So, 69, ongoing graphic novel series made up of 69 chapters, each re-interprated by a different artist. Written by a close friend, Karthik Ramachandra and exhibited once a month at False Ceiling gallery in Mumbai.

Karthik has been wanting to tell his story for some time, Chapter 1 was exhibited and he was looking for someone to take up the task of Chapter 2. It was interesting to collaborate with a fellow designer on a none commercial project, drawing on our love for art & design. We soon found ourselves having late nights sketching out the plot and drinking rocket fuel.

What interested me was seeing how the various styles and approaches of the different artists would develop over time and the challenge of drawing 25 spreads with an exhibition deadline looming just a few weeks away.

After receiving the script i roughly sketched different scenes in the margin to work out the various panels. Whilst also hanging and chatting with Karthik discussing the best way we could translate his script.

Then it was important to start some sketching, as it was 2 weeks to exhibition day. I started with the main charater, Karthik, his charater had to have the right overall look, simple to reproduce across different scenes and also extended into other characters in the story.

It was clear quite early that i wanted to simplify and lighten the overall feel. As this 2nd chapter is a sweet, light flirt before…

It made sense to start from where Fiza and Yogesh (previous artists) had left off. Having a slice of the previous chapter but at the same time an evolution.

Chapter 1 – Illustrated by Fiza Husain Khan & Yogesh / Chapter 2 – initial cover sketch by Cabein

The cover developed from this small b/w sketch, we begin where we left off…

Final cover

Text from the script was cut out and pasted on the various sketches to find the best positioning.
Below: Wall of notes per spread on colour, printing and text edits

Sketch and final colour.

Due to time i had to digitally colour the final images.
Ideally it would haven nice to paint the final panels.

Work Staff – Character sketches, adapted to “Match the following relationship game.

Rickshaw spread

Cell Framed and Opening Zenzi Spread.

<< READ 2/69 ONLINE >>

<< View photos from the exhibition >>

Saw this book the other day via a friend from and was pleased to see some Cabein/Shiva Soundsystem artwork in there, although crudely cropped.

Bouce over to nadabrahman for more info.

To view the book online: http://ranaghose.com/hub.pdf

LN-CC is a new London based retail concept consisting of an online platform and 5,000sq ft store space in East London.

Echos of the coridors from 2001:A Space Odyssey set designs
That said, i do like the DIY approach and the fine tuned additional rooms.

But i probably would not agree with the price tag on most the products.

More > LN-CC by Gary Card

I am quite partial to Moleskine
sketchbooks, good quality plain paper and soft bound fake leather.

Here a few i just ordered:

This Little red number as a pocket book

Essential Cahier for carrying around, notes, quick sketches..

New Volant (Comes in green gota have it)

Classic + Fake leather Xlarge ( For illustrations and paintings)

Rubberband
do some nice books too but not for serious drawing i feel.

Duller @ Vetted
Minimal but a little pricy @ $25 for 24 sheets of heavy stock.

20ys of one of the best muisc labels ever!

Twenty years! Twenty fu*king years!? That’s a long time for anything, but for an independent record label it’s aeons. So yes, we are going to make a fuss. Yes, we are going to celebrate. But this will not be a tired cash-in, a festival of re-tread or an orgy of old. NO! We are focussing on new material, new newness. Below is a list of what we will do. More detailed announcements to come….

More info > http://www.ninjatunexx.net/info

Probably my favorite graphic novel to date.

Perfectly illustrated and written by Charles Burn, the story is set in the 70’s and deals with the aftermath of a sexually transmitted disease called “The Bug” which causes grotesque mutations in teenagers.

… Burns explains to journalist Steve Appleford that he “thinks of adolescence as a disease one has to live through,” but to regard Black Hole merely as an allegory of the difficulty of teenage identity mutes how the narrative resonates with two crises of public culture: the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the rash of school shootings that became a mainstream media concern in the United States with the events at Columbine High School in 1999…

Highly recommed you check it out if you into graphic novels. I never get tierd of lookign at the beautifully crafted panels and meticulous illustration and ink work.

BUY

Been meaning to blog this for ages now, stunning work , great style and beautifully executed

Sanjay is an animator and storyboard artist for Pixar Animation Studios, where he has worked on features that include Monsters, Inc., A Bugs Life; Toy Story 2; and The Incredibles. He has also worked on The Simpsons for Fox and with legendary cartoonist John K., creator of Ren and Stimpy.

Heres some of his most recent work:

Ramayana: Divine Loophole – BUY

The Little Book of Hindu Deities – BUY

An an interview: This Week: Sanjay Patel

> www.gheehappy.com

I’ve started going back to basics and doing some figure drawing via Frank J. Reilly’s method . I feel it works well for me in getting the right proportion and technique.

While searching for more resources i came across ProcessJunkie and the sexy/busty work of Lucio Alberto. Samples below.

His put up a fine posts with some figure drawing downloadable books. 
> The Best Figure Drawing Books Eve
Check each book to form your own opinions on which technique works for you.

His blog has got a selection of his own work, wide selection of other illustrators by and a ton of books. All in a wide variety of styles.

2 artists that blew me away with their character work were:

JOSE LOPEZ

Image from BrandStudio

> More from this book

Award winning character design for clients such as Google, DC comics, Activision, TMNT, Warner Bros. (The Batman), Cartoon Network…

> Buy Mariachi Samurai Book
> Buy 4:00 AM Book

BRANDON RAGNAR JOHNSON

These images are from Big City

> Buy Big City Book

After the fall of Virgin Comics and India’s Gotham Entertainment ,
Vimanika Comics is set to do a much better job with strong stories and stunning artwork. Can’t wait to check more of they stuff out.

Times interview with Karan Vir Arora, editor-in-chief of Vimanika Comics
Also check out Selling Books vs Promoting Indian Culture

Karna Statue crafted for the winner of the  Sketch Karna contest winner