Everything You Need to Know About Handmade Portraits

Everything You Need to Know About Handmade Portraits

Everything You Need to Know About

Handmade Portraits

Gifting is a beautiful gesture to express your affection and care for your loved ones. You can choose expensive gifts off the shelf of reputable brands or go for something as simple as handmade portraits.

All that matters is the thought and love we put into giving. And what makes the gift unique and memorable is the thought behind it and the sentimental value it represents. However, finding a special gift in a sea of options may seem to be a daunting task. 

Handmade portraits are a doorway to the heart as they encapsulate the memories and feelings you share with your loved ones through art made from your favorite photos. 

This article has compiled a detailed guide on everything you need to know about Handmade Portraits.

Example of Handmade Portraits in Frame

Brief History of Portraits

Before the invention of cameras, people captured images through paintings, and drawings. Hand-drawn portraits in particular played a significant role in capturing the likeness, and preserving precious memories. 

Kings, and people of influence would hire artists, and painters to paint their loved ones, and decorate their houses and palaces with massive paintings.

Portraits have evolved over time from serving as important family records to being unique gifts for loved ones.

However, do you know how handmade portraits are made? Well, continue reading further!

Sachin Tendulkar handmade portrait by Sadashiv SawantSawant

How are Portraits Made At Stoned Santa?

In addition to handmade paintings, portraits can be made in other forms of media, such as digital media and prints. Moreover, these portraits can be made using different art mediums such as graphite and charcoals, oil portraits, water colors, pencil colors, string art, and mix-media. 

Although the techniques for each media and medium may differ, the core process of making portraits remains the same. Let us take you through a brief process of how our artists make portraits –

  • Gathering the Photo of the Subject

As the first step of making handmade portraits, we collect photos of the subject from our client. A front-facing picture of good quality is a must, as it allows our artists to analyse the facial features, and accordingly paint the features of the subject. 

A snippet of a front-facing good-quality photo shared by our client and a hyper-realistic painting by our artist!

Couple Handmade Portrait Example
  • Choosing the Medium and Surface

At Stoned Santa, we have a range of handmade portrait paintings, each curated using different art mediums. So as the next step, we require our clients to choose the medium and the surface they want their handmade portrait paintings to be. 

Choice of mediums

  1. Graphite and Charcoals
  2. Pencil Colors
  3. Oil Portraits  
  4. Portraits in String Art
  5. Mix Media Portraits 
    6. Digital Media – Caricatures, or Digital Portraits

Choice of surface

  1. Wood
  2. Canvas
  3. High-grade artist papers

One of the quirky handmade portraits

Looking For nice Handmade Portraits?

  • Defining the Background Elements

In this step, we require our clients to define and decide on any specific customized backdrop or elements that could enhance the portraits. For instance, some clients want the same background as shared in their reference photograph, while some prefer to have an abstract background left up to the artist’s creativity.

Or we can take the creative freedom, and let our artists decide. 

Here is a snippet of a handmade portrait painting with abstract background for our client

A snippet of one of the uplifting handmade portraits

  • The Painting Process

Once the photo, medium, and background elements are decided, our artist begins with the painting process.

Stage 1

The first step to making handmade portraits

Stage 2

The second step to making handmade portraits.

Stage 3

The last phase in the creation of timeless handmade portraits

  • Seeking Approval and Shipping the Artwork

In this last step, we seek approval for the finished artwork from the client, and once they give the nod, we ship the portrait painting.

Komal Thoria Indian artist drawing a charcoal portrait

Pricing of Handmade Portraits

In this section, we will talk about the pricing of handmade portraits, which typically is based on the combination of the following factors – 

  • Size of the canvas – We allow our clients to choose the surface they prefer the handmade portrait paintings to be on. These surfaces include canvas, artist-grade papers, or wood.

    Moreover, different sizes are available for each surface, which ultimately becomes crucial in deciding the price of handmade masterpieces. If the client needs A4-sized portraits, the cost would be comparatively lower than a 20 x 24-inch canvas.

Example of picture to handmade portraits

We can help you craft lovely Portraits.

  • Choice of medium 

The choice of the medium plays a crucial role in deciding the price of the handmade keepsakes. For instance, if a client opts for hyper-realistic portraits with mixed media, the cost would be higher because several mediums would bring photographic realism to the handmade painting. 

  • Number of figures in the painting

Handmade portraits may involve more than one subject, so the number of figurines becomes a critical determinant of the price of the final artwork. If there is more than one subject figure, it would require more time and effort on the artist’s part, the monetary value of which is accounted for in the final price.

  • Timeline for delivery- Delivery time is an essential determinant of the final price of the handmade portraits. Urgent requirements of portraits will cost higher than a standard delivery time.

One of our graphite and charcoal based handmade portraits.
  • Graphite and Charcoal Handmade Portraits Collection 

This black-and-white collection of handmade portraits is made with graphite and charcoal. These are dry art mediums that give a vintage touch to the paintings. Both graphite and charcoals look like pencils but provide a contrasting effect when used in conjunction, leaving behind a masterpiece.

