Ajanta Guhathakurta Das is a major contemporary children’s
book illustrator. As her name implies she is an Art in herself! An apt name for
an apt personality! Her works like Golu, the Goldfish, Tiger Call, The Auto That Flew,
The Sweetest Mango, Carry Me, Mama!, Watch Out!, Boond etc would be the names
your child would definitely love to delve deep into!
Her lovely and cute characters float,
walk, run, and slide past into our little ones’ world with such verve and
vivacity that it fills their fantasy with fluid and exploding colours. They
weave magic intertwined with their tales that holds the hands of the little
ones and fly them into a realm of their own!
Friends, be ready to welcome the most
talented, Ajanta Guhathakurta!!!
Ajanta Guhathakurta
Deepa: As
the tradition goes, let us begin with a little background about you.
Family education-marriage-work-art etc.
Ajanta: I was born in Kolkata
but brought up and educated in Delhi. I did my degree course in Fine Arts from
Delhi College of Arts. Established my career. Got married to a like-minded
friend much later in life and now am in a space in life where am discovering
many new facets of creativity.
Deepa: How did you get into
illustrations? What inspired you to take up illustrations as your career? Are
you formally trained?
Ajanta: I wanted to wait for
sometime to do my solo show of paintings, hence started pursuing my career in
children’s illustrations. I have grown up enjoying illustrated books so the
pull towards illustrating myself came very naturally. If you can draw well, you
can illustrate. With experience and constructive feedback, one grows in emoting
the story well in ones drawings.
Deepa: Who is (are) your inspiration(s)? How did they attribute to
your development as an illustrator?
Ajanta: I have no favourites
but I draw inspiration from the works of people, irrespective of their
popularity and success, that captivate my attention and I enjoy viewing their
work again and again.
Deepa: What inspires you the
most? Is it the people and/or places, cultures and/or traditions, rituals and/or
customs?
Ajanta: Different cultures and
how people of different places emote in their cultural activities, say their
art, music, dance or crafts. This desire to know more about what different
places have to offer has made me travel a lot and this in return has always kept
me very versatile in my work.
Deepa: How do you illustrate when there is a need for something
specific from the seeker/publisher…do you undergo any kind of pressure/stress? How
do you prepare for it?
Ajanta: I thank my stars , no project was ever pushed
down my throat. I chose every project as a challenge and experimented with
different styles which paid off. From realistic to stylised work, I have done
it all. All my publishers were kind enough to give me the space I required to
give something of me in the style and at the same time I took care of the
expectations they had from the book. If I have confidence in what I do, I can
transmit the same. I don’t choose projects where I have to copy someone else’s
style.
Deepa: Do you come across
artists’ block? If so, how do you overcome it?
Ajanta: Yes, I do. Its part of
growing as an artist. These blocks are necessary to do some introspection and
keep your heart and mind open to new experiences. During one such phase, I was
invited for a workshop where an illustrator had to develop a wordless picture
book. I didn’t care about failing or succeeding, I just wanted to see whether I
have it in me. I enjoyed the struggle of pushing the block aside and
discovering a fresh new potential.
Deepa: Which is your current project? Please do share your views on
it?
Ajanta: Right now am working on
a novel. This one is for all age groups to read. It will have some realistic
black and white illustrations evocative of the old classics look.
Deepa: You have published
several, varied works. Which do you think is your favourite?
Ajanta: I like one story I did
for Mahashweta Devi ‘The why- why girl’ and I liked doing a book on saving the
tigers titled ‘Tiger Call’ for which I fetch my first international award in
Basel.
Deepa: Do you harbour a dream
project? If so, what would that be?
Ajanta: My dream is to do my
own written and illustrated picture books.
Deepa: Which is your favourite medium to illustrate? Do you use
digital techniques too?
Ajanta: No favourites again. I
choose my mediums according to the subject. I don’t do digital art.
Deepa: You also design book
covers; I particularly love the intricate floral and leaf patterns. How is it
different from illustrating for stories? Which one do you enjoy the most?
Ajanta: To be a good designer
along with a successful illustrator is like having the best of both worlds. A
book cover is the face of the book. A book cover should
not give away the story but at same time should arouse curiosity. Both are
enjoyable.
Deepa: Durga is one of my favourites. Is it part of a book or a solo
work?
Ajanta: It’s a part of a
collection of stories. You see the painter in me in this work.
Deepa: I see a huge change in children’s books in India these days.
It’s developing fast and in a much better way compared to what was available
until a few years earlier. What are your thoughts on it? How challenging is the
situation in India right now?
Ajanta: I also see the change
evolving and appreciate the publishers who do things differently and don’t rely
on safe play. The challenges I see are of two kinds: 1) Not enough marketing
and visibility of these amazing books. They disappear amidst the foreign
counter parts. 2) The parents who are actual decision makers of what to buy
make the choices on behalf of the child. Once I saw a child telling his
mother,” I want this book, I read it in my school library. I want it for
myself”. Mother’s reply, “ No need to buy a book which you have already read in
library.”
Deepa: Are Indian illustrated books globally accepted as compared to
their foreign counterparts? What do you think needs improvement, if any?
Ajanta: The challenge India faces is the Indian mindset of buying and
show casing foreign publications.
Deepa: What are your other
hobbies/interests?
Ajanta: Music and cooking.
Deepa:Where can my readers
find you?
Ajanta: ajantaart.blogspot.in
Contact:
ajantastar@gmail.com
Thank you Ajanta for taking time and effort amid your busy schedule to converse with me and to give an insight into your world of illustrations, likes and opinions, thoughts and interests. Thank you!
Best wishes from HuesnShades and the lovely readers in all your future endeavours :)
Thank you for the interview and for the insight to this multi talented artist!! I look forward to visiting Ajanta's blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for such a nice introduction... always happy to come across talented artists... :-)
ReplyDeleteCheers, Archana - www.drishti.co
A thorougly enjoyable interview.. Kudos to both the interviewer and the interviewee!
ReplyDeleteGreat knowing about her!
ReplyDeleteThank you Deepa:)
Good to know this artist.
ReplyDelete