milgayi style diary

Artistically Inclined – Shachi Kale

Time for another dosage of artistic goodness.  Meet Shachi Kale – a Mumbaikar at heart, a graphic designer and an eternal doodler.   I have been an ardent admirer of her work ever since our school days.  Shachi`s love affair with art began at the tender age of seven, under a local artist named Vijoo Sadwelkar.   Hailing from a book loving family, she always knew she was going to become a children’s book illustrator. 

After quitting her job at a local ad agency, she and her friend branched out and formed their own design studio named Ka Designs.  This gave her the opportunity to illustrate her first children's book series.  She then worked for a couple of fun clients such as MTV and Sony Music.  Subsequently, marriage followed and she moved to Arizona where she had the good fortune of working on nine children's books including 'At the Firehouse with Dad' for Bee bop Books, and the Rowdy Raccoon series for Sable Creek Press. 

Shachi`s work stems from the heart and her illustrations depict a certain caliber of rich visual imagery drawn from traditional Indian art.   We recently caught up with her and here are some excerpts from our conversation:

When did you first start to paint?

I've been drawing and painting ever since I can remember.  My earliest memory is sitting in a rapidly emptying classroom, busy drawing, while the other kids were for some reason unsupervised and escaping through a large ground floor window!

Do you dabble in any other form of creative works?

I am a graphic designer by training, so I can use my illustration skills coupled with my design sensibilities and apply art to a whole lot more than just painting.   I have tried my hand at ceramics and enjoyed that tremendously, however I would love to sink my teeth into creating three dimensional art...not just art on a canvas. 

What story do you wish to tell; each time you hold the brush?

Most of my works are autobiographical.  My recent works focus on my journey from India to life here in the United States - finding my wings, putting down roots and a whole lot of internal dialogue.

Who are your favorite artists?

I am an avid collector of children's books. Some of my favorite artists are Alice & Martin Provensen, Arthur Rackham, Jessie Wilcox Smith, Roberto Innocenti  just to name a few.   But my most favorite and inspiring author/illustrator is the whimsical, eccentric and dark Edward Gorey

Are you working on anything currently?

I am currently working on a series of paintings which I hope to exhibit sometime in the near future.   I am also illustrating a whole line of personalized stationary and room decor products that can be gifted or used in a child's room. I hope to have my product available online soon!

What are your future plans?

My future plans are to keep painting and experimenting. To get the opportunity to do some exciting children's book projects and to never stop learning and trying to do more and better.

 
If you want to see more of her lovely work, go here!!

Artistically Inclined – Meet San Francisco Artist, Namita Kapoor

At Milgayi, we are always on the look out for the next new thing in lifestyle - be it home décor, fashion, a trendy store or, in this case, a budding artist.  On that note, we would like to share with you a quick dose of artistic goodness brought to us by Bay Area artist Namita Kapoor.  This 29 year old San Franciscan native displays the kind of potential that makes her artistic advancement exciting to watch. Her main appeal is her unconventionality. She is charmingly modest, endearingly polite and unarguably talented.  We recently caught up with her as she sets to feature her latest works “Karma Chromatic” at Bo Concept in San Francisco this month. 

 

 

When did you first start to paint? Do you dabble in any other form of creative works?

I can't remember when I first started because the act of making art has been instinctive throughout my life.  My parents remember me as a child in my room drawing for hours on end. I have always been actively working on creative projects, exploring different mediums and journaling my life experiences through art.  

What story do you wish to tell; each time you hold the brush?

My paintings are mythic narratives.  I find myself interested in painting in between, on top of and through the ancient stories of my Indian heritage. The iconography I use are the characters, the canvas is the stage and the story rests in my ability to achieve a visual and conceptually arresting image within the framework. Sometimes I have a set story in my mind I would like to convey, while other times I start by exploring different mediums, and the story comes later.  

 

  

Do you incorporate your South Asian identity in your work?

Yes, my work is all about my relationship to my South Asian heritage.  I find my biggest inspiration comes from recreating Indian imagery. From traditional textiles and craft to kitsch images to Indian mythology, vintage advertisements and Bollywood movie posters.

What mediums do you love working with?  Who are your favorite artists?

Mixed media is what I'm into these days. I like the challenge of combining sari fabric and appliqué, collage, silkscreen, paint and resin.  It creates a different depth than paint alone.  As for artists, right now I'm into Ravi Sharma, Ryan Mcginness, Cecily Brown, and Lari Pittman. All are very good painters in completely separate ways. 

 What are your future plans? 

All I can think about right now is the time I will be taking off after my show opens to recuperate.

  

For more of Namita’s exciting work, check out her website.  If you are interested in seeing Namita’s creativity live, then come out and show some love!   And don’t forget, to mention, you heard about her on Milgayi.com!

Venue: BoConcept: 101 Townsend, San Francisco, on June 27th, 6:00-8:00 pm

Exhibition dates: June 27-July 31, 2009

Simply Chic !!!

I had to share this with everyone.  Recently I came across some design pieces that were breathtakingly beautiful, stylish and simply chic. Later I found the designs belonged to an Indian designer residing in Paris...yes Pa-ree. Her name is Nupur Tron.  Beautiful is the only word to describe her creations.  Her tale is short and sweet but has a very interesting twist to it.  Indian Born, US educated, Nupur travelled extensively to Asia and Europe where she learned the technical and production side of the fashion industry. But it was Paris that changed her life. After a brief period at the Paris Fashion Institute, and on her last day in the city, she met future husband Frederic Tron at a couture show. They were engaged within two months and married two years later in St. Tropez.  All the Best, did a fantastic profile on Nupur Tron earlier this year. Here are some excerpts from her interview with Ronda Carman.

Which fashion designers have most influenced your style?
There are so many great creators but the one that has influenced me the most is Hubert du Givenchy. His style has timeless elegance.

How would you describe your personal style?
Chic and sophisticated.

Who are your style icons?
Audrey Hepburn for her enduring elegance of timeless beauty and charm. Maharani of Jaipur Gayatri Devi for her personification of beauty, grace and elegance. Most of all it would be my Grandmother for her beauty and strength. She is still strong at 97!