Animal Prints

Rohan Sharad Dahotre’s illustrations are inspired by his wish to give something back to nature.

How did your tryst with illustration begin?

RS: As a child, I was fond of cartoon characters. Back in the day, there was only one channel, Doordarshan. I used to love watching the amazing animated series like Jungle Book, Disney's TaleSpin and Ducktales. I was quite lucky to have very liberal parents who let me watch all the television I wanted, and I would get engrossed in the few but amazing cartoon series that I still feel are unmatched. I would often sketch the characters, and that’s how my love for sketching developed. I pursued a Bachelor in Communication Design degree at Pune’s Symbiosis Institute of Design, majoring in animation and illustration. Later I started developing my own style, and started sketching predominantly animals and birds.

What are the challenges of working as a freelancer?

RS: Freelancing is something I enjoy doing since I love high energy collaborations and also getting to meet and know new people. The challenging aspect is when clients aren’t very aware about art and design and don’t value it much. Sometimes people are confused about what they want in the first place and take everything casually, making the whole experience very unprofessional and frustrating. But I do see a positive increase in awareness towards art and design in recent times.

What is your approach to an illustration assignment?

RS: I always sketch and conceptualize my work. Having a sketchbook is a must for all designers and artists. If I see potential in a concept, I make a few iterations before finalizing it; then I scan my sketch and work on it digitally.

What medium do you prefer to work with?