Diwali Love

Rama & Sita 

One version of the Diwali story is that to welcome Rama, Sita and Lakshman back from their exile, lamps were lit all over Ayodhya  in celebration and crackers were burst amidst much joy!

It really is my favourite Indian festival, everybodys home glitters and such an abundance of happiness.

Were not bursting any crackers this year, I think all around, things are better this year with people being a lot more concious of the environment! But diyas shall be lit and we shall all glow. 

Have a beautiful and safe Diwali ! much love. 

Above Your Head

Hello!! Im going through a crazy time in life, sometimes big decisions seem so massively huge and i spend half my life worrying over things but I know that later, i am going to look back and think : silly me, what a thing to worry about. So thats what Im doing these days. not very productive. But lately ive been doing a lot of identity design ! And loving it. I love the process of creating a face for a client and then taking it forward. Its just so interesting ! Also, my little story is over ! Here are the five. Theyre soon going to be printed and framed and be adorning the walls of Annikas nursery :) 

And let me tell you of the little story that goes alongwith these illustrations.
Once upon a time there lived a little girl, (lets call her Annika after her new owner to be) She found this door in her home and it was one big circular door.She wondered what was behind it, and one day decided to find out. But this door was locked! And annika suddenly remembered the key necklace she always wore ! She tried it in the lock and it turned. Her eyes grew big with excitement and she opened the door to see this incredible scene in front of her eyes, toadstools with peeping squirrels, magical pink horses that floated along strange grassy lands which were in steps and had ladders to go up to the next grassy land and trees with all kinds of fruit growing at the same time.. and even a tree of stars! She walked along the little bridge that popped up and entered the little world. And did she have the time of her life there! She came across this little party and joined the fairy folk and little creatures there and had some delicious pink cake that melted in her mouth and all this under a tree of lights and stars. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
And then a big bird swooped in and annika climbed on her back and they flew amongst the stars till they reached her home. It wasnt long before she fell asleep, a happy smile on her face.

i love ze magical lands !
Also, i forgot to mention, and now im back and actually editing the post to say this - that between the five illustrations, annikas date of birth, time of birth, weight when she was born and her name are hidden somewhere :)

Fairytale Love

You probably already have this figured out, but i love stories. And i think im going backward mentally, because instead of reading intellectually stimulating books, these days i find myself going back to the enid blytons and other fairytales kids read. it makes it so much easier to live in a bubble.
A new project for a client who has just had a little girl, and is giving me such a treat, by asking me to do a series of illustrations for the babys nursery. And the whole theme is a little girl entering a magical world.

There is a short little story behind it, and there are going to be five illustrations! Ill tell you the story when all five are done! Oh oh good news! Skinny Scribbles has been published!! I have a copy in my hands, and I think you should be able to buy it! Im very happy with the print, it looks lovely, if i may say so myself :)
Half the weeks over, and the way times-a-flying, it should be the weekend before you know it, have a good one! much love.

Gluttony and the End!

Gluttony took the form of a tree, a beautiful tree teeming with delicious looking fruit and flowers.

and youth and beauty and everything that one desires in a lifetime. Also hanging, is the apple, a 

symbol of temptation- attached to the apple is a tap from which Gluttony unfortunately drinks. 

Below him a strawberry bleeds.

Its that time of the year when long term projects come to an end, and you finally get to see the fruit of the seeds you sow (or something like that :) The Deadly ego series was started many months ago, and each character was a discovery, a lot of research and emotion involved. Im happy with the result and now rearing to start something new and exciting! Once these are printed, they are going up on the walls of the Hidesign Flagship store in Pondi- large prints, I cant wait to see them there.

On another slightly lazier note, got pampered at the gorgeous Le dupleix during our holiday there, and Im just back this morning from Pondi, refreshed and happy :) Im a pondy fan, whattodo.

Unknown Possibilities

Im stepping into the unknown once again, it really is a giant black hole and I have no idea what is

going to happen in the next few months. For someone who loves to be in control this is pretty horrifying.

(Were moving to chennai :) 

But I read a book recently, that spoke about our subconcious and it leading us to the right path. I call it my instinct, and Ive learned to trust it and not fight it. But it inevitably means that I sometimes have no real reason for doing what Im doing. Except that it feels right. After all this time, living in Pondicherry I never did read aurobindos work, and I rather like what he says below. 

Our soul from its mysterious chamber acts

Its influence pressing on our heart and mind

Pushes them to exceed their mortal selves.

It seeks for Good and Beauty. 

We see beyond self's walls our limitless self,

We gaze through our world's glass at half seen vasts,

We hunt for the truth behind apparent things.

Our inner mind dwells in a larger light,

Its brightness looks at us through hidden doors

Our members luminous grow and Wisdom's face

Appears in the doorway of the mystic ward

When she enters into our house of outward sense

Then we look up and see, above, her sun

Strangely enough, this sketch is something I did months ago, I came across it yesterday and it seemed to fit how I was feeling right now. Incase you noticed my absence last week, its because I was trudging through chennai looking for the right house, which we did find :) Its beautiful, with a garden and terrace! Something to look forward to.

New Beginnings

What a crazy way to start the new year. When nature lashes out the way it has in Pondicherry, it is.. humbling. It really is a reminder that we are just a little speck in the universe. Big trees all lying with their roots in the air. I feel really sad that the trees have got the worst of the cyclone, and that Pondi has lost about half its green. It soothed my heart to look out my window and see plenty of green..happily, my favourite tree which flowers white is still standing, but the others have been brought down. 

 from my window.

 fallen life

 the broken canal

Since I dont want my very first post of the year to be a complete downer, I think I should let you know that Pondicherry is full of life and back to normal in every other way. And we still do have a few trees standing. Energies are high ,and there is still plenty of hope. 

And i did have a marvellously inspiring trip to Rajasthan :)