness, sibling squabbling and making up, and finally, the trip through the city at night before sleeping beneath the glittering city lights.

Unbalanced

2009-11-17T21:07:00.001+05:30

Finally an illustration Friday topic completed and posted before the week has long gone, though the illustration itself seems to not match the title anymore..though it made perfect sense when I drew it in the middle of the night!

Talisman

2009-11-17T21:05:00.000+05:30

An older illustration friday topic I had liked.. Talisman.
Maybe a pendant held dear, said to ward off evil. What if it were to break one day, what would counter the dark forces then?

Friends..

2009-11-17T21:03:00.000+05:30

If she were a guy, I would totally marry her and keep her forever.. though I will probably struggle to wake her up each and every day, given her love for sleeping and her addiction to lie in bed and snooze the alarm some more!

Sonali.. (though it doesn't really look like her that much.. or at all..)

From Chai to Chinese markers..

2009-11-17T01:48:00.000+05:30

Sitting at the BMW, with a few special people, people who bring a smile to your face, a gladness to your heart.. looking at everyone coming and going.. it is an interesting thing.
A dry throat made me order a chilled soft drink rather than a hot coffee, but later I had to foist it off on others when I couldn't finish :)
Even coughing at the smell of the tadka being poured on the maggi makes me smile now. The scramble to get out of the smoke-range, find another table which is equally good, out of the sun etc etc..

Somehow in between the place-changing, people-ogling and coughing, I remembered the new sketch book in my bag, and the equally new black pen I was itching to try out, but didnt want to waste the ink of!
This was the chance... the drink was forgotten, the coughing sent to the back of the mind, and the out came the book and pen, and a sigh... as the pen moved upon crisp paper like a hot knife through butter.. random doodles, seeing the fresh, shiny black ink quickly dry up and become permanent marks upon the paper.

The dog lying in the sun, lazing after a few biscuits.. and the engrossed reader, who thankfully didn't notice me craning my neck around others in the way, to draw him.

Excited photographers, with a shiny new camera!

Sonali, on the phone, her laugh filling the air.

A short walk to have pani puri's, cheap flavoured soda's, coffee and more talk...

All in all, a good day was today, people were seen, shoulders were cried upon, resolutions were made, and dinner almost missed. There should be more such days in life, where at the end, you go to bed with a smile on your face, and hope for tomorrow.

Unbalanced..

2009-11-17T01:47:00.000+05:30

This week's Illustration Friday topic is Unbalanced.

I can't think of a more perfect word to sum up my life right now. In a state of transition, when I'm torn between being the person I think I am, to the person I am perceived to be.
Trying to find a balance between so many things, it's not even funny anymore!
Work and play are simple enough words, but have deeper connotations, there is so much linked to each word, related to the people you meet, the things you see, the work you do.. each of which has some effect somewhere.
In a place like NID, where work is synonymous with play, the distinguishing line is even more blurred. A place where people don't judge anyone, but at every step you are judged anyway, a place where you meet so many people who affect you in a multitude of ways, ones who make you laugh, make you cry, or make you sigh on a friends shoulder with lovesickness.. its all here.
Again, a million thoughts flood my mind, and this has become another dumping ground for it. But enough talk now, maybe tomorrow I will actually get to the illustration itself! :)

Sarkhej

2009-11-16T00:30:00.001+05:30

We made a trip to Sarkhej finally, the weather being beautiful as if it had been that way all day just to convince us to go somewhere!

we planned to go around 4, though it was almost 5 when we finally did leave, and that resulted us in getting hardly half an hour of light when we reached there, though it was completely worth it.

Its a place to go in th winter, where you can sit in peace, listen to the sounds of nature, just a lot of quiet.

It was nice and mildly chill, just enough for some people to put on sweaters and jackets, and huddle around later clutching cups of hot chai and plates of samosas, (the 'unlucky' vegetarians had to bear with some spicy aloo samosas while the others gorged on mutton ones!)

Some sketches inspired by Sarkhej...

I tried continuing with the One continuous line style..

