Annada Mennon
Like every other kid my age, I binge on Instagram, more specifically IG artists and their work: this time around I got lucky and could engage one of my favourite artists in a conversation over her most recent series. This is the Chonky Animal Series by Annada Menon, an artist based in Pune whose simplistic details touch hearts like a warm cup of tea. This particular series is so much in tandem with Dotadoodle’s purpose of everything cute and everything warm. Read on!
Everything Chonky: What is the Chonky series?
The quarantine put my urge to create on overdrive. Before the chonky series I made another set of illustrations that showcased animals around the world during the 1st phase of lockdown. I shared a few funny incidents but also felt the need to share cases where the issues have been persistent. The last post though was blunt by bringing into attention the rise of poaching and the issues with the 2020 EIA draft.
With the already existing hardships of the pandemic and bringing into attention other issues parallelly was exhausting for me and that would definitely be the case for my audience too. Though I choose subtle ways, there are people who are visually creating harsher realities through art.
I felt I needed to lighten the mood. I didn't plan on the series but my muse or inspiration subconsciously lead me to it. When the butt of the first chonk took shape, the hippo, I knew I should stretch this to probably 3 more illustrations? The response was great and had people taking their minds off their problems for a few seconds to interact with the work. I ended up challenging myself and felt the need to start taking up requests from my followers. It picked up a good pace and led to me creating more than 10 pieces for the series.
The goal though is to make people adore every animal through its chonkier side especially the ones from the wild / predatory / undomesticated. I didn't want to make the work informative, I wanted people to visually enjoy each work. The grand finale to this memorable series would be to draw my muse. This is the first time I haven't been wanting to let go of a series but I guess I can continue creating more for myself whenever I need to cheer myself up.
The quarantine put my urge to create on overdrive. Before the chonky series I made another set of illustrations that showcased animals around the world during the 1st phase of lockdown. I shared a few funny incidents but also felt the need to share cases where the issues have been persistent. The last post though was blunt by bringing into attention the rise of poaching and the issues with the 2020 EIA draft.
With the already existing hardships of the pandemic and bringing into attention other issues parallelly was exhausting for me and that would definitely be the case for my audience too. Though I choose subtle ways, there are people who are visually creating harsher realities through art.
I felt I needed to lighten the mood. I didn't plan on the series but my muse or inspiration subconsciously lead me to it. When the butt of the first chonk took shape, the hippo, I knew I should stretch this to probably 3 more illustrations? The response was great and had people taking their minds off their problems for a few seconds to interact with the work. I ended up challenging myself and felt the need to start taking up requests from my followers. It picked up a good pace and led to me creating more than 10 pieces for the series.
The goal though is to make people adore every animal through its chonkier side especially the ones from the wild / predatory / undomesticated. I didn't want to make the work informative, I wanted people to visually enjoy each work. The grand finale to this memorable series would be to draw my muse. This is the first time I haven't been wanting to let go of a series but I guess I can continue creating more for myself whenever I need to cheer myself up.
Circa: What made you draw the first Hippo and ultimately the chonky tiger (a rather unusual jump)?
There is no actual jump I feel all animals or just nature in its entirety needs to be loved. People tend to be very selective when they say they are animal lovers but only like dogs. I feel an animal that is in the wild has invoked fear or just something to look at in a cage, we have ignored their need and the balance they create within our ecosystem.
So my way of picking an animal at random needs to attract the reaction 'OMG that is a beautiful animal would never have imagined a chonky side to it'. If I stick to the obvious animals I am not challenging myself or the audience.
There is no actual jump I feel all animals or just nature in its entirety needs to be loved. People tend to be very selective when they say they are animal lovers but only like dogs. I feel an animal that is in the wild has invoked fear or just something to look at in a cage, we have ignored their need and the balance they create within our ecosystem.
So my way of picking an animal at random needs to attract the reaction 'OMG that is a beautiful animal would never have imagined a chonky side to it'. If I stick to the obvious animals I am not challenging myself or the audience.
Faces to Chonk: Your earlier works have mostly been faced, phases, even asuras. What brought about the wild animal fascination?
Animals have always been a part of my work...only thing is the animals during lockdown and the chonky series lack the stand alone or protagonist human element to it. I love drawing animals, the only difference now is, I am paying more attention to their anatomy. This enables me to understand how to 'exaggerate' their structure.
Animals have always been a part of my work...only thing is the animals during lockdown and the chonky series lack the stand alone or protagonist human element to it. I love drawing animals, the only difference now is, I am paying more attention to their anatomy. This enables me to understand how to 'exaggerate' their structure.
You and the Chonkies: A little about every Chonky animal + our readers would love to know a little bit more about Annada!
What can I say about them, there are like 20 pieces already , I am myself overwhelmed on creating these . I guess the only thing I can say from the look of my Instagram real close they get chonkier. But I don't want to be descriptive about each animal. It is meant to be a series that makes me smile when I work on them and this is the same reaction I look forward to from my audience as well.
About me, I am a Visual Artist based in Pune. I have been freelancing for 2 years now mostly as an illustrator. Though I heavily depend on digital mediums I am a bigger fan of traditional mediums. Since I have a Patreon page now I am trying to explore my roots as a contemporary artist. Digital mediums mostly come in handy for my commissioned work. So far I have worked on album art, product illustrations, magazine or book illustrations, merchandise design, etc. My vice has always been art or keeping myself occupied working on something creative or learning something.
What can I say about them, there are like 20 pieces already , I am myself overwhelmed on creating these . I guess the only thing I can say from the look of my Instagram real close they get chonkier. But I don't want to be descriptive about each animal. It is meant to be a series that makes me smile when I work on them and this is the same reaction I look forward to from my audience as well.
About me, I am a Visual Artist based in Pune. I have been freelancing for 2 years now mostly as an illustrator. Though I heavily depend on digital mediums I am a bigger fan of traditional mediums. Since I have a Patreon page now I am trying to explore my roots as a contemporary artist. Digital mediums mostly come in handy for my commissioned work. So far I have worked on album art, product illustrations, magazine or book illustrations, merchandise design, etc. My vice has always been art or keeping myself occupied working on something creative or learning something.
Forest of Enchantment: Having drawn this enchanting series, what is it that you'd like to convey to our readers? (We'd love to quote you!)
I think my message would be more about staying positive and happy because isolation during this pandemic can be very tough. The series is a small way to invoke a few seconds of relief or joy and forget one's problems for a few minutes. But the bigger picture is to be kind and educate one another about the environment or conservation and love all living things equally.
I think my message would be more about staying positive and happy because isolation during this pandemic can be very tough. The series is a small way to invoke a few seconds of relief or joy and forget one's problems for a few minutes. But the bigger picture is to be kind and educate one another about the environment or conservation and love all living things equally.
