Shekhar Gurera has spent years observing the common man in an effort to add wit and character to his work as an editorial cartoonist for several leading Indian publications
How did you discover your passion for cartooning?
SG: I was extraordinarily passionate about drawing, sketching and cartooning as a child, and often won prizes in competitions. Due to the lack of awareness however, I never thought of considering any of these as a career, and they remained hobbies. In 1984 I was in the 12th standard, and the education system in Punjab was disturbed due to terrorism and instability. During a break I visited Delhi for several days and a family friend took me to visit the design studio of a senior artist to let me get an idea of what a career in design entailed. After the 12th I opted to pursue BSc in Patiala, where I came in touch with local media who used to publish updates of my achievements in extracurricular activities. Without knowing much about the technicalities of art, I started CARTOONIST contributing occasionally to them as a freelancer. I used to make caricatures of our college professors and by the time I graduated in 1986, I was a big name in a small city!
That was the turning point of my life - I realized that I was not made for science, and taking a bold decision I tried to get admission into College of Art, New Delhi. As a science graduate, technically I was not qualified to take admission but fortunately my portfolio of achievements made the management treat me as a special case. As a design student in the capital, I got time to sketch and continued freelancing with various media houses. By the time I got my BFA degree, I was an established name in the field of cartooning, and was contributing routine cartoons to various media houses in different states.
Did formal education help your career?
This story is from the POOL 83 edition of POOL.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the POOL 83 edition of POOL.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A Legacy Continues
Leveraging the success of his family's export business, Naman Jain is focusