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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.

 

Stick-ing to comics with Ramya Sriram, the creator of Tap comics

Stick-ing to comics with Ramya Sriram, the creator of Tap comics

Stick-ing to comics with Ramya Sriram

Ramya Sriram is a prolific writer, story-teller and the creator of “Tap Comics”. She creates minimalist yet impactful comics through simple stick figures. She says that she’s “stick-figuring” out her life. From lighthearted everyday topics to social issues, her anecdotal comics send a strong message.

She believes being truly and madly in love with your work can take you a long way. Read on more to find out what inspired her to create these thoughtful comics.

Art can be perceived differently by different people. How do you perceive art?

I think for me art has always been a way of processing the world and a means to express the result of that processing. Art has been an emotional crutch. Most of us turn to some kind of art when we’re feeling lowa good song, a book, a painting, a movie etc. I see art as a form of communication, a language, something that connects people. It’s also liberation for the artist!

Your Illustrations are so minimalistic, yet send a very strong message. What inspires you to do these?

I didn’t really plan on doing minimalistic illustrations or telling stories through stick figures. I used to draw and paint a lot as a kid, and I started doing quick comics for friends while I was in college. One thing led to another and I found that I really enjoyed making minimalistic comics.

I think one of the reasons many of the comics have some kind of a strong message is because it came from some trigger— I saw something that upset/inspired me, or I felt the need to vocalize my feelings about a topic. The emotion behind it is usually quite intense so I suppose that is reflected in the outcome.  I quite enjoy trying to say a lot in a few lines.   

Can you run us through your thought process while brainstorming for artistic inspirations?

Inspiration comes really easy– there’s SO much fuel all around! A lifetime isn’t enough to capture it all. Whether you’re appreciating a birdsong or rebelling against a politician,  there’s a lot to talk about.  A wealth of material both externally and inside our own heads. 

If an idea strikes, I usually jot it down so now I have a long list of ideas to work through. Earlier, I used to draw very impulsively: if I felt something, I would put it out there. But now I’m learning to wait and add some more flesh to the story, and refine it before I put it out. There is no conscious brainstorming for artistic inspirations, usually the idea is already there or half-there. 

How have criticisms helped you shape your career?

When I started drawing, there was very little criticism (or maybe I didn’t notice it in my excitement haha!). I was really impulsive and spontaneous, I just drew these stories for fun, without expecting anything. I remember when I got my first commission, a friend of mine was really surprised: “Someone’s going to pay you for that?” I was more amused than hurt. I took criticism very lightly.

But some criticism has helped me rethink the way I approach my work. I’ve often also been told to try another drawing style and experiment a bit more, which is something I’m still working on. Many people find stick figures a bit too cutesy, and I try to be careful while putting out a comic addressing a serious topic. I’m a bit of a brooder, so criticism stays with me for a long time. Sometimes I’ve asked people for feedback, and their honesty has been refreshing and has prompted me to take my work more seriously.

How has your perception changed after illustrating for such a long time?

I think I’ve learnt to accept myself a lot more through my work. I still find myself in an existential crisis now and then, but I think running The Tap gives me a huge sense of purpose. I’ve also realized that it’s important to periodically step back and assess your own work, without getting caught in the madness of social media attention and falling into the same repetitive loop because that’s what people like. While earlier I used to shy away from topics I found challenging, I’m now seeking those out actively to push myself. I also think it’s important to give yourself and your work time to evolve.


Have you collaborated with any other artists and brands, if yes how was this experience?

I haven’t worked on a very long collaborative series so far but would love to. I am particularly interested in working with NGOs and organizations that are working with issues such as childhood trauma or making women self-sufficient especially in India. One thing I frequently struggle with is that my work mostly reaches the same or same kind of people, and I’m curious to try something entirely new for a different kind of audience.

Have you ever faced a creative block? If yes, how do you get over it?

Writing comes naturally to me, so if I’m struggling with something, I try to put words to it first. It helps to distance yourself from your idea so I try to go for a long walk and get a change of scene. Sometimes it’s nice to let an idea sit and revisit it again after weeks. I think it also helps to not be too hard on yourself as self-created pressure can really affect your mental health//productivity which in turn affects your work. Helps to lighten up!

If you could go back in the past and change a decision that you made, what would it be?