  • Pencil Colour Handmade Portraits Collection

A rather colorful collection of handmade portraits, these are made using professional, highly pigmented pencil colors. The colors in the actual photograph can be enhanced to look more appealing in the painting with the help of this medium.

  • String Art Handmade Portraits Collection

Wondering what unique gift to give to your loved ones? Well, we have nailed it for you! Our string art handmade portrait collection is a perfect choice. These portraits are hammered using nails and strings to create an excellent piece of art just for you!

One of our string art handmade portraits
  • Hyper-Realistic Mixed Media Portrait Collection

Have a special memory you want to capture in a painting the same way it took place? Our range of hyper-realistic mixed-media portrait collections can replicate the memory for you, with much more love added to it!

  • Digital Portrait Collection 

These are the most trending range of portrait paintings used for various occasions such as wedding invites, anniversary gifts, birthday invites, etc. Digital portraits can be customized to suit the event and your needs. The portraits are then digitized and sent to the client for further use

One of our quirky concept handmade portraits

Different Themes of Handmade Portraits

Running out of ideas for handmade portraits, Stoned Santa is here to save your day! Our gifting experts have curated a list of trending themes to choose from to get your customized handmade portraits made in 

  • Wedding Couple Themed 

We have various options if you want a gift for your better half or the couples in your friends and family at their wedding. These handmade portraits are available in traditional and digitized forms and can be customized by adding fun elements in the background to encapsulate the journey of the couple –

One of the realistic wedding couple themed handmade portraits.
  • Music lovers theme

Music is an art to the ears, and what better gift to give a music-lover than handmade portrait paintings of their favorite music icons?

  • Marvel-themed

Superhero fans assemble, for we have a Marvel-themed collection to choose from. So convert your loved one’s photograph into their favorite Marvel character handmade portraits, and see the joy it brings them.

A marvel themed handmade portrait

Looking For the Concept Handmade Portraits?

Why Choose Stoned Santa? 

Crystallize a good memory with your loved one into beautiful handmade portraits full of love and memories. At Stoned Santa, we curate exclusive handmade portraits customized as per your need and budget to help you leave a lasting impression on the receiver.

 Our end-to-end customer support ensures that you are assisted by our gifting experts at every step, from ideation to theme selection to timely delivery of the masterpiece at your doorstep. Contact Stoned Santa today!

Looking for the perfect gift?

Look no more, our gift experts will get in touch with you and help you with all your requirements.

 

Unique Corporate Gift Ideas – An Insight into Personalized Caricatures

Unique Corporate Gift Ideas – An Insight into Personalized Caricatures

Unique Corporate Gift Ideas – An Insight into Personalized Caricatures

Corporate gifting is a great way to strengthen connections with employees, clients, and partners, and organisations have leveraged corporate gifting for a really long time. 

In this blog, we want to talk about Caricatures as a mode of gifting for corporates.

Corporate caricatures make for a great and unique gifting idea as they are appealing and appropriate for any corporate occasion. For instance, the office staff can adorn a caricature of a retiring employee with handwritten wishes and personal anecdotes. 

Our team of skilled caricature artists can help you add a personalized touch by converting your imaginative ideas into a memorable gift. Moreover, we provide digital renditions of corporate caricatures and the actual original art on demand.

 

Shark Tank India Collage of personalised cacicatures

Unique Corporate Gift Ideas – Personalized Caricatures

Our experience in personalized gifting has enabled us to create a list of unique corporate caricatures

 

Corporate Gift Idea 1 – Boss Lady Appreciation

The multiple roles that a woman can play in society are tremendous. And to acknowledge the efforts of their boss, who plays each role with so much dedication, a group of juniors wanted to create a unique gift on her birthday. Therefore with the “multi-tasking woman theme” as recommended by our gifting experts, coupled with the creativity of our caricature artist, we came up with the following masterpiece!

 

Boss Lady Corporate Gifts - Caricature

Corporate Gift Idea 2 – Raavan, The King of Multitasking 

In the corporate realm, having a team leader who leads by example is a treasure worth cherishing. But how do you appreciate the leader’s efforts who motivate your team to perform better? A unique corporate gift is an ideal way to acknowledge such a leader.

Based on this context, one of the teams of a leading global company came to our gifting experts. They wanted to gift their multi-tasking team leader a farewell gift! Our gifting experts recommended having the team leader depicted as Raavan – managing ten different tasks in a way that shows ten different people are individually working on it simultaneously! 

And this is what our caricature artist came up with –

 

Raavan The King of Multitasking Corporate Gifts - Caricature

Surprise Caricatures for your team?

Corporate Gift Idea 3 – Forbes Edition “Best Performer Award” 

Our clients wanted to gift their best performer on his work anniversary. The idea was to portray the employee on the Forbes cover page as a caricature with a few quips. Our caricature artist – Chetan, created this masterpiece.

 

 

Forbes Edition - Best Performer Corporate Gift - Caricature

Corporate Gift Idea 4 – Team Superheroes Assemble!

