Incomplete concept sketches

4th Nov 2013

Some of the first sketches inaugurating the new sketchbook! <3 p="">

I thought I should start with a dream of a beautiful home, a comfortable cane swing, a good book,
 and a dog by a window.

Tried to sketch a good in mad love, but Akshay said it doesn't come through coz she's not facing her phone. I guess he's right. 

A traditional stereotypical sketch of what is Indian. This was the result of attending a beautiful panel discussion on 'What is Indian?'.

Made up an imaginary character called 'The Himalayan Kuqua'! :D Seems cute enough to hug!

Akshay's 'aur kya chahiye' moment. Headphones and a good book. Couldn't survive without him in Nashik.

That's the end of this sketchstream! Until next time. Cheers!

Sketchbook Scans - October!

4th November 2013
Hello!! After forever I have been able to come home and scan all my october sketches! It's been the most diffucult and challenging month I think I've had yet. I have been working at a nice studio called Regh Animation and Design in a small town called Nashik in Maharashtra. There's been so much happening that I get no time to make full fledged art, but I've been trying really hard to keep up the pace with my sketching and gesture drawing. So here're some pages from the October sketchbook. Bought a new awesome book when I attended Chitrakatha at NID, Ahmedabad!

As usual it's one of the best Indian Animation Festivals I've attended. It was a great collab and we got to hear many big names from India and the world talk about their work and their approach to art. My film was also shortlisted for screening there! I got some great genuine feedback from a lot of artists and animators, and I'm gonna strive to not repeat the mistakes in the coming films. I was honestly thrilled, but I wish Alok's beautiful film had gotten some love too! It's absolutely painstakingly beautiful and meaningful. Alright so here're the sketchy updates.

gestures done at Nashik Road station before leaving for Ahmedabad.

sketched in the NID Auditorium while listening to this awesome simplistic animator named 'Francois Chalet'. Some great work!

Poor Rhutu had lost his sketchbook somewhere. I guess that's where his mind was. I tried to convince him to go search for it, but he insisted he'd stay till the end of the talk. It was a conversation in sketches. The second drawing belongs to him.

Rhutu replies in sketches again. The second drawing is his. His sketchbook gives people complexes. o_O

More fun stuff. Clothes are interesting me a lot lately.

My weird cool version of Santa.

Coming Soon!!

24th Sept 2013

ALRIGHT!! The wait is FINALLY OVER!

I have been SO busy struggling with finishing up this project and wrapping up all the lose ends that I totally forgot to update the blog.
So yes! The Mailbox is finally READY FOR A FESTIVAL RUN!

I still wish there was a cooler way to compress files without losing out on so much quality, but I think I got a pretty decent output. I've had no help at all with post production, and so - I learnt a TON of things on my own, the hard way, and a bunch of softwares as well (that too with a suck snailnet). Also I find now that I could have done more justice to the story and to the animation, but giving the pressing deadlines, motivation issues and lack of guidance towards the end, I decided to correct my flaws in the coming shortfilms that I dream of making!

Now enough with the complaining! I hope you guys love this film as much as I enjoyed making it, and learning from it! I hope it's something fresh for you, and that it gives you something, even if for a short while.

It's still not available for public viewing, but it's 'COMING SOON'!! ;) ;) (Now I get how much fun this is for the fim-makers and distributers)

With this message, I commence to make this blog - PUBLIC. O__o
Cheers and lots of love! <3 p="">

More inspiration, news, and updates!

30th August 2013

Soooo! All you fellow bloggers, artists and film makers! Here's another dose of crazy inspiration!! <3 p="">



Cory Loftis
Visual Dev. artist at Walt Disney - his work is SO JUICY!! So much humor, personality, and life! Beautiful handwork, coloring and compositions! A major inspiration to suffice for another 3 weeks!

Rachel Saunders/Barukurri
Illustrator and painter. Although she's British, her work looks very eastern, and makes me want to watch all the Miyazaki movies (including the ones I've already drooled over) again and again!
Her drawing is so beautiful and soft, and her characters are lovable at the least! Beautiful colors and inspiring characters!

 

After seeing this, I think you guys should be interested in participating and giving this a shot! It's a mind-blowing opportunity to go for an all-expense-paid-trip to Burbank CA for CTNXpo!!!!!
Hells yeah! The deadline is Oct. 1st. Here are the DETAILS.

Lastly some updates. I have been trying to make a living out of freelancing to fund my own film. I've been working with Doodle Monkey, a company started by some close friends, and I'm using a great site called PeoplePerHour which is for freelancers and people who want to avail their services. Unfortunately it's one of those projects that is confidential and that I can't put up here. :'( Check it out. It's been taxing, fun, and interesting.That's all for now. Film is almost done, sound is left, and my awesome new laptop is finally here to help me finish it! Things are finally looking up!

Cheers and love!! <3 br="">  

Day 30 - Sherlock (BBC)

24th Aug 2013

Got tired of lazing around. I decided to channel my frustration into painting. Since I recently started watching the amazing BBC Sherlock, here it is!! Enjoy!

Learned a ton about lighting the face. :) Also tried a new brush!


1.5 hours speedpaint
PS CS5

Your weekly inspiration - Stephen McCranie

http://doodlealley.com/

This will suffice your whole week's inspiration needs.

Stephen McCranie's work is full of momentum, simplicity, interest, advice, imagination, curiosity, inspiration, hope, life and art! Enjoy every panel of it. I can't stress on how much you'll be missing out on if you don't see and absorb this.

Cheers and love!

Sketchbook pages

19th August 2012


So I've been more than inconsistent with the blog past few days. I have been so busy with the film, a few freelance projects and personal work that I cannot manage my time well.Now I'm on a short break. This weekend I went off to Pune again - my sister is getting married! So we tried to finish all the shopping in one go (although obviously not possible). I have taken to writing as well in these times of uncertainty, and my sketchbook pages are being used as well. Here're some of the sketches that I didn't upload due to lack of time and patience. More to come, and I intend to color those.

Cheers!

DP Internship #1

10th Aug 2013

So I'm not allowed to post everything, but I'm finally gonna post a few things from my diploma project internship. I developed storyboards, character designs, visual development, illustrations, and a little animation for a story app for the ipad. I worked on 'The Town Musicians of Bremen'.
Here's a frame from the story.

When the user hovers over the character it talks in form of visuals.This guy is one of the three thugs who live in the house where the animals halt for food.

Worst 48 hours

28th June 2013

For the whole story, refer to THIS.

Listening to: 'The Figher' - Gym Class Heroes

Daddy?

20th June 2013

Been working on the film these couple of days and struggling to do my 30 day animation challenge diligently. Went through a nice process video today and made a new flat brush on PS for storyboarding. Thought I should get comfortable with it. Here's a quick doodle with it.