Characters and Chaos: Artist Spotlight- Ritaban Das

Who are you?

I’m Ritaban Das, an Illustrator/Storyboard artist/Character designer working in Animation and Gaming industry for last 6 years. I’m from Kolkata but currently I’m working as a senior Storyboard artist and Character Designer at an Animation studio in Mumbai.

 

 

How would you introduce your work to our readers?

Being a Character Designer, most of my work is very much character driven blend with humour and very much graphical. I always try to convey some sort of stories through each and every character or Illustration I make.  I like to play with various shapes and silhouettes and usually keep things simple. Lately I’ve been following some designs where various polygonal/geometric shapes have used and  I find it really cool.

 

 

What are the tools you use to create art?

I tend to make the initial sketch in my sketchbook (I prefer drawing on paper), scan it, and then fill the colour digitally. But if I have to meet a tight deadline, I make the entire composition in Photoshop, starting with a very loose sketch. If I’m satisfied with the rough sketch, I clean it up and put the colors.

 

 

What are your influences?

Ohh man, there are too many actually. It’s a toughest job to list it out. I absolutely love “Creature box” designs (I think they are INSANE!!). Also I really go crazy about Sergi Brosa, Nicolas Marlet, Brett Bean, Miki Montello, Tyler Carter, Matias Hannecke, Sean Galloway, Michael Bills, Ryan David Jones, Wouter Tulp, Edwin Rhemrev, Cory Loftis, Skottie Young, Armand Serrano, Dan Seddon, Frank Stockton, Headless Production’s work.

Where Concept art is concerned I really dig SIXMOREVODKA, Massive Black, Calum Alexander Watt, Carlo Arellano, Eytan Zana, Anthony Jones, Vince Proce, Android Jones, Gilles Ketting, Michael Kutsche, Shreya Shetty’s work!

I know I missed a lot of people’s names but these are artist who came to my mind. They are the best!!

Being in a part of the animation industry you have to play with different style of designs. I grew up seeing their work and each and everyone has their own style. Like the “Creaturebox” people are experts at making monsters, mechanical and sci-fi stuff and the amount of detail they put into each and every character is just way beyond cool. I think I can somehow connect my working style with them.

Also Mumbai is a HUGE source of inspiration to me. I think the most inspiration I draw for my work is from the place I live and Mumbai helps me with that. The people, the super-crowded local trains, the sea, food, the culture, old houses(I absolutely LOVE the old houses and mansions in the town side. Wish I could live there at least once!) -these are some flavors which have been inspiring me since the beginning.

 

 

How do you interpret art?

Art brings creativity to life and creativity is the essence of life. Both art and life go hand in hand. Art is subjective, and means something different to every single person on earth. Art is something that makes us more thoughtful and well-rounded humans.

 

 

How would you define your relationship with sloth- the “sin”, not the animal?

They all are my imaginary friends. I talk, laugh and draw them.