Running a business is no less than a team of superheroes coming together to channel their skill sets and experience. They keep accomplishing unique projects while keeping their customers happy. And what better way to appreciate the efforts of such a team than by giving a personalized caricature gift

We got to work on one such exciting concept, where we had to represent the employees as superheroes and depict them in their elements. And the following is the snippet of a Marvel caricature theme –

Team Superhero Corporate Marvel Caricature
 

Corporate Gift Idea 5 – Football Fanatics Caricature

We had the opportunity to create a personalized gift for Tom, the (ex) VP of BCG London. He was moving to another consulting firm, therefore the BCG team decided to gift him something really special.

A group caricature with the entire BCG team dressed in football jerseys standing at the centre of a stadium.

PS – It was our first ever international order for caricature. 

 

Football Corporate Caricature
Corporate Gift Idea 6 –  Favorite Character Caricature

Affine Analytics wanted to gift their top-performing employees something unique and customized. They asked their employees the names of their favorite superheroes or fictional characters. The company approached us to make customized caricatures based on the characters and photographs of the employees who shared them.

 

Favourite Character Corporate Gifts - Caricature

Looking For a Personalized Corporate Caricature?

Corporate Gift Idea 7 –  Dream Team Caricature Ft Royal Sena

Yet another fantastic opportunity from BCG India Office, we had to create a unique gift for the team that worked with Schneider Electric.

The gift was to appreciate the team’s efforts, and the theme was to represent the team as Indian mythological heroes who were a part of the royal sena. 

We used different clothing styles and placed each team member in a particular role. And this is what we came up with

 

Dream Team Corporate Gifts - Caricature

Corporate Gift Idea 8 – Recreating PayPal Mafia Caricature 

Remember PayPal Mafia? A group of original PayPal employees who had difficulty adjusting to eBay’s corporate culture left the company, only to start their own companies and venture firms in subsequent years. The term gained popularity as it was used as a headline for an article in Fortune Magazine with a featured photo of former PayPal employees in gangster attire. 

Well, this was the theme for our next creation. BharatPe, a leading digital payment service company, wanted us to curate a similar image to that of PayPal Mafia. And this is what we came up with

 

Reference Picture

Manchester United String Art
Paypal Mafia Concept Corporate Gifts - Caricature

Corporate Gift Idea 9 – Retirement Caricature Gift 

One of our clients wanted to gift his retiring colleague, who worked as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF), a unique caricature. Since the theme was fighter planes and the occasion of WSS retirement, we came up with the following creation 

 

Retirement Corporate Gifts - Caricature

Corporate Gift Idea 10 – Women’s Day Caricature

We had the opportunity to work on an exciting project for Women’s Day. A team wanted to gift their lady boss a personalized caricature on Women’s Day. The idea was to showcase their boss’s multiple roles in everyday life. From being a trained classical dancer to managing the house to being a fantastic cook, and a globe trotter, each of these roles was depicted as a caricature

 

Women's Day Corporate Gifts - Caricature

Get your Caricatures with Stoned Santa

Why Choose Stoned Santa for a Corporate Caricature Gift?

Stoned Santa has several years of successfully serving thousands of clients with unique customized gifts. And personalized caricatures are our hot-selling gifting line, and for all the right reasons – 

  • You can go wild with your imaginations with a pinch of sarcasm, and our artists can add their creativity to incorporate them into the caricature.
  • Caricatures make a unique gift for any corporate occasion, be it retirement, awards, etc.
  • Caricatures have a comic effect, which can tickle the funny bones while being a memorable souvenir.
  • Caricatures are available in digital prints and original art pieces.

Our gifting experts are here to guide you through the originality of the corporate gift, through the work in progress, until the timely delivery! Get in touch with Stoned Santa gifting experts today.

 

Looking for the perfect gift?

Look no more, our gift experts will get in touch with you and help you with all your requirements.

 

11 Illustrators In India

11 Illustrators In India

11 Illustrators In India We Can Vouch For!

India has always been the home to exquisite arts and creativity, giving birth to several talented and renowned artists worldwide. Illustrations are one such art form that has garnered the attention of many young and aspiring artists in India, thus introducing a new wave of change in the Indian art industry. These artists are revolutionizing every aspect of life, from content creation to customized gifting. This article celebrates the art and achievements of 11 such illustrators in India while highlighting their daunting journey amidst the career stereotypes in India.

An illustration by Uday Mohite, an inspiring Illustrator in India

What is an Illustration?

Illustrators are incredibly skilled artists who specialize in creating depictions or visual representations from scratch. They might use various tools, including pens, pencils, colors, acrylics, etc. There are several types of illustration art, such as pencil art, lithography, charcoal and more. Oftentimes, the terms designers and illustrators are used interchangeably. However, designers rely on pre-built templates and offer limited creativity, while illustrators have no limitations.

Chaaya Prabhat: One Day at a Time

In the realm where color speaks louder than words, the prodigal Chennai-based artist returned to India from Hong Kong to depict everyday life through a new lens.

