I was very pleased when the Art Director at Verve magazine invited me to illustrate a story by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. I had wanted to
illustrate for Verve ever since I saw their beautiful magazine years ago when I
returned from Australia. Then, during pre-internet era, when I contacted them
with samples of my work, they sent me an article to illustrate almost
immediately. However, because of the logistics of couriering actual work across
during those pre-digital times, it was an exercise in futility and nothing
came of it. Therefore I was pleasantly surprised when I received a mail
inviting me to illustrate for them this time.
I haven’t received my copy yet, but a walk along Indiranagar
with a friend and a bid to escape the heat by plunging into air conditioned Crossword
assisted me in getting my hands on a copy and photographing it.Do check out the April 2016 issue of Verve. But you can also read the story here >>
The story is a beautiful one about young lovers, a red sari
and stars in the night sky on the terrace. It was a pleasure to do and it is
one of my favorite assignments to date. The focus of the illustration is on his hands cradling her and her sari enveloping them. The resulting shapes remind me almost of a foetus within a womb, safe, loved and secure.
For those of you interested in such matters, this illustration was done on Canson Colorline paper with the rich pigments of Daler Rowney pastel. I love the grainy texture and the rich but muted, sophisticated colors that resulted. This has been one of those rare moments when there is a sense of satisfaction with what has presented itself to me at my desk.
