Groeten and Saludos!!

Hellos and Holas,
Yeah! am back from well deserved vacation. After these all museums, art, shopping, food, language, trams and metros, etc and etc now its very difficult getting back to the grind.
Both these places offer incredible visual treat. I am mainly putting design related stuff, what to do, Graphic designer within me can't skip the print, typo, colours, textures and what not!!
Amsterdam was bit cold and windy, so roaming around in the streets was slightly intriguing. Culturally rich, disciplined architecture, structured layout of the city reflect in the warmth of localities. Its a mecca for designers! Everything is so well 'designed' that you never face the 'functional' problems and you just goes well with the flow.
Must things to do: Van Gogh Museum, Rijks Museum, Visit Red Light:), Magic Mushrooms, Canals, Cheese, I Amsterdam 3 days Card, walk walk and walk or hire a bicycle.


Barcelona was pleasant. It is blessed with both beaches and hills and also the masters like Miro, Gaudi, Dali. There were surprises at every corner of the street. Wide roads along with modern as well as heritage buildings, sculptures make you feel in bliss! I think Barcelona is must must visit destination before you die! I am fortunate to experience this lovely city.
Must things to do: Gaudi Gaudi and Gaudi Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, La Rambla, Picasso Museum, Olympic Stadium and Museum, Tapas, Walk on the Beach, Look for Small Cafes, Dance sessions at Cathedral and again Walk Walk or take Undergrounds metros


P.S: Design studio in Amsterdam, Koeweiden Postama really liked the diaries
Groeten and Salutos mean 'Greetings' in Dutch and Spanish language respectively.

Pause

Its time to take a pause for a bit!! Leehkin is off to super alluring Amsterdam and lovely Barcelona for few days...yes going solely for a vacation purpose! Its studio's annual vacation

We will be going to visit one design studio in Amsterdam, so planning to give them some gifts or souvenirs from India. These handmade cloth covered diaries with strings attached represent true essence of Indian hospitality. Craftsmanship, colours and Devnagri initials of that studio members make an excellent gift idea and very personal!

There are total 24 pieces all together...

Mix of both...bright, vibrant and rusty, dull. (Cathy, Pier, Jorn, Jacques, etc.)

Detailed view...string is bit intriguing but definitely adds 'Indianness' to it.

That's the packaging, covered with Indian regional newspaper.

Chalo friends, see you soon with heaps of clicks, faces, enchanting colours, incredible objects and of course alphabets and numbers.

Happy Diwali

Leehkin wishes all readers a very Happy Diwali!

House Warming!

House Warming invitation for Ayush's new house in Gurgaon. Marker pen and Adobe photoshop with Dahiya's artistry touch.

Calligraphy for friends

This nameplate is created for my very good couple friend Arun and Vaani. Arun works with NDTV and Vaani is a film maker by profession working with Discovery Channel. They are in process of buying a own house in Delhi, so I thought lets begin with this...

Here its another co-blogger friend Megha, owns a BRILLIANT blog called 'arth & nitya' (named after her childern). I quite liked the names and found very much artistic potential in these beautiful letters and here it goes...

Lettermobiles

Sleeping mode sketches

A few sketches made during my recent travel from Delhi to Mumbai (home) by Rajdhani Express. Mostly captured the passengers in sleep mode–safe n steady!

Leehkin is honored!

Leehkin is in news!
It feels so great Alice, thanks a ton!

Sketchbags

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No TV+Itching+Toying+Texture+Colours+Canvas+Shopping Bag+New CutPen+Flow+Recycle+Idea+Gratification!
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Sunday Afternoon!

KHARGOSH

Title and credits done for a movie called ‘Khargosh’ (Rabbit), directed by Mr. Paresh Kamdar and produced by Mr. Rishi Chandra. He wanted all the credits and title in Hindi which suits the film’s tone and flavour.





Director’s own word:
“It is really too good! I will go for this option. It has got everything. The restrained flourish of the tails– their ends merging into the black; the texture within the letters, their complex tonality and its position–right toppish also dynamises the black background. All these together create terrific complexity which is very reflective of the complexity that Bantu* experiences in his journey in the film. Very Good Work!!! THANKS!!!”
* Protagonist of the film.