Some find their passion after exploring various fields, while some are born with the clarity and the talent to compensate for that vision. Chaaya Prabhat inspires several illustrators in India as exceptional artists and a professional who are challenging traditional career roles one day at a time. Having amassed a follower base of eighty-four thousand followers, Chaaya is creating waves as a renowned illustrator in India. 

Her works vary from quirky concept illustrations to book cover illustrations, leaving viewers with a new perspective of mundane everyday life events. Undoubtedly the most well-deserved Graphic Artist of the Year, 2023, in our opinion!

 

An illustration by Chaaya, an inspiring Illustrator in India
Chaya Prabhat, a promising illustrator in India

Ranganath Krishnamani: Vintage to Facebook

Where stories unfold through colors that weave a rather beautiful reality of life, viewers are sure to fall prey to the beautiful canvas of the multi-disciplinary art director from Tamil Nadu. 

As a headliner in the art community, Ranganath founded LiquidInk Design, which caters to several corporates but nurtures aspiring artists through inspiration in design and careers. 

Managing a follower base of sixty-two thousand followers through his company page Liquid Ink, the inspiring Bangalorean never fails to mesmerize his followers with captivating posts.  From vibrant narrations to unparalleled precision, and concept illustrations, there’s no doubt that Krihnamani’s works have attracted the attention of corporates like Facebook, Google, Adobe, Cure.fit, and more.

 

The master illustrator and trend-setter, Ranganath Krishnamani

Looking For Personalized Illustrations?

Satish Gangaiah: The Chatpatta Affair

The tricky art of creating captivating yet meaningful concept collage illustrations comes easily to this freelance designer, Satish Gagaiah

Boasting 15 years of design experience as an Illustrator in India, Satish Gangaiah has worked with several creative companies and ad agencies, highlighting an impressive and versatile work portfolio. Behance is one of the many platforms where one can find, get inspired, and even buy from this talented mind. 

Comic book illustrations might be one aspect of his service provisions, but viewers might be in for a treat should they ever let Satish’s imaginations run wild through concept collage illustrations. ‘The Chatpatta Affair’, an artwork displayed on his Instagram profile with five-thousand five hundred and forty, is an exquisite yet quirky illustration that paints the love for India’s favorite snack, the ‘Gol-gappa’, in a new light.

 

A collage by Satish Gangaiah, an inspiring Illustrator in India

Answesha Paul: Realism Redefined

The combination of thought-provoking imagination artwork, compensated with intricate details, highlights the nurturing and protective nature of womanhood subtly. Answesha Paul, a twenty-three-year-old illustrator in India, is striding forward to appreciate femininity through the lens of an experienced illustrator. 

The young illustrator in India loves showing her consideration for details with the playful use of watercolors, acrylics, and seasoned finesse in various artworks. Her designs range from everyday concept depictions of individuals, animals, and folklore, sprinkling life to their emotions in a surreal manner. If you want to get inspired, Answeha’s artistic prowess will surely fill your creative, hungry mind and help you look at the world differently.

 

An amazing illustration by Anwesha Paul, an inspiring Illustrator in India
Anwesha Paul, an inspiring Illustrator in India

Dejeshwini: Canvas, Colours, and Quote-play

Enchanting strokes, intricate sketches, and unending creativity is the perfect replacement for Youtube shorts and Instagram reels for your inner art-hungry philosopher. Depictions of the vibrant and fading Indian society with a token of color play can be found on Dee for drawing, which Dejaswini manages.  

Using her art as a medium to speak with 41.6K followers on Instagram, Dejaswini is crafting a new form of story-telling, through her work as an Illustrator in India. As one of the most talented illustrators in India, Desjawini also has a knack for writing, which allows her to play with imagination, canvases, colors, and quotes, thus leaving her viewers spellbound and wanting more.

An amazing concept illustration art by Dejaswini

Chaitanya Limaye: Chai, Crackers and Breathtaking art

Enter into the world of breathtaking artistry intricately coiled with exceptional digital artwork by Art of Chai, or the person behind the page, Chaitanya Limaye. 

Indeed a perfect name for an Instagram page, which viewers can enjoy with some chai, crackers, and mesmerizing depictions, helping viewers to lose themselves in a spiral of thoughts. Adding a creative sprinkle of mermaid illustrations to depictions of Dad as a superhero, Chaitanya uniquely expresses his empathic nature through his timeless illustrations. Rest assured; you’ll have some quality time on a breezy evening when you enter his art realm with a chai in hand with sixty-thousand other followers.

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Chaitanya Limaye, an inspiring Illustrator in India
An sketch by Chaitanya Limaye, an inspiring Illustrator in India

Order from the Best Illustrators in India Today!

Bhavya Desai: The Illustration Puzzle

Collage in a frame might be standard, but converting the whole page into a gigantic collage is a feat only a few talented illustrators in India, like Bhavya Desai, have accomplished. 