None! From doing engineering to abandoning an MBA, from academic publishing to advertising, I’m very grateful I’ve had such a wonky career path. I’ve had an incredibly supportive family who’ve been very encouraging: my dad helped run my stall at the Comic Cons and he was quite the hero. I can’t think of anything at all I’d change in the past.

How important is traveling for an artist? Do you seek inspiration from every place you visit?

I love travelling and I find a lot of stories in every new place I visit. But I hesitate to say that it’s very important for an artist. Many people simply can’t afford to go traipsing around the country or the world. Sometimes a good story is just outside your window so it helps to be observant.

I think what’s more important is to travel in your head, to read a variety of books, ‘feel’ a variety of emotions. I personally also believe that one of the most important things is to be open to meeting new and different kinds of people, something which has really helped me grow. Getting a peak into somebody else’s head and listening to their experiences can be very enriching.

If you were to learn a new art-form, which one would it be?

There are so many! I think I would enjoy making minimalistic wire sculptures. I’m very curious to explore abstract art, especially through watercolours. I’ve also wanted to try animation for a really long time but that’s a considerable time investment. Someday!

What advice would you give for the upcoming artists?

Don’t chase likes and shares! A lot is that many upcoming artists try to imitate somebody who’s popular especially on Instagram. One of the things that can really speak for you in your art is honesty and originality, so be true to yourself. Honesty can go a long way. A lot of art is deeply personal so pick things you believe in and what you want to talk about through whatever medium you use.

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.

What are your thoughts on Stoned Santa?

It looks like a brilliant platform! I’ve worked on a lot of custom art especially wedding invitations and gifts and I simply love how excited the gift-er is throughout the process and how thrilled the recipient is when they see the gift. It makes the artist feel like you really matter, and that your work does mean something. And of course, custom handmade gifts are great as that’s what makes people feel really special. It’s lovely to have something that you will treasure for life, many of these art pieces typically see major life events, house moves etc. It’s like the artwork is now going travelling on a journey of its own 🙂  

 

Looking for the perfect gift?

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

 

10 Digital Artists in India

10 Digital Artists in India

What is Digital art?

Today, the world is defined through technology, and Digital art is a part of it. Digital artwork can be defined as any artistic creation that incorporates technology and digital media as an integral part of its creative process. 

Anything produced using digital media and devices like animations, illustrations, video animations, portraits, caricatures, and many more can be classified as Digital artwork. 

People who create these magnificent pieces of art are known as Digital Artists. Everything goes in the spectrum of Digital Artworks and Digital paintings, from AI-generated art to digital photography, computer graphics and pixel art.

Typically, digitally created art can be used to create advertisements, Graphic designs, animations, videos, movies and much more.  But digital art is not limited to high-end commercial use; we can use digital illustrators and software to produce personalised art, digital portraits, caricatures, and e-invites to weddings and other events.

Stoned Santa brings you a network of incredibly talented digital artists to take your pick from. Every artist with Stoned Santa is a master of their craft and can help you cherish your memories forever. 

 

couple caricature frames

Neha Sharma- Digital artist, animator and story-teller 

Neha Sharma, famously known as Neha Doodles, is a freelance digital artist, animator and storyteller. She gave up her studies in CA to pursue her creative dreams. She boasts a following of over 3 Lakh followers on her Instagram page.

As a digital artist, she has been published on various digital platforms like Huffington Post, The Delhi Times, Times of India, Cosmopolitan etc. Her digital paintings are in the form of doodles, animations and intricate illustrations. 

She uses bold colours throughout her designs and has collaborated with brands like Dunkin Donuts, The Body Shop, Costa Coffee and many others. 

 Her speciality lies in the ability to illustrate real-life stories and characters in digital art, which makes her work stand out!

Neha Doodles making digital art

Akanksha Agnihotri- Illustrator, Animator and Digital artist

Akanksha Agnihotri is a Delhi-based freelance artist with a following of over 1 Lakh on Instagram. She has worked with companies like Google, Amazon, Times of India and many more.

 Her work has been published in various children’s books as well. Her Digital art is mainly in the form of cartoon illustrations and involves drawing cartoon portraits of real-life people and mythological deities as babies. She also creates motivational digital illustrations on topics like Monday motivation, friendship etc. 