Found a workaround when it becomes too complicated.. the things in the foreground I tackle first, with a bold pen, and then switch pens for the background, this way they are all not one complicated line, but a few different ones..

(Some quick coloring done on photoshop.)

Doodling!

2009-11-16T00:10:00.000+05:30

Some sketches made recently since I've been been struck by the urge to draw in my small doodle book..

These are drawn with one continuous line without lifting the pen off the page.

Sonali at lunchtime in the mess.

Skinny, an old Illustration Friday topic.

The construction going on near the BMW canteen.

Random drawing during jury.

Garam Chai at chai gate, when the weather was nice and chilly!

1st Jury

2009-11-15T23:26:00.000+05:30

When Gunjan started off...

Sonali impressing the panel!

Sekhar in jury..

Dhiman in the jury 'next-door'

The loser bunch of over-achievers.. Animation PG 09 Sem1

Well, its over now... THAT first jury!
It went well, so everyone says. I don't think so, not really. I, being the jackass I so often am, forgot to show half my work!! I know! it sounds extremely hard to believe, but that's what I did, I just showed a few mins of basic animation, a little drawing, not sketch books (not that I had much) and completely ignored the foundy promo for monsoon fiesta, the illustration workshop we had where we drew loads, the storybook made in the same workshop!!
but atleast i have developed this new style I'm trying out.. of sketching.. maybe next jury will see me presenting a thousand sketchbooks filled cover to cover :P

Anyway to fight the boredom of listening in on other juries, I doodled a bit, and they came out interesting...

Questions..

2009-11-15T20:55:00.000+05:30

Been doing a lot of thinking recently, there have been a lot of changes in life to make me think.. a lot of changes in me itself.
How do you judge yourself? How do you compare yourself? When is it that you really know you are a honest, decent, forthright, sensible human being. Forget about everything else, forget being a student, artist, writer, or whatever else it is that you are/could be/ or want to be. What about that simple question, who are you as a person?

A lengthy conversation about the difference in people, their maturity, ages resulted in a lot of confusion. When do I know its ok to follow the rules, or when is it pandering to others demands? when is ok to be a good girl, by-the-books? When does that become 'People-pleaser'? How often can you take liberties and be 'what I want' without it affecting others? And how much does my age affect my thinking, I may be strong in my convictions, but will time or age prove me wrong? How jaded are those older and 'wiser' than me? and how wrong are we both?

Come to another question..
Is it a crime to have had a happy life? Is it my fault I cannot say I have a fucked-up life? Can I not make important decisions, have a relationship, work or even be a human being if I have not suffered any tragedies? Who makes anyone else the judge? And how do they judge? based on their own experiences isn't it? So if you haven't been ill treated by your family/ peers, if you haven't suffered rejection from a thousand people, if you don't have divorced parents you aren't a person to respect? Is that it?!
I HAVE had a happy childhood, and I HAVE had my share of problems...they may not be as life changing or traumatic as others but that life is what has shaped me so far. People I have met, people I might have lost, people still in my life.There are many incidents, yet when I have to recount one happy or sad one, I most often come up blank. I dont understand that myself, maybe I have memory problems.

Everyday there is something that makes me think some more., Sometimes I want to shut my brain off! There's too much to think, too much to ponder and question.. Too much that I wish to have or run away from!
Everyday I meet someone who affects me in some way, makes me rethink something, maybe even changes my life in some small way. Maybe it is that girl who leaves the tap running in the basin as she soaps her hands, maybe its that person who strikes this instant chord of attraction in me? There is too much to do, see, experience, and be.

And this brings me back to judging myself. When do I know any damn thing! When can I say I believe in my convictions, and how right they may be? When do I stop being affected by everyone or everything, and when will that make me something uncaring and unemotional?

Change.. that is what life seems to revolve around. Everyday is different, in terms of experience, people, thoughts, work, even weather. Maybe i just change myself every time, maybe thats who I'm destined to be. I don't have the answers, but I sure hope God up there does, that there is some thread of destiny holding this all together, and it doesn't snap by mistake anytime soon.