Illustrators often enjoy the freedom to perfectly convert their imaginations into depictions without constraints. However, Bhavya Desai is one such illustrator in India who combined his imagination to create art and arrange it on his constraint-specific Instagram wall, resulting in a visual treat. Such feats mark the ability of Bhavya to leverage pre-built designs and imaginations to create outwardly designs worthy of appreciation. While making his mark in several illustration arts, Bhavya’s artwork often depicts a sense of free-flowing messy yet beautiful watercolors.

 

An illustration being created by Bhavvya Desai, an inspiring Illustrator in India

Uday Mohite: Master of students and portraits

The master artsman and teacher who can convey stories through realistic portraits in real and digital formats is famously the Indian_Illustrator by more than seventy-thousand art lovers on Instagram. 

The visual odyssey, intricately crafted by Uday Mohite, is a treat for art and non-art lovers, as portraits made by the master are sure to catch the attention of every wandering eye on the social media platform. Even so, realistic portraits are just one piece of the puzzle, as Uday Mohite is also famous for creating banner illustrations, thus offering some stiff competition to digital artists online. However, be it a competing digital artist or an aspiring student, Uday Mohite is always ready to spread this unique talent through his classes. Indeed, one of the most promising illustrator in India!

 

An illustration by Uday Mohite, an inspiring Illustrator in India
An couple illustration by Uday Mohite, an inspiring Illustrator in India

Diah Chakraborty: Transitioning pens to timelessness

The transition of an ink spot to a line to create a timeless piece from the unending library of imagination is already creating waves in the illustration community. 

Nicknamed the ink_isto_paper, Diah Chakraborty has the uncanny ability to use pen and paper to convert her imagination into an exquisite yet simple artwork. Even so, Diah’s pen art is just the tip of the iceberg, as the community of more than twenty-thousand often tends to relive the past through Diah’s illustration of the traditional Indian lifestyle with a comic artwork style. 

Even though Diah loves creating children’s book illustrations, there’s no doubt that the young illustrator in Kolkata can add a unique color to mundane everyday life events in a fun way.

Be madly in love with what you do and do it, irrespective whether you do it full-time or on the side. And lastly simply have fun and enjoy the process.

Diah Chakraborty - An inspiring Illustrator in India

Ashwini: Illustrations, Stickers, and Quotes

Art never fails to mesmerize, but few arts often tend to leave a smirk on your face due to their mischievous and quirky nature. Such is the case for more than four thousand five hundred followers, who love to receive their daily dose of inspiration with sprinkles of humor. 

Ashwini, or the Grummpy Doodler, often sticks to the basics with simple designs with deep meaning. Unlike several illustrators in India, Ahwini likes to get creative by using various objects such as strings, cards, and stickers. Her knack for creating designs with objects and adding words with a fine spray of mischief always offers her viewers with laughs and amazement and the same time.

 

A card illustration by Ashwini, an inspiring Illustrator in India

Conceptualize Illustrations on Various Gifting Objects!

Shraddha Piche: Where Simplicity Meets Affirmations

Simple illustrations coupled with positive messages can often light up one’s day in a rather creative way. One such page named, Just_add_doodles came to life with this enlightening vision and now has a follower base of more than seventy-five thousand.

Doctor and counseling psychologist turned illustrator Shraddha Piche wavered from her traditional career route to enlighten the minds of content consumers through her creativity and positiveness. With a beautiful message stating, “I hope you get everything your heart desires”, Shraddha’s page reveals a simple and cheerful design, further enhanced through her minimalist illustrations and quotes. 

Next time, when you’re feeling lost, you know where to wander around!

A concept by Shraddha Piche, an inspiring Illustrator in India

Why buy Customized Illustrations From StonedSanta?

Selecting the perfect gift is a rewarding and daunting affair at the same time. With several options inside and outside the digital realm, making a choice gets tougher. However, could you imagine one of these illustrators sitting with you on the opposite end of the call, brainstorming to create the perfect gift for your loved ones?

These illustrators can add their spin to create the perfect gift, but they come with a specialty that no one can ever provide. Whether your loved one is having an eventful day or is resting on a calm Sunday morning, they’re sure to enter a blissful spiral of thoughts every time they see your gift. Is there a price you can put up for that smile and happiness?

StonedSanta is a custom gifting company made from this simple thought to gift happiness and memories for you and your loved ones without breaking the bank. With various options and experts to help you prepare the perfect gift, gifting has never been more effortless! 

Furthermore, with the express shipping options, the company has proven its efficacy in working under pressure to ensure your loved one is left with a beautiful smile that never fades for years to come. Fill in the form to join the community of more than 5000 happy customers who created their perfect gift with love from StonedSanta partnering with the best illustrators in India.

 

 

Looking for the perfect gift?

Look no more, our gift experts will get in touch with you and help you with all your requirements.

 

Interview with Komal Thoria, Portrait Artist

Interview with Komal Thoria, Portrait Artist

Komal Thoria is an illustrator, designer, and a freelance artist who has been a mentee to the highly respected Mr.Sadashiv Sawant, where she learnt the intricacies of applied arts, worked under him, assisted him with projects, to evolve as an artist, and be a guide to fellow artists, just like her mentor – Sadashiv Sawant. 