She creates beautiful wedding cartoon caricatures of people to use as wedding gifts or wedding mementoes. Her art is a reminiscence of youth, happiness and motivation, making her Instagram page enticing and engaging.

akanksha agnihotri;s digital art

Chetan- Caricature artist, illustrator, and animator

Chetan is a Yogi and an outstanding digital artist specialising in caricatures and animations. His digital illustrations revolve around creating animations or caricatures of famous movie characters, both Hollywood and Bollywood. and anime characters. He also shows his Digital art skills by creating animated versions of Hindu mythological gods and scenes from Hindu Festivals. 

His artwork is perfect to put on personalised cards and invitations. His digital caricatures can be made into posters to hang on our walls or to gift someone a digitally made personalised piece of art they will love.

He has been working with Stoned Santa for the past 4 years and has created some fantastic digital personalised and fan art pieces

Shailly Gajjar- Illustrator, Comic Artist and digital invites

Shailly Gajjar, a digital artist who initially set out to become an engineer, decided to give it up and follow her dream path in graphic design. She was introduced to the field when she decided to design her wedding card, which has now become her full-time job. 

She has been able to form her own niche and style amongst all digital artists. Her artwork concentrates on Digital invites for weddings, family events and any other occasion. She also specialises in creating personalised portraits, which are guaranteed to put a massive smile on the person who receives her artwork.

Since her start, she has collaborated with various big-name brands like Snickers, Google India and many more.

 

shailly gajjar digital art illustration

Abhishek Samal- Digital Portraits

Abhishek Samal is a digital creator who is brilliant at creating not only Hyper-realistic Portraits and artwork but also breathtaking Digital art pieces and illustrations. He uses digital art software known as Procreate, to develop such enigmatic art pieces. 

His digital artwork mainly consists of portraits of famous movie stars, sportspeople, singers etc. He takes his inspiration from Hollywood and Bollywood and draws the character as he sees them.

His Digital portraits bring out the character’s inner emotions on their face. He has created his niche in the market by appealing to the various fandoms of movies, famous people and comics. 

He also creates personalised hyper-realistic portraits of real-life people on commissions. His artwork will leave your mouth wide open in amazement and surprise. His Instagram page and Youtube channel are a testament to his unique digital artwork.

abhishek Samal drawing a digital illustration of Lord Shiva

Priyanshi Dhawan- Personalised portraits & E-invites

Priyanshi Dhawan is a Lucknow-based artist who started her design studio, “Designs by Inaara,” with her elder sister Divi Dhawan. They decided to pursue their dreams of creating digital art during the Pandemic and saw a need for digital wedding invites. Since then, they have been growing rapidly in their niche.

They specialise in personalised wedding invitations and e-invites for all occasions, from birthdays to formal events. They also create personalised digital portraits with bespoke backgrounds and clothes. Clients can order their invitations as static, video, or animated invitations.

Their artwork celebrates their clients and helps them to cherish their memories. 

designs by inaara digital invitation illustration

Anirudha Lele- Illustrator and concept and caricature artist

Anirudha Lele is a freelance caricature digital artist based in Ahmedabad, Gujrat. As a digital caricature artist, his artwork revolves around his clients’ requirements. He creates intricate pieces of exaggerated personalised caricatures, and he can also create an illustration or caricature that is simple and cartoonish.

He makes digital caricatures of Hindu mythological deities, famous movie characters and representations of various favourite shows etc. He is also a published Children’s books illustrator.

His Instagram page will leave you wanting more with his realistic, intricate pieces or artwork.

Aniruddha Lele digital illustration for children's books.

Niharika Singh- Illustrator, Digital Artist and Educator

Niharika Singh is a freelance digital artist who specialises in Personalised Digital portraits, Invitations and is also a Children’s books illustrator. Niharika Singh is not only an artist but also an educator. 

She comes up with intensive courses on how to make personalised digital art like her. In her workshops, she also teaches the use of various digital art software like Procreate and trains students in concept design and character development. 

Looking at her Instagram page, anyone can tell that nobody captures a moment like she does through her artwork. She creates pieces based on movies, shows and real people.

