Illustration Friday: 'Toy'

I was more of a toy to Strawbella than she was to me. She beat out the competition from my crazy collection of 13 Barbies and consumed half my childhood as my favourite doll.

I think it had something to do with her scented dress and strawberry-shaped purse...or maybe it was the way she came into my life. The day before my 8th (or 9th?) birthday, I spotted her in the only big toy shop in Vellore (the now extinct Nataraj...sigh) and pleaded in vain with Mum to buy it. But no, my parents had already gotten me a dress...frilly pink! God knows how I wore pink in my youth! :)...so a doll was ruled out. I tried not to cry and ruin my day, but vivid dreams of this doll with a gorgeous red dress hardly helped with the sleep.

The next day I woke up teary-eyed to the traditional birthday breakfast table of cake and flowers. But in the midst of all the hibiscus from our graden, there she sat. Strawbella.

I nearly died of happiness. And have since loved my parents a little bit more hahaha :D 

Illustration Friday: 'Cultivate'

(click to make picture beeeg-er!)

The first thing I thought of was Totoro helping Satsuki and Mei magically cultivate those acorns! :D One of my favourite scenes from the movie... Studio Ghibli love all over again! :) 

Happiness is a stencil effect

I had to make someone pink, and Mr. Starr fit the bill :)

The travel bug! And Mr. Adams a.k.a. God

My first encounter with 'proper' watercolour paper (after using handmade papers of varying thickness all this time, watercolour paper is like rain in the desert) had to be turned into a sketchbook, and the good book made its first few pages useful to document my Pune-Bombay trip!

What an awesome four-day whirlwind of pubs and Maharashtrian street food (so muuuuuuuch pav!), all sponsored by the beloved Brother :) And having it culminate in the first live concert of my sorry life: BRYAN ADAMS. Un.f-ing.believable. Thought I'd died and gone to heaven :)

Note to self - pat on back for starting to tolerate flying...more travelling on the cards! :)

Illustration Friday: 'Layer'

No idea where this came from, but I think it has to do with me thinking about the 'layers' in rainbows, roses, and hair all at the same time. Made sense to put them together! Death is just the contrast, the inevitable foil :)

Illustration Friday: 'Sweater'

Not that these guys would need sweaters in the climes that they live in! But I thought it would be fun to see them in each other's skins hehe :)

I wish someone would knit me a zebra print sweater! :)

Illustration Friday: 'Reverse'

 

What if the paintings in galleries could break free of their canvasses and run riot on the walls?

A reverse situation that I would VERY much love to see :)

Click on the image to enlaaaaarge!

A Valentines's gift

For Sheethal and Rohit :)

Ilustration Friday: 'Surrender'

MACARONS!! I would surrender to them even if I was the cat in that window :) And to think I've not even tasted one yet...double sigh. But soon! :)

And here's the Laduree catalogue...just to fuel my macaron thirst :)

A hundred little balloons...

What a great location this would be to have a picnic :) And this tree actually exists. Sigh.