Komal has come a long way in her career. From working in a call center, and commissioning a portrait for just Rs. 250 to now charging as much as Rs. 15,000 for a portrait. She has seen it all, and evolved as an artist, and a professional who now has big plans for her future. 

In this interview we talk to Komal about her evolution as an artist, her dream projects and her message to fellow artists.

Komal_Thoria_Portrait_Artist_India

What’s your earliest memory of sketching?

The earliest memory that I have of sketching is when I was maybe 3 or 5 years old. My family realized that I had something in me when it came to sketching, I was naturally good at it. Since I was good at Maths my dad thought Science, or Commerce would be a suitable choice. After that, however, I failed in a couple of subjects. It was then that I realised that I wasn’t meant for this and so I took up Applied Arts and worked in a few production houses and different places. There I got the opportunity to learn and work under Sadashiv Sir.

Did you have any formal training in your formative years or was it just you figuring stuff out on your own?

It was my Mom who put me into tuition. There I got informal training for a couple of years. But mainly I used to recreate art using Youtube videos, and I have been a self-motivated learner since my childhood. My family left me on my own, they were not much concerned as long as I was doing something or the other. 

Komal_Thoria_India_drwaing

How did you transition to getting trained in a more formal setup?

I never felt like going to a fancy institute to learn Applied Arts, I wanted to be a part of an upcoming institute and actively contribute towards its growth. Hence I went to Asmita Applied art Academy, which was founded by Ashish sir. I’ve  learned a lot there but most of all I’ve enjoyed it a lot. It was there that I met Sadashiv Sir in a 3 day art workshop. 

Who has been your role model in this journey?

I’m still in the process of exploring myself and I want to make my own path. I guess that’s why my role Models keep changing. I Look up to Ashish sir and Sadashiv sir. Sadashiv Sir is like a father figure to me. I Love Sadashiv Sir’s observation skills, and that’s something which I want to learn, and incorporate more in my life. 

Over the years, you have made so many artworks, which one do you regard as your Masterpiece?

I’ve never really thought about it that way. I don’t know if I have a Masterpiece. Sadashiv Sir likes my Still Life artworks. I guess the Mountain sketch would be my best work. I have created a series on nurturance. I have done it a while back but haven’t posted it anywhere yet. I really like drawing hands for some reason. Like me and my grandmother’s, then me and my mother’s and then my father’s. I want to go deeper into this form of art, and I wonder how it’ll turn out.
How do you decide the price for your artworks?

So, the first portrait that I sold was for Rs.250. My first few clients weren’t particularly happy with my work. I took the criticism in a constructive way and identified my shortcomings. I wanted to improve, so I didn’t take any new orders for the next 6 months and I utilized this period to work on my shortcomings. After this, it got better, and I got a few foreign clients as well.

So, now I charge around 5-7k for an A4 sized portrait and around 10-15k for A3 portraits.
I know that if I take up a project, I will give my best. My clients also respect this and most clients don’t argue. I like such clients who respect the artist’s time, and their work.

Have you ever had to deal with clients who restrict your creativity?

There will always be a few clients who hamper your creativity but it’s not really their fault, they don’t perceive art the same way us artists do. Therefore, I always educate them about the process of creating art, and how I would be going about with the project, and most importantly the WHY aspect of it.

A lot of times, my clients want me to draw half a face or make a portrait out of random selfies. Now, this obviously won’t look good. I tell them quite frankly that there is significant money and effort involved on both our parts and the artwork that you’re paying me for is meant to be lifelong. Therefore it’s advisable that you select a proper image, rather than settling with poorly shot pictures, where either the photo isn’t well lit, or blurred.

A lot of clients ask me not to put my signature or even any trace of mine on the final parcel. I make it a point to charge extra to fulfill such demands.

Moreover, I have my personal projects that allow me to experiment, and style my artwork the way I want it to.

What’s your view on the much talked about ‘Artistic Temperament’?

I feel that creative temperament is necessary for an artist. Clients need to give artists the freedom that they require. Artists need that space and scope for creativity. I have had some arguments over this with my clients. On many occasions, clients give very tight deadlines. They need to understand that the work we do takes time, and if rushed, we are compromising on quality.

I, for one, like to take my time. I have also declined clients who wanted big orders within a couple of days. But when I do take up a project, I know that what I’ll give would be the best, and I have hardly had any clients who were dissatisfied with my work.

 

Over the years you may have worked with other artists. How has the experience been for you?

It has been an amazing experience. Everybody’s got their own beautiful journey, and perceptions. It has been fun sharing our experiences and to be able to be a part of someone else’s journey. One thing that I’ve realised after interacting with so many artists is that art is connected to freedom of expression. You need to be able to freely express your thoughts and feelings, if you want to progress as an artist.

How’s the role of a mentor for an artist different from being an artist?

I teach gesture drawing, realism, and I even share the common mistakes that artists usually commit early on. I speak about how your brain fools you while sketching. Once I start teaching I feel so energetic. A lot of students have approached me with questions after the workshop so I feel that maybe the workshop was good, and I think I am constantly evolving as a teacher.