Niharika SIngh, DIgital artist and illustrator

Shweta Singh- Wedding Card Specialist and Educator

Shweta Singh is a freelance Digital artist specialising in Digital Wedding Invites and invitations for other occasions. Her artworks are incredibly intricate and full of minute details. Every piece she creates is unique and moulded to suit her client’s requirements. She is known for her realism and minute detailing in clothes and backgrounds.

She is also an educator and releases tutorial videos and workshop classes to teach people how to create digital art pieces. The scope of her artworks ranges from subtle to absolutely extravagant.

 

Shweta Singh's digital art illustrations

Ankita J Mehta- Digital illustrator

 Ankita is an exquisite freelance Digital artist, well known for her powerful works displaying femininity and women. Her art revolves around celebrating Indian culture and women. Beyond this, she also specialises in wedding illustrations and digital fan art. 

Her digitally created art stands out because her illustrations of women are as powerful as they are delicate and as enchanting as they are enigmatic. She can capture the essence of a strong Indian woman in all her digital illustrations and paintings.

Ankita Mehta sitting down to make her digital illustrations and art using her digital devices

Are you considering obtaining a custom Digital art for a friend, colleague or your family?  

Look no further; Stoned Santa brings you a vast network of incredibly talented Digital artists in India. We are here to string together your memories and dreams so you can cherish them forever. 

Stoned Santa has been a quintessential part of the handmade personalised gift, art and decor industry for over 5 years. The artists with Stoned Santa have successfully created over thousands of Digital Art paintings for wedding gifts, corporate events, home decor and much more and have delivered them on time all over the world.

Through Stoned Santa, You may discover various artists who are proficient and connoisseurs of different art forms who will meet your needs and budget and deliver your Digital portraits and paintings within your time frame.

 Stoned Santa makes it incredibly simple to find a trustworthy and professional artist for you according to your specifications!

Looking for the perfect gift?

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

 

Sharks, Shark Tank and their Caricatures

Sharks, Shark Tank and their Caricatures

What is a Caricature?

Shark Tank India is a popular television show that provides a platform for entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas and products to a panel of angel investors known as “sharks” to secure funding and mentorship. Not only has this show made Indians fall in love with the idea of entrepreneurship, but it has also revived the Kaun Banega Crorepati golden era of television when every Indian family would come together to watch a specific show.

Shark Tank India showcases innovative and creative business ideas from diverse industries. However, what sets the Indian version apart is its focus on local and regional markets. This makes Shark Tank India an exciting and dynamic platform for showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit and India’s vibrant and diverse culture.

shark tank caricature collage

What are Couple Caricatures?

Shark tank features self-made multi-millionaires as potential investors termed as Sharks. They judge the product pitches and decide whether to invest and mentor them.

The sharks have a wide range of expertise and experience in different industries. They bring their unique perspectives and investment potential to the show. Their interactions with contestants can be insightful and entertaining. Shark Tank India is a must-watch show for anyone interested in entrepreneurship and business.

As a Start-up itself, Stoned Santa, appreciates the difference that the “Sharks” of Shark Tank are making in the India Start-Up economy. 

Welcome to our Caricature Shark Tank blog series, where we explore everything about the sharks, shark tank and their caricatures. 

Let’s Meet the Sharks:

1) Anupam Mittal

Anupam Mittal, born in Mumbai in 1974, is an Indian entrepreneur and investor best known for founding Shaadi.com, one of the world’s largest matrimonial websites. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Mumbai before pursuing a Master’s degree in management from Boston University.

Anupam Mittal founded Shaadi.com in 1997, which quickly became a popular platform for people seeking marriage alliances. Over time, Shaadi.com grew into a massive business, with over 35 million users and offices in India, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Apart from his enormous success with Shaadi.com, he founded the People Group, a parent company that owns Shaadi.com, Makaan.com and the Moj video app.

His success has made him a prominent figure in India’s startup ecosystem. He is an active investor and mentor to many other start-up entrepreneurs.

Through Shark Tank India, he has invested in various startups like:

Beyond Shark Tank, Anupam Mittal has invested in other big startups like TradeX, BharatX, Big Basket and many others. He has invested in more than 200 companies over the years. 

Mittal’s contributions to India’s startup ecosystem and his commitment to social impact have made him a respected figure in the country’s business community. He continues to be involved in various projects and initiatives to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in India and beyond.

