Giving Indian Gods a New Expression in the Calendar

Giving Indian Gods a New Expression in the Calendar

Sumouli Dutta, a doodle and illustration artist, tries her hand at creating a 2018 calendar of Indian Gods set apart from the all so common representation of the theme across common calendar art found through the country.

Challenge

Inspired by the variety and depth of India's mythology, Sumouli wanted to create an exclusive 2018 Hindu Avatar calendar based on selective Hindu gods of the millions worshipped in the country. However, the Indian belief that it is auspicious to start a month or each day looking and praying to gods and goddesses meant that Indian Hindu gods were the most commonly used topic to design or illustrate on a calendar. So her main idea and challenge was to create an exclusive calendar distinct from the usual by depicting a series of 'cute, lively, quirky and bright coloured reusable avatars' to be conveniently displayed on work desks, study tables or shelves.

Solution

Since the idea was to give a new look, feel and use altogether, this intention made her work a little more hard to break the stereotypical form of illustration and do it differently. The journey of learning and reading mythological stories before sketching was thus very insightful. She then searched and scribbled ideas and facts of each of the avatars she found to be interesting from the context of what she wished to create, hence trying to bring cute elements through facial expressions, colours and the Vahanas (vehicles). The illustrative process was mainly carried out using software such as Procreate and Autodesk Sketchbook on an iPad and laptop. Further, instead of making a normal desk calendar, she made a series of postcards that could be reused once the month got over i.e. the calendar's dates could be cut off and the illustrated avatar could be framed and hung on the wall or displayed in other ways suitable to the user – probably offered even as a gift. She used binder clips to make a stand, hence giving it a unique look.

The Result

The result was a fun, unique, vibrant and playful 2018 Hindu gods calendar. It prominently featured major sacred Indian avatars such as Shree Ganesha, the hugely popular god who represents satiation and security; Saraswati Mata, the goddess of knowledge; Shree Krishna, Hanuman, who stands as a symbol of strength; Brahma, referred to as the supreme creator; Vishnu, the one who maintains the balance in the universe; Shiva, destroyer of the old and a few others. What a way to count days!

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