Komal_Thoria_painting_for_home

How have your students fared ?

Well, I’ve seen amazing results. My students are quite talented and they’re doing really well. I just pat myself on the back when I see my students doing well. I’m a chilled out kind of a teacher. I try to be a friend, not a teacher. I’ve never felt the need of being too professional with them, and I’m always open to share my feelings

I feel my students have got a lot of potential. Some of them are as confused as I was when I started off. I help them correct their course, wherever I can so that they don’t make the same mistakes I made while I was learning, and evolving.

I’ve been teaching for almost 5 years now. I’ve taught older people as well. Their attitude of not giving up really inspires me. If someone at the age of 40-45 manages a family, a job and still makes time to pursue their interests and passion, that is something that truly inspires me. I get to learn a lot from my students.

What’s your take on Digital art ?

I don’t do a lot of digital art. Although I love handmade art, I plan to start doing digital art again. The main problem is that I’m not mindful while doing it. But, I know it is Important to know the basics of Digital Art. This year I plan to get a grip on my Digital Art skills. I have done a few digital caricatures recently but have kept them to myself, haven’t posted it anywhere, but let’s see how it goes.

Komal_Thoria_charcoal_art

Every artist has some idea of a dream project that they intend to work upon, what is your idea of a dream project?

I always wanted to make a big waterfall, maybe in my house.I don’t really know why I’m so fascinated with waterfalls. Maybe it’s the textures of a waterfall or the pounding of water which excites me. I want to make a big waterfall. This project will take the life out of me but yeah I’m excited. But as of now, I’m not really looking for a dream project, it’ll come with time. I’m more excited about small little things, at the moment.

What are some other things that you plan to do moving ahead?

I want to make people reconnect with art. Many of us do like to express ourselves through one art form or another, but not a lot of us pursue it. I wish to start with my mom who I feel is very creative. I want to give people hope. I want to be the booster in everybody’s lives. I do actually boost up people wherever I work. So spreading smiles, and joy through my art could be one of the things I’d want to continue doing.

Everyone is not able to follow their passion, let alone make a career out of it. What’s your message to those who intend to take this leap of faith on their passion?

I’d just like to say that you should be doing what you love, and that money isn’t everything. Once you realise who you are and what you’re meant to be just follow that dream. Independence comes from realizing one’s dreams. Find your purpose and work towards achieving it.

I’m always happy and dissatisfied because I always want to improve myself. That’s why I say that your dream is gonna make you happy. There’s no point running after luxuries, life is a journey. Just enjoy it, while you’re at it.

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Everything you need to know about Caricatures

Everything you need to know about Caricatures

Most Indians will relate to the cartoons of the common man by RK Laxman published in the Times of India, and the political cartoons that adorn the cover page to engage the readers, and present them with “News of the Day”. 

If we look carefully, it is easy to notice that the increasing popularity of caricatures stems from our ability to relate to them at a subconscious level.

As kids, it used to be fascinating to see large-headed, tiny body versions of so many renowned people from politicians to movie stars and recognize them despite their weird shapes. Most of us found out only much later, that this particular format and style is known as Caricature. In this article, I attempt to answer some of the questions you might have about caricatures. Let’s start with the basics.

Concept Digital Caricature for a client where the client wanted us to portray them as Shiva, and Parvati. 

 

Shiva parvathi  digital caricature - gifts for couples
Customised Caricatures - Unique gifts for friends

What is a caricature?

A caricature is a picture, description, or imitation of a person in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect.

If you too skipped through the dictionary definition, let us understand it in simpler words.

A caricature is a drawing of a real person with features dramatized absurdly to entertain or make fun of (all in good humor) of the person so drawn. Some ways for dramatization are an oversized nose, squinted eyes, really large or too small lips, etc.

In the words of caricaturist Greg Bigoni, “A caricature gets to the essence of who someone is and not just what they look like, but what their personality is”.

Concept caricature we made for a client who wanted a unique Mother’s day gift. 

How are caricatures made?

If you look at any caricature you’ll notice a pattern. In every caricature pretty much all of the features of a person’s face or body are artistically modified, yet one can still recognize that person, and this is something that makes the art of drawing a caricature so unique. 

One key element of drawing a good caricature is the ability to truly observe the key characteristics that define someone’s face. This is what is referred to as likeness. In other words, when we see a person, we see them just as we know them but a caricature artist can notice highlighting features of a person.

When caricature artists draw a person, they exaggerate the most prominent features and reduce the size of other features, bringing, even more, focus on the features they want to highlight. These along with a fine knowledge of how to balance overall distance, angle and proportions are few secrets of drawing caricatures.

Along with facial features, caricature artists also make use of how a person is shaped or holds them if they have any distinct props from tattoos to anything they carry with them in making the caricature really identifiable. Think of Abraham Lincoln’s Stovepipe hat, Mahatma Gandhi’s round spectacles, or Charlie Chaplin’s mustache. Staple associations like these, act as great props for fun caricatures.