In his caricature by Stoned Santa’s artist, his facial expression and features are exaggerated to make him look serious and successful. His clothes and the background of the image are personalised to his real-life fashion choices and the work that he does.

 

Shark anupam personalised caricature

2) Namita Thapar

Namita Thapar, was born on 21 March 1977 in Pune city of, Maharashtra to a Gujarati family. She is a prominent Indian entrepreneur who has made a name for herself in the business world through her astute investments and entrepreneurial mindset. 

She is the Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, one of India’s leading pharmaceutical companies. 

Namita Thapar is a well-known name, especially when discussing progressive women in business in India. She is an inspiration to women all over the world.. Her presence on the television show Shark Tank, India is endearing and inspires many aspiring entrepreneurs.

Some start-ups she has invested in through Shark Tank India are

And many more…

Namita Thapar is a successful entrepreneur and businesswoman who has made significant contributions to the growth of the Indian economy. Her investment role as a “Shark” on Shark Tank has earned her a reputation of a savvy investor and a dynamic leader. Her entrepreneurial mindset, strategic vision, and passion for supporting innovative ideas continue to drive her success in the business world.

In her caricature by Stoned Santa’s artist, her facial expression and features are exaggerated to amplify her inspiring, warm and welcoming characteristics. Her clothes and the image’s background are also tailored to her real-life fashion choices and to show that she is the head of Emcure Pharmaceuticals.

3) Aman Gupta

Aman Gupta was born on 4 March 1982 in Delhi. He received his Chartered Accountant certificate from India’s Institutes of Chartered Accountants. He also completed his second Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

He is the co-founder and Marketing Director of Boat Lifestyle, an Indian consumer electronics company that specialises in manufacturing and selling audio devices and lifestyle accessories. He started his entrepreneurial journey in 2016 by launching his brand, which has become one of India’s leading audio and lifestyle accessories, gaining a whopping share of 27.3% in the Indian market. 

It is impossible not to come across a Boat lifestyle accessory when shopping for an audio device in India. His vision for Boat was to create affordable yet high-quality products that catered to the needs of the Indian consumer. He focused on building an affordable brand with premium and luxury features.

Aman Gupta is the OG start-up wiz that every entrepreneur looks up to. Beyond building his very successful start-up into a successful business, he heavily contributes to the Indian Startup culture through his role as a Shark in the famous television show Shark tank, India.

Some companies that he has invested in during the show are:

And many more…

In his caricature, by Stoned Santa, his smile is exaggerated to show off his happy and funny nature on show. The Caricature is personalised with his clothing, iconic glasses, and background.

4) Amit Jain

Amit Jain founded CarDekho, an Indian online car search and reviews portal that allows users to research, compare, and buy cars. Jain’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2007 when he and his brother Anurag Jain started the company.

CarDekho quickly became a popular platform among Indian car buyers, offering comprehensive services that included reviews, comparisons, and financing options. 

In addition to his success as an entrepreneur, he has gained popularity as a judge on Shark Tank India. His expertise in the startup ecosystem and his experience as an entrepreneur help aspiring entrepreneurs refine their ideas and secure funding.

Some companies that he has invested in during the show are:

He has made the largest offer, Shark Tank, India has ever seen. He offered 5 Crores to Pitcher Ankit Aggarwal, founder of start-up Unstop.

In his caricature by Stoned Santa, His hair and beard are the featured elements. His wardrobe is personalised to show savvy dress sense. The background of the caricature is personalised to show the company’s logo CarDekho.

Amit Jain personalised caricature

5) Ashneer Grover

Ashneer Grover, born June 14, 1982, is the ex-co-founder of the famous fintech company, BharatPe. He is the man who organised the unorganised sector of payments in India.

His vision was to create a platform that made it easy for merchants to accept digital payments. BharatPe has proliferated, becoming one of India’s leading digital payment providers. The company offers a range of services, including UPI payments, QR code payments, and instant loans, all designed to help small businesses grow and succeed.

Ashneer Grover was also seen in the first season of Shark Tank, India, through which his popularity rose instantly. His expertise in the fintech industry and experience building successful startups helped aspiring entrepreneurs refine their ideas and secure funding during the first season.