LEEHKIN WISHES NIKHEEL

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DEAR NIKHEEEEL---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(though its belated, but why not celebrate own birthday whenever you want to?)
Reason behind posting this is I gave some thoughts to what I want in life which is just reaching 30. No, its not any philosophical thoughts where I found ‘Sukhee jeevan ke dus nuskhe’ but practical wishes in life. Don’t know if they will get fulfill or when will they get accomplished, lets see!
* Travel to all seven wonders of the world, or at least travel all over India—each and every corner of it.
* Should confidently called myself Graphic Designer
* Nice to everyone.

BHUGOL

Film title done for Chaitanya Modak’s classroom project during NID.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bhugol
15 min. | Mini DV | Colour | 2005 | INDIA
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'Bhugol' may literally translate to geography but it also directly states that the world is a sphere. The quest for one man to find the edge of the earth is the escape of another. Yet this journey itself is a scenic and timeless humanscape which reflects and blends into the vast geography it navigates.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Festivals/Awards:
• Mumbai International Film Festival, India, 2006• Vikalp Mumbai screening of Best student Films, India, 2006• Kara International Film Festival, Pakistan, 2006

IPL Fever II

Ink, Paper and Letters

IPL Fever I

Ink, Paper and Letters...

Switching the boredom of switches

Art–Pet

Is this काष्ठशिल्प (wooden sculpture) or is this just a natural phenomenon? I found this, when I was having lunch under the tree in NID's Heritage campus, during summer time, when college mess was closed. I was cleaning up the space before sitting and spotted the wooden beak peeping from beneath the grass and got curious. I took some time to ascertain the bird like wood or wood like bird. For a moment, I thought it was a dead bird and after a closer inspection, I thought it must be someone's missing art. Amazed and puzzled, I had a quiet lunch with the bird and without thinking further, I carried it along with me. I cleaned it, varnished this 'art–pet' of mine to prevent it from termites. Now its lying in my collection showcase.
I still wonder about its origin and those questions remained the same till date.
What is this? How is it possible? Who is the person behind this. I have no answers but I acknowledge the miracle and creator of this masterpiece.

ELEPHANT PROCESSION

My parents recognized my inclination towards art at an early stage (instead of spoiling drawing room walls, its better spoiling books with official permission!) and started sending me to the drawing teacher Mr. Sudhakar Chandorkar for training. Later, I started participating in many drawing–painting competitions. He and my mother used to teach in the same school. So they used to communicate about upcoming competitions regularly. It was wise of my parents and my teacher to send me for those competitions, where I was exposed to other students’ talent. I also achieved the confidence of visualizing ideas in a short time. Sometimes I succeeded, sometimes I did not. I also made a few friends during those competitions as the same bunch of students used to be present in most of them.

There were many other learnings I went through. In one of the events, we had to draw about any one of the 3 given topics—Fair in the village (Mela), the beach and procession on elephant. I was confused about which one to choose. Mela was my winning entry for a past competition, so I was confident about the first option. The second option, beach, was quick and easy to draw; water would cover half the paper, so it would be a simpler job. Almost finalizing the beach option, I checked my color box and shades of blues were almost exhausted. Till that time I didn’t give any thought to the third option because I hate drawing animals or I should say I couldn’t draw animals well. Its tough! But having no other choices and time left, I challenged myself to opt for ‘the elephant procession’.
It was a nightmare, I finally drew an elephant and horses looking like identifiable creatures on the cost of a 3 inch eraser scrubbed down to an inch in size. After a long struggle, I finished drawing the procession. We used to show our finished work to accompanying parents who were the most curious souls. My mother’s expressions made it look as if my drawing was completely unrelated to any of the given topics!

Results were to be announced after a half hour break. My mother had dropped all hopes of my winning after seeing my masterpiece. But we still waited for other friends, who had done a better job... apparently. Judges had selected 5 winners and announced their names in ascending order. A sudden strike of Lady Luck, I happen to be the no.1 winner. My mom was shocked and I was also surprised but happy. Later the jury members spoke to my teacher that—I was the only one who dared to choose the third option and made a great picture (effort). This ‘only’ elephant procession stood out amongst the cliched, playful beaches and fairs.

Calligraphy

Pass time activities—Playing with letters.