Concept digital caricature we made for a client whose friend is an entrepreneur, and he wanted to surprise him with something really unique. 

Forbes Magazine themed Caricature - Personalized Caricature

What are the various types of caricatures?

While caricature as an art form is centuries old, there isn’t a standard form of classification of different types of caricatures. Here we will talk about two methods of classifying caricatures; based on style and based on the method of execution:

Classification based on style:

Portrait or definition This type of caricature relies on knowledge of sophistication of making a portrait and combining it with the knowledge of creating comical effect through inflation and deflation of features.

Satire This form is most commonly used in political cartoons. It makes use of not just physical or personality traits but also draws attention to statements by such politicians. The purpose of such caricatures is more often than not to bring attention to political issues of the time.

Grotesque – As the name suggests, in this style, the face of a person is unnaturally distorted to make it look ugly. Grotesque art was the earliest form of distorted drawings which evolved later into caricatures.

Classification based on the execution method:

Traditional Caricatures This is how caricatures started and charcoal, pencil, pen, and ink drawings were the methods that were used. These are the tools that are used by street artists across the world for an instant sketch. So next time, when you visit Paris, remember to ask the artist if he is going to draw a portrait or a caricature of you 😉

Digital Caricatures– Graphics programs like adobe illustrator are numerous drawing tablets are becoming more and more popular these days. Digital caricature comes with the advantage of offering richness in color and feel of caricature making them an excellent option for gifting your friends or as digital wedding caricature invitations.

How much time does it take to make a caricature?

The old idiom, “The devil is in the details”, does not have a better suitor than this question. A professional caricaturist can make a sketched caricature of a person’s face in even under 5 minutes. However, the more details you add like body structure, surroundings, colors, etc., the longer it can take. 

A hand-painted caricature with portrait-like details can take as much as two days. In short, it boils down to the intricacies of each piece that is being made.

What is the process of getting a caricature made?

There are two ways in which an artist makes a caricature –

1. Live Caricatures – Live caricatures are drawn for a live audience in real time. Live caricatures are less common and you’ll see street artists only in very few cities and tourist spots. Live caricatures are a hit or miss experience for most people because you can not check the artist’s previous work.

Working on Live caricatures is very challenging for the artist, and usually, live caricature artists are hired for corporate events and weddings.

2. Drawing a caricature from a picture, and presenting a custom theme – Most caricature artists these days practice creating caricatures in their free time where they are free to think and act creatively on a project without the constraint of time, and expectations.
For example – When you select an artist from us at Stoned Santa there is a certain process the artist will follow to bring life to the ideas as specified by our clients –

  • Our caricature artist requests reference pictures of the subject, ideally clear front-facing pictures with a clearly visible face, and other facial features

     

  • Based on the picture received, and the desired theme in which the caricature is to be made, the artist recommends suitable styles, and color combinations best suited for the provided story, and reference pictures.

     

  • Once the artist starts working, they share the work in progress with our clients, and we seek feedback to further improve the caricature.

     

  • Post completion, the work is shared with the clients, and upon approval, the digital files are shared with the clients. 

How to hire a Caricature artist?

If you are thinking of getting a birthday caricature for your friend at work or a digital wedding caricature for your special day, you can find a caricature artist that suits your requirements and pocket at Stoned Santa.
There are many independent artists who can draw one for you as per your specification, but Stoned Santa makes it very easy to find a reliable and experienced caricature artist for you no matter which part of the world you need your caricature to be delivered.

If you want to hire a caricature artist from Stoned Santa, all you need to do is fill up this form, and our gifting experts will reach out to you.

how to order couple caricature

What is the cost of a caricature?

Art is subjective and so are the prices for any art piece. As vague as it may sound the prices of a digital caricature are dependent on factors like – 

1. The number of people or characters to be drawn – This includes humans, pets, and any other objects such as monuments, and buildings that are to be drawn with precision, and care.

2. Experience & Work Portfolio – Senior artists with years of experience, and expertise may charge 10 times than that of a beginner who’s just begun their journey as an artist. There are many caricature artists in India, and the costs vary dynamically from artist to artist.

3. The style to be chosen – Physically made caricatures cost more than digitally made caricatures. Often, the artists offer varying levels of detailing in their caricatures, which is a big factor in determining the costs.

4. Time Required – If clients have an urgent requirement, in such cases the artists usually charge a higher price, but if the timeline isn’t a problem in such cases it’s easier for the artists to accommodate their requests, and the artists usually offer discounts. 

couple caricature frames

Usage of caricatures

A caricature is a historical form of art. Caricaturists have been using this form to draw attention to political issues through political satires and to show their admiration of people they admire across fields. 

From being used as a medium by artists, and poets to voice people’s opinions on newspapers, and magazines to being used as digital wedding invites, and gift for bosses, Caricatures as an art form has evolved to cater to the gifting requirements of individuals, and companies. 

At Stoned Santa, we help you create unique caricatures that are designed as per your choices, in the timeframe that you desire.

Book your personalized caricature only at Stoned Santa.

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