Some companies that he has invested in during the show are:

In his personalised caricature made by Stoned Santa, his face is the most exaggerated feature to show off his quirky and witty personality. His clothes, eyeglasses and hair are all featured whimsically to bring out his quirky personality in the image.

Ashneer Grover personalised digital caricature

6) Ghazal Alagh

Ghazal Alagh was born in Gurgaon, Haryana, India. She with her husband co-founded their company “MamaEarth”. it is one of the fastest-growing Indian Toxin-free Beauty and Baby care brands. 

She co-founded Mamaearth, driven by the passion for making early parenting stress-free. Ghazal is responsible for product development and community management. She works closely with many mothers to develop a product line that addresses problems that moms face daily. 

After creating her very successful beauty and baby care brand, Ghazal Alagh now concentrates on investing and helping other start-up businesses that have problem-solving visions like hers.

Some companies that she has invested in during the show are:

Ghazal Alagh inspires all women and all the new mothers in the country. She has made baby care products affordable and accessible to all mothers. 

In her personalised caricature made by Stoned Santa, her beautiful hair are featured element. The artist has brought out her soothing and caring personality through her caricature. The background of the caricature is personalised with MamaEarth’s logo.

Ghazal alagh personalised caricature

7) Peyush Bansal

Peyush Bansal co-founded Lenskart with Amit Chaudhary, and Sumeet Kapahi in Nov 2010, and ever since their inception – Lenskart has served millions of customers and is the goto brand for Indians to get eyewear. 

Peyush Bansal is a fantastic entrepreneur known as a tech guru and an inspiration to many aspiring entrepreneurs. He is a firm believer in purpose-driven business. His vision for building Lenskart was to provide vision to every Indian.

Peyush Bansal is one of the most loved Sharks on Shark Tank, India. He is known to invest in businesses with a purpose and a vision to improve the country. He is someone who believes in social entrepreneurship the most.

Some of the companies that he has invested in during the show are:

And many more…

Peyush Bansal and Lenskart are among the most trusted names in the Eyewear industry.

His smile and glasses are the two most amplified elements in his personalised caricature made by Stoned Santa. These elements show his work in the eyewear industry and his approachable and loveable personality. The background of the caricature is also personalised to display the logo of Lenskart.

Peeyush Bansal personalised caricature

8) Vineeta Singh

Vineeta Singh was born in Anand, Gujarat. She is the CEO and co-founder of Sugar Cosmetics. She established Sugar by making it accessible, affordable, and ideal for the Indian skin. Sugar Cosmetics has a cult following among millennials in the country.

She is not only a successful entrepreneur but also an inspiration to many young women across the globe. Vineeta Singh and her work with Sugar Cosmetics have put India on the global map. Through Sugar Cosmetics, she was able to break into an industry that was already saturated with big names and foreign brands. 

Vineeta Singh is a testament to what perseverance and self-belief can do for an individual. Even after facing various failures, she kept on with her dream and achieved it.

Vineeta Singh has gained mainstream recognition and popularity after her appearance as a Shark in Shark tank, India. She is known to invest in creative businesses with the same feeling of perseverance as her. 

Vineeta Singh, with her brand Sugar Cosmetics, is revolutionising the makeup industry and contributing to India’s start-up scene.

Her makeup and hair are amplified and exaggerated in her personalised caricature drawn by Stoned Santa to show her makeup brand and bring out her creative personality. The background of the caricature is personalised to display the logo of Sugar Cosmetics as well.

Vineeta Singh Personalised caricature

The judges or “sharks” of Shark Tank, India, play a critical role in the show’s success. Their experience and negotiation skills make them valuable mentors and investors for aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere. They provide valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship, helping to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. The Sharks of Shark Tank, India, have become icons in the business world.

Stoned Santa is a start-up with a vision to revolutionise the gifting culture in India. We are all about bespoke and personalised art that is meaningful, affordable and accessible to every Indian. We create artwork that cherishes important moments and creates new memories. 

Stoned Santa has been a quintessential part of the handmade personalised gift, art and decor industry for over five years. The artists with Stoned Santa have successfully created thousands of handcrafted and digitally curated caricatures for corporate events, couples, weddings, and home decor and have delivered them on time worldwide.

Stoned Santa makes it incredibly simple to find a trustworthy and professional artist according to your specifications!

Looking for the perfect gift?

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