Stroke of genius

A poster by artist Laura Callaghan for the exhibition Comix Creatrix: 100 Women Making Comics that feature works by Manjula Padmanabhan, Kaveri Gopalakrishnan and Reshu Singh.

A tête-à-tête with the three female comic artists from India who have found a place of pride in the world’s top 100... In the list of nominees for the Angoulême International Comic Festival that was announced last year, no female comic artist had found a place. The apparent gender bias didn’t go down too well among comic writers around the world, who freely expressed their fury and there were even threats to launch a protest movement. Following the outcry, the board discarded the nominee list.

In what seems like an effort to wipe away the memories of that chapter, curator Olivia Ahmad presented a first-ever all-women comics and graphic narratives exhibition in the UK, titled Comix Creatrix: 100 Women Making Comics. And in this landmark collection are the works of three comic artists from India — Padmanabhan, Kaveri Gopalakrishnan and Reshu Singh.

Manjula, who is India's first female cartoonist, is presenting her work from the popular newspaper comic strip Suki that talks about a free-spirited modern woman's tryst with existential queries. Kaveri defines her work from Basic Space as a “series if dialogues about navigating personal and public space as women in India”, while Reshu Singh’s work creatively addresses the gaps in women’s security in the country today.

As their masterstrokes of imagination find global recognition, the three artists tell us how they sketched out their individual paths.

Manjula Padmanabhan, playwright and creator of the comic strip, Suki: How it all began: Drawing and writing were never “hobbies”: I always expected to be an artist and a writer. I also expected to join the Foreign Service, like my father. But I gave up that idea quite soon. I knew I’d never fit into a respectable job. Cartooning was something that I developed in my late teens. My first published cartoons appeared in a small political journal in Bombay, called Freedom First, in the early 1970s. I am considered to be India’s first woman cartoonist.

When I was 21, I stopped accepting financial support from my parents and left home to live as a paying guest. I did not want to be dependent on my parents or anyone else. In many ways, this was the most important decision of my life. In order to pay my rent, I had to produce drawings, illustrations and cartoons. So I did. It was not easy at all because everyone paid very little and never on time.

The muse: People often ask about what influences my work but I find this an odd question. Being alive is like sitting in the theatre all the time. The whole of reality is a continuously unfolding drama. I draw constantly, but most often in my head. Nowadays, I usually work in ink on paper, then scan to the computer and finish the colouring electronically.

Favourites: My favourite artists, from the time I was very young, were Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. My family is full of artists and I was able to draw from a very early age. I read a great deal, including comics and cartoons. My favorite cartoon strips were Tarzan, Modesty Blaise and during the 1960s, an American strip called Li’l Abner. In India, I liked Mario Miranda’s work and of course R.K. Laxman’s political cartoons.

Current pursuits: The revival of my comic strip Suki has been an extraordinary thrill. It has just happened — the first new strip appeared on Saturday 6th Feb (2016). The editor, Mukund Padmanabhan (no relation), was extremely welcoming to Suki and I am really delighted to be in print again. I normally do not send any original artworks away. I have held on to my originals for a very long time. I still have my first published cartoon with me.

Reshu Singh, freelance comic artiste and illustrator: How it all began: As a kid, I would make sketches of people, especially of guests who came home, but I never aspired to be an artist. In fact, I didn’t even know that you could make a living like that. Initially, I had decided to become an engineer since I liked physics. But when I saw that I had an option of becoming a product designer, I finally decided to take up a course in Applied Arts in Delhi. I would be intrigued by the way comic writers would tell a story. When I started experimenting with comic panels, that’s when I realised it isn’t as easy as it seems. I keep sketchbooks to collect ideas and draw from life. I aim to create raw and expressive drawings in context of what I am making, putting a lot of emphasis on spontaneity and play.

The muse: I am inspired most by nature and the moments spent in my village. I grew up listening to mythical stories my grandmother would tell me. But it could even be something I overheard in the metro. It could become a starting point for my story. One of my recent comic panels was about a young girl’s relationship with her family. The story goes on about how her family coaxes her into getting married. I took inspiration from my life for the story.

Favourites: As a kid, I used to love Mario Miranda and Mickey Patel’s illustrations, followed by Champak. I love the works of Quentin Blake and Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes have had the deepest impact on me by far. Drawings and studies by Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Egon Schiele and Cezanne inspire me immensely. I am also a fan of Lynda Barry, Kate Beaton, Prabha Mallya and Jillian Tamaki.

Kaveri Gopalakrishnan, freelance comic artist and illustrator: How it all began: I’ve been drawing since I first learned to pick up the pencil and I was always encouraged to write and draw my own stories, usually in a comic narrative style. I suppose I always saw illustration as something I would do as part of my life — it came naturally to me. So it has been like a self-taught post-grad. It was in 2014 when I began to work as a full-time illustrator. Once you’re paying your own bills and supporting a lifestyle of your choice, it becomes more than just the pleasure of a craft. I view illustration as a means of communication and a problem-solving tool. Comics on the other hand reflect how I relate to the world. Initially, I never thought this would become a full-time occupation. But the more comic strips I began to create on my blog, the more scope for projects came in.

The muse: People I meet inspire me the most. Then there are films that I watch and so on. I tend to note people’s mannerisms and quirks while they are speaking/expressing themselves apart from their body language. Then I imagine the world they inhabit.

Favourites: I grew up reading MAD magazine — my dad had a huge collection back home in Chennai. I relate to Sergio Aragones and Don Martins style of comics — the dry humour, moments of ridiculousness and the animated characters.

Current pursuits: I’m working on a young adult graphic novel for Scholastic — it will be my first published graphic novel and a large, intense piece at that. I am also super excited about a non-fiction graphic story that will be published soon. It is my third work so far, apart from Basic Space and Before You Step Out. It’s a collaboration with writer-filmmaker Aarthi Parthasarthy (creator of webcomic series Royal Existentials) who started UrbanLore comics with me. The story — which is personally important on many levels — is part of a non-fiction Indian comics anthology by Captain Bijli Comics and Yoda Press.