I N T O   A   M A G I C A L   W O R L D  

Text : Hina Nitesh

                                              Onthedesignboat today is a collage artist - Caroline Rose.

Simple forms cut from paper stuck on coloured canvas

Simplicity and  innocence are the two emotions that overwhelm me as I look at Caroline Rose's works. Her collages are beautiful and mesmerizing and to me they signify fun. The fun part is not just for a child but for adults as well.

The colours are vibrant - appealing to the child in you

I came upon her site accidentally courtesy a friend who had liked her page on Facebook. But once I started browsing through her portfolio, I just couldn't stop myself. Each image was more attractive and beautiful than the previous one. I had such a tough time deciding which ones to showcase for this post.

It is indeed the world of fairies and pixies 

Caroline Rose has a background in fine arts and interior design. She has even worked as an interior designer. Her love for art and creativity have always been a part of her and her work. She worked as an interior designer for sometime but took a break to raise her family. She never went back to the same work instead she decided to stay at home with her children and focused her energies on creating these miniature works of art.  

Attention to detail brings out the real image

Travel back to childhood with all the magic the collage offers

She grew up in the foothills of mountains in Victoria, Australia and the place contributed a big way in shaping her imagination. Later she moved to Nottingham in the UK and revisited these ideas in the form of collages. She finds inspiration all around her children' stories, songs, words, nature around her etc.

Representation of a real city - Salzburg

Caroline Rose's art work can be distinguished by the trademark bright and vibrant colours. I was hooked and I wished I could be a child once again. 

Collage on the cover of a notebook

Neat and tidy - all the tiny cutting and pasting executed with perfection

The collages are not mere illustrations, they tell a story by themselves. One look at them and you will feel compelled to get to know more about the characters you see.

Calling out to the child in you to join in the magical adventure

What makes her collages stand out is the skill. All the pieces are entirely handmade. Right from deciding what colors, shapes and patterns, to cutting out the tiniest of the details to sticking them so they all come together in a harmonious manner - is done by her with scissors and cutter.

An arc that has become unforgettable

She pays a lot of attention to details - the wisp of a hair, the tiny eyes of the flitting bee, the patterns on the clothes worn by the characters - all contribute in a big way to her collage. 

Whimsical and funny - sure to bring a smile

There seems to be no scope for any mistakes and nothing betrays the fact that all the pieces are entirely hand made. What might seem unbelievable at times is the fact that all the pieces are cut by hand and later pasted together in a very neat fashion.

Now art that you can wear - Collage in a pendant

To enjoy her artworks, you need to begin to associate yourself with this world - one which you might have dreamt of in childhood - of fairies and pixies and all the magic.

These art works are available in her shop on etsy and folksy.

All images: Copyright Caroline Rose

Text & creative layout copyrights: On the Design Boat   

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S I M P L E  &  P L A Y F U L   

by Hina Nitesh

How many times have you sat down for a lecture with a pen and paper to take down notes and ended up with squiggles in the corners? Speaking for me - well  my mind was more on these little pen/pencil drawings than on the (often) boring lectures. In fact, one of my friends even experimented by closing her eyes and let her pencil 'respond' to the tone and tenor of the the lecturer's voice...The things we did in college!!

The lady I am introducing to you has taken 'doodling', as it is known, to another level. On OTDB today is Rachna Raghuram, an artist and a doodler. She is also the owner of the very aptly and cute sounding Doodle Doo. Though not formally trained as an artist, Rachna, has been doodling since her school days. She has a degree in business management and mass communication and even worked in the corporate sector for sometime.

While working a 9 to 5 job, she would doodle after work and on weekends. With her heart set on art, she sent mails to publishers of children's books and got successful when one of them responded. From here, there was no looking back. She gave up the cushy corporate job in favor of her of world of pens, pencil and colors. It was decision that she did not have to repent about. Presently, she works out of her home studio in Mysore and sells beautifully illustrated products through her online site Doodle Doo. She also customizes illustrations for clients as per their needs.

As I sit back and browse through DoodleDoo, there is a smile on my face that refuses to go. On the site you will find some lovely pocket mirrors (that's how it all started), calendars, fridge magnets, laptop sleeves etc. For me what takes the cake is part of a small link for 'portfolio illustrations' in which there are customized invitations.

The forms and lines in Rachna's works are pretty simple. The use of colors accentuate the illustration without overpowering it. I am in love with the way sentiments are portrayed in these illustrations -  playful lines overflowing with emotions. There is a child like quality in her works - a sense of innocence and positive thought process. Humour too is an integral part of her works.

Rachna is, as of now, a one woman army for Doodledoo and enjoys being her own boss. Apart from social media, she exhibits her products at flea markets and craft bazaar which she feels are good for connecting with the customer face to face.

Doodledoo is young venture and we wish Rachna all the success for her future. 

You can browse through her portfolio of works at Doodledoo and visit her Facebook Page

All images: Copyright Doodledoo

Text & creative layout copyrights: On the Design Boat   

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N a t u r e   w i t h    G E N I N N E   and   a   G I V E A W A Y!

Text : Divya Agrawal

It's celebration time at On The Design Boat.
10,000+ views for our blog! 
We are celebrating this milestone with 

a  

Giveaway that celebrates nature

And

a feature on the very talented, Geninne Zlatkis's work

Images: Left: Gennine Zlatkis; Right: On the Design Boat (Giveaway)

All are invited to Participate:

1. Leave a comment on OTDB's FB page here (in the comments section of this post) The comment should include the thing/ things you enjoy in nature. Ideas? Try an exciting format : a poem, an acrostic, a haiku, or anything that makes for an interesting narrative.

 2. Double your chances of winning : If you like us, share this post on your timeline :)

One lucky winner, anywhere in the world,  takes home these lovely products (picture above): A pen stand and a 40 sheet 12x17 cm notebook, both made out of natural leaves, flowers and handmade paper, in Auroville.

The winner will be announced on OTDB's FB page on Saturday, 02 May 2015

Now about our featured artist..

Birds (other than crows and pigeons) are a rare sight in a dense city like Mumbai. A Koel cooing and a pair of parrots performing acrobatics on electric cables is just about the only avian treat I can relish in the mornings. However, as a little girl I had a treasure trove of bird feathers - a collection I used to build on during my walk back from school, while spotting kingfishers and blue jays. 

Recently my daughter reintroduced me to the world of birds with a lovely book she has picked up, 'Birds of different feathers' by Katie Bagli, a lucid collection of avian adventures featuring painted snipes, shrikes, cuckoos, flamingos and many more. 

And, 

a chance discovery - Geninne's drawings, made me fall in love with birds (and nature) all over again.

Geninne's birds frolic around beautiful flowers, they bring back memories when perched atop old postcards.

  

They talk to butterflies and yes, they also sew :)

Geninne calls Santa Fe, New Mexico home. 

"I’ve lived in Mexico on and off since I was a child and it has forever left its mark in my creative life. I am constantly inspired by the cheerful spirit of the people and their fearless use of color...." Geninne on taprootmag.com

Geninne's workspace is a melange of many things that she creates and is inspired from. Plants, feather, pebbles, textiles are present in her work in one form or the other, just as they are in her studio. Vases full of brushes, art prints and self created ceramic pieces line work spaces - all adding beauty and inspiring an artist!

Geninne's use of color and eye for composition, balance and detail makes each of her works a delight to breathe in.

"I am inspired by the culture, the colors and the diverse flora and fauna of the different regions that I’ve been blessed to experience...My environment is definitely a big influence in my work." Geninne on taprootmag.com

Geninne's imaginative collages are a treat to peruse - postcards with motifs, maps, stamps all have been incorporated to create artworks that leave one spellbound. 

Paper is just one of the canvases in Geninne's repertoire. She also works with pebbles, leather, clay, rubber, and, would you believe it - eggs!!

Geninne, besides being incredibly talented is also a very generous artist - she has shared detailed lists of materials and video tutorials on how she paints and makes stamps on her Blog. (I made my first stamp following one of her tutorials)

A self taught water colorist, Geninne sure does paint magic with a brush. Thanks for inspiring so many of us with your colors, birds, butterflies and endless imagination! 

Visit her Etsy Shop to get some of Geninne's birds and cats home! 

All images: Geninne Zlatkis

Text & creative layout copyrights: Onthedesignboat   

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 c h i l d 's    P L A Y

Text : Divya Agrawal

How many of us have been stopped in our tracks by a smiling cat? 

Well, I for one have been and she is right here on my desktop, making me smile each time I turn the monitor on :)

Delightful, rich, fresh and playful aptly describe Helen Dardik's illustrations. Flora, fauna (and happy people) populate her lovable graphics. 

 Mother to three, Helen has lived in Siberia and Israel before settling in Canada. Her illustrations bring back childhood memories of circus performances and being in the woods surrounded by nature.

I like the bold use of color in the lion print above. The bird print below is a sharp contrast - a folk approach to illustration.

 "I would describe my style as vibrant, folksy and playful.... I mainly work in vector using the magic of imagination combined with watercolor, oil, gouache, embroidery and vinyl. My inspiration comes from my childhood, my three girls, nature, vintage books and midcentury design." Helen Dardik

 These dolls are lovable! What a striking looking cat coming out of the equally striking Ikats.

Here are some products that Helen has illustrated for : Notebooks, tags, chocolates, coffee beans and more!

Helen's work displays her versatile approach to art. I have much enjoyed going through all these beautiful illustrations. Hope you too have!

Prints of Helen's artwork are available for purchase at her Etsy Shop.

All images: Helen Dardik

Text & creative layout copyrights: Onthedesignboat   

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