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Lipuster is the pen name of Rakesh Nanda, an award winning animation film maker, comic book artist and illustrator, who works mostly form the city of Mumbia in India.  He passed out with a Masters in Animation and Film Design from IDC, IIT Bombay in 2010 and has been freelancing since. He tries to capture the beauty of the ordinary everyday things around us, through his drawings and words.
You can see more of his works at his website here.

“I’m in a journey, like everyone else, of finding myself. I have been drawing through school and after finishing my engineering, got a chance to pursue art professionally by getting through the Masters in Design Program at IIT Bombay. Since then I’ve been doing various illustration and animation projects for a lot of different clients and have been learning and improving with each. I’m also spiritually inclined (meditation and stuff) and am pretty sure that art and spirit are very closely related and the development of one leads to the development of the other.”

Why are you an Illustrator/film maker?
I’ve always loved to draw and tell stories through them. And for a long time from my schooldays I felt I was pretty good at it (that’s not what I feel now). That’s why I pursued it, in the hope of becoming one of the best in it.

Did you attend school for fine art or design?
Yes. But a bit late, after I completed my Degree in Engineering. I attended Industrial Design Centre at IIT Bombay for a M.Des Degree in Animation and Film Design.

You have a distinct style of illustration. How long did it take you to develop your style?
It developed on its own gradually as I did more and more drawings. It developed a bit everyday and is continuing to develop with every new drawing I make. I didn’t develop a style consciously..its more a matter of constant evolution. So there is no time frame with which to associate it. I still do not know if I have a style but I’m glad you think so.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
Oh yes, many. Bill Waterson, R.K.Laxman, Swami Vivekanand, Osamu Tezuka, Pran, Stanley Kubrik, Don Hertzfeldt, Hitchcock, Satyajit Ray, Hayao Miyazaki, Walt Disney, Abhishek Singh and many many more.

Who was the most influential personality on your career in Illustrations and films?
Osamu Tezuka.

Tell us about your journey into films.
Frankly, I still haven’t started my journey into films. I have done a couple of indie short films and a couple of animated ads for companies..one of which, “Night Before Math Test”, received a lot of love and won a few awards in India.

What do you think is a big hurdle for animation films in India.
Lack of leaders and visionaries at the top.

Are many advertising agencies getting illustrations made these days? Do you work more with agencies or publishers?
Oh yes, there are good many ad agencies looking for illustrators all year round and there is good quality of work and money there. I’ve worked quite a bit with ad agencies but these days most of my work comes from startups looking to make products with a visual side to them. I’ve worked with a few publishers and its the most rewarding in terms of job satisfaction but I haven’t had as many opportunities there.

Was there any time when you wanted to quit Illustrations?
No.

Have you considered turning your illustrations into toys?
I would love to. But haven’t given it any thought yet.

Any other Indian animators who you admire?
Vaibav Kumaresh, Faisal Mohmammad, Arun Kaushik, Vajra Pancharia.

Do you have any favorite fellow illustrators or resources relating to your fields?
Sumit Kumar (Bakarmax), Jim Benton, Pascal Campion, Goro Fujita, Animator’s Survival Kit.

You have such a wide experience as a top working professional. What advice do you have for aspiring creative professionals? Would you advise them to take on Illustration as a career option? Is it paying well enough?
I am still finding my way so I doubt I can give any authentic advice. The only clear thing I am certain about at this point is, if one finds oneself spending most of his time in the day centred around doing art and thinking about it, then he/she should totally go for it. However, if one thinks its a cool thing to do but is currently spending most of his/her day doing other things, he/she should think twice. It pays well but you could probably earn as well more easily in other routine fields.

Whats your dream project?
My dream project right now is a ten book series called “Shazaam”.

Mac or PC?
PC. Mac is too expensive.

Who would you like to take out for dinner?
Emma Watson.

What’s on your iPod?
Don’t have one. But when I listen to music I have a lot of favorites , Yanni, Beethoven, Mozart, Ravi Shankar, Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash, Kishore Kumar, A.R. Rehman, Bob Dylan and some more.

Whats your Twitter Handle?
lipuster

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