Artists Of Hoot - Geeti Barai
Geeti Barai is a 25 year old Illustrator, currently pursuing a master’s degree in Visual Communication Design from Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology in Bangalore, while freelancing on the side. She works as a Visual Designer for ‘Polo’, which is a children’s art materials & stationery brand based in Bangalore, and occasionally commissions of customised illustrations. Geeti is also working towards building her own line of Visual Merchandise by the name of Moodles.
Geeti told us some interesting things about this quirky name, she chose for her visual merchandise. " ‘Moodles’ stands for moody-doodles, which is about random rants, moments of introspection, everything exaggerated, funny faces, quirky characters or just my stories of the strange world around me. They represent my moods and the moods of the people I observe. It particularly stands for my satirical sense of humour that I try to accentuate by the content that I create. Colour is a major element in my style of illustration. I like working with a bright palette with highlights to give a colour pop. I try to keep this visual language consistent in all my work but at the same time I like experimenting with other visual styles". Isn't it amusing? Drawings and designs being born out of your moods and surroundings. Geeti is definitely knocking some socks off with her designs. She used to regularly participate in art competitions during school days but it was always just a hobby for her and not a career option. She grew up in a strict peer environment where my parents made sure that studies were never compromised.
We asked her, what part of childhood she cherished the most, what made her inclined towards colors and characters, to which she replied, "Storybooks were my moments of escapade, where I would immerse myself in the world of Enid Blyton, J.K Rowling and others. It was a magical world where I was free to be whoever I wanted to be and do whatever I wanted to do. I was an avid reader and these books played a major role in fuelling my imagination which has stayed with me even today".
There are certain assumptions towards artists, which put them in a box of constraints, where the reality is way beyond that box and tall walls. An artist is just like a free bird, who moves from places to places; every new places has something or the other helps their creativity and imagination to spring up.
We asked Geeti about her sources of creativity, "At times when I am driving or sitting in the metro, my mind wanders and makes up stories about strange characters, comics about funny incidents or just look at my surroundings and people in a different way. I love to watch & observe people and soak in their energy. This is the reason why I love taking commissions of personalised illustrations. I thoroughly enjoy the process of conceptualising a personality, ideating and then translating it into a fun illustration.
Isn’t it amazing how unique everyone is? There is always something about everyone’s face that catches my eye; it could be an interesting nose or a face that seems to look like a racoon. My mind goes crazy with ideas all the time! I have a tiny notebook that I carry to quickly jot down all these ideas to be translated into comics or doodles someday. I often revisit these ideas for self-motivation and inspiration. Believe it or not, but it is actually my crazy thoughts that keep alive my passion for my work".
Not everything you leave, leaves you too. There are certain things and skills that helps you to shape you, row your boat, and frame your future. Geeti did her Bachelors in Architecture from Sushant School of Art & Architecture in Gurgaon. After pursuing architecture for sometime, she realised that, she loved design but didn’t want to build.
We asked her, how architecture helped her to grow, she said, " Today, I might not be practising as an architect but I can never stop being an architect. Architecture college has really shaped me into the kind of person I am today. It has made me immune to criticism and highly critical of my own work, which makes me keep pushing my boundaries. Most importantly, it has shaped my foundation of design. My relationship with architecture is almost nostalgic. It was my first introduction to Design. A Design that is of the most beautiful details and can have the most magical connections with people. A Design that is everywhere around us, whether tangible or intangible, and it makes you stop, notice and think. What I have learned from architecture will always stay with me and continue to inspire me for the rest of my life".
Making the decision of switching from architecture, to pursue an unknown interest was not a piece of cake for her. It was the hardest decision she had to make. She talks about the satisfaction she gets from Moodle, her visual merchandise, "Moodles as a brand identity that I am developing, I have found the best way to express myself, come to terms with being different, and not afraid to be myself in front of the world. I can be as weird as I want to be without caring about being judged. In fact it makes me stand out confident and strong. Nothing brings me greater joy than my work".
Follow Geeeti Barai on her social media-
Behance- https://www.behance.net/geetibarai
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/moodles__/
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