The Small Picture: Stuck in the Middle

New small picture for Manta Ray. Based on a thought from about two years ago.

Disclaimer: All matchboxes featured in this comic are based on real life matchboxes. None were harmed in the making of this TSP.

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An edited version of 'The Small Picture : Stuck in the Middle' was first published in Mint, on May 9, 2014

The Small Picture: B.M.O.

My first Small Picture for Manta Ray. Evidently, the obsession continues.

For a higher resolution, go here>>

'The Small Picture : B.M.O.' first appeared in Mint, on Feb 14, 2014

Hidden in Plain Sight

People and their interactions, both with each other and with a space, make for some wonderful observations. Veils have a curious presence in a public space. Do they actually hide a woman or do they make her more conspicuous? Is visibility - or lack of it - a choice that we consciously make? These are simple everyday vignettes, seen while nursing a cup of chai by a window, or as an idle passerby on the street.

With this set of illustrations, I've explored a technique of layering (and removing) colour and black oil pastel crayons. This treatment is something I have wanted to try out on a full illustration for a while now and the technique lends itself perfectly to the theme - an absolute black is scratched away to reveal a scene around black shrouded women, who appear to be Hidden in Plain Sight.

Afternoon Conversations
14 x 9 in / Oil Pastel Crayons / Available*

Eating Out
14 x 9 in / Oil Pastel Crayons

September Ice Lollies
14 x 9 in / Oil Pastel Crayons

Missed Call - Missed Call
14 x 9 in / Oil Pastel Crayons

Waiting for Any Bus
14 x 9 in / Oil Pastel Crayons / Available*

Window Shopping
14 x 9 in / Oil Pastel Crayons

Hidden in Plain Sight was exhibited at Kynkyny Art Gallery as part of My Cup of Tea, our first exhibition as the Illustrator's Collective. This showcase has been special; apart from the fact that I got to exhibit my work at a gallery with three other talented friends, these illustrations are the biggest ones I have done entirely by hand.

Write to me at halftonelemon(at)gmail(dot).com for pricing.
For more on our processes and inspirations, head over here.

Check out Kalyani's stories behind Memory Box, her illustrations for My Cup of Tea.

The Wildings Festival: Part 2

A few months ago, I participated in Mirror of the Open Road, an exhibition of works by 23 artists as part of The Wildings Festival in London.

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It been over one hundred years since the suffragettes fought for the right to vote. The world can change many times over in that sort of time. But for some reason, an idea as simple as women's rights is still an ongoing struggle in many countries, including India.

The voices and actions of many women over several years has brought us where we are today, slightly better than our predecessors. Yet we still seem to be fighting the same battles. On the streets. At work. At home. These are vignettes of some of those everyday fights I see around me, where I live.

The three pieces take inspiration from the colours of the suffragette movement – purple, white and green – and re-imagine what they might mean in today's world.

'Privilege'

'Purity'

'Body'

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Mixed media (gouache, photo inks, pencil and pen) / 18.8 x 27.7cm

The Wilding Festival: Part 1

Earlier this year, Akhila had invited me to participate in 'Mirror of the Open Road' - an exhibition that is part of the multi-arts Wilding Festival. The event commemorates the memory of Emily Wilding Davison, a suffragette who gave up her life for the movement a 100 years ago.

28 artists from 8 countries are participating in the exhibition, which is at St. George's Church, London. I'm terribly excited to be a part of this, and really wish I could be there.

More images of my entry in a later post.

People in London, do visit the festival! :)


Mirror of the Open Road is open from 13th to 16th June, 2013. More details here.