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28
Nov
Nov
Literally. I actually did make/paint this cover 🙂
The Good Homes December 2012 issue celebrates everything that is art!
To commemorate this special issue they asked three artists – Nilofer Suleman, Viveek Sharma and me 🙂 to paint what a ‘Good Home’ meant to each one of us. I am really thrilled to be in the company of such accomplished artists. And it’s a coup of sorts- this is the first magazine in the décor category to have 3 different covers for a single issue.
The story-
I got a call a few weeks ago from Meenakshi Shankar of Good Homes Magazine asking me if I would be interested in painting their Dec issue cover. The answer was yes. Obviously. The problem was in figuring out what would go on the cover.
So over an absolutely delicious cup of South Indian Filter Coffee in Meenakshi’s home, we discussed options. Yes! the coffee was a bribe because the deadline was ridiculously tight. I could go into metaphors of how tight, but that would be digressing!!
Next we started brain storming and she asked me questions. On what I liked/loved in a home. What I would do in mine if I had carte blanche. But somehow everything I described was a feeling- warmth, friendliness, intensity, renewal, love… And everything else I liked was too disparate to fit into one flat 2D image- clean lines, colour, quirky corners, text/type… or so I thought.
To say I was running clueless and on the verge of panicky would be a very mild version of what was actually happening. Would be more appropriate to say I had gigantic aeroplanes with multiple propellers in the tummy AND stampeding rhinos in the head!!
Then Meenakshi brought calm and perspective. She asked- what would your favourite corner in the studio look like?
She gave me a pen and paper and said draw. I did. I doodled actually. I had my cover. This was it.
I went home that night, researched on interiors, then worked details and faired it out. Showed it to her first thing the next morning and got approval. I was still in my pyjamas and she was dressed to the nines on her way to a shoot. I then sent it to the higher ups ( read as Ronita – The Editor) for approval.
*Insert Drum roll here*
I got it. After that was panic of a different kind- deadlines! It was head down and painting furiously. This piece went through a few iterations but I love the end result. It’s all me in there.
Tell me, you like?
I will do another post with pictures and the story from the actual magazine when the issue hits the stand on Dec 1st. These cover pictures were sent to me by the Good Homes Team.
And here are the covers painted by Nilofer and Viveek 🙂
That’s so scary! Painting an entire cover on a tight deadline. You brave girl you. In so much detail too. Clap clap clap clap… Absolutely love your cover. I’m impressed yet again Aarohi Singh.
Thank you Priya. That means so much coming from you. As I said bravery had very little to do with it- it was sheer panic all the way!! This was done in two days- Not counting the evening Meenakshi told me and the morning two days later when it sat packed to be shipped to Mumbai 🙂
Absolutely beautiful! I am a big fan of Nilofer too!!!!!way to go! You deserve every bit of the accolades that come ur way!
Hugs,
Veda
Thanks Veda. I love Nilofer’s work too. I had the rare chance of seeing her work in progress a few works ago. Fantastic!! Attention to detail is breath taking…
I love your rendition—I’d love to settle down on that chair! 🙂 I see some favorite paintings on the wall there, too–always had a soft spot for your nimbu-mirch series! 🙂 Lovely!
Hey Gagan, Come have chai with me if you’re ever in Bangalore. Since this was to be a corner in my studio, I decided to show the paintings that come out of it. And the nazar battoo and nimbo mirchi are so a part of my life ki they had to be front and center 🙂
Love the cover…excellent work. Keep them coming : )
Thank you Smita. Your encouragement means a lot to me. 🙂
Congrats! Yes, the coffee may have been a bribe but all good things are done on tight schedules!
Tina, the coffee as bribe definitely worked otherwise the panic would have frozen me out!!
Beautiful, as usual, Aarohi! As Priya said, very brave of you, indeed. Way to go!!!:)
Thanks Sangita. I don’t know about brave but am willing to atleast try most things 🙂
Really like the corner and the doggie (from your collection, right?) picture. Warm, like you said and inviting.
Thank you Sangitha, yes the doggie is Kajal from my Poonchh Collection 🙂 Studio would not have been complete with out a dog!!
This is so nice Aarohi. Loved it to the bits.Beautiful.Keep up all the good work and keep inspiring.love lakshmi
Brilliant!!
Thanks you Bhavna and Anu!!
excellent work…..
Brilliant! So so lovely!
Alicia my girl, I am still waiting for our chai session…
I love your cover the best! And wow, painting such a beautiful piece in such short time. Way to go, Arohi. Way to go!
Thank you Swetha 🙂
my comment sorta disappeared… but i really wanted to say if i could wave a wand and make this corner happen, i would. now. love it!
I want the corner too Jane. I decided I am now actively going to work towards creating it. Once done… chai on me 🙂
Hi Aarohi.
Beautiful painting for the cover. beautiful details. makes one want to see the original painting.
Very creative, and a lovely lively blog.
This is absolutely stunning! Now I know why do I <3 visiting your blog again and again and again!!! m/
hey arohi… i know i am replying late… this post is a bit old… but i couldn’t stay without leaving a reply.. this one is waaw… ur works r always fab…. but this is d best 🙂 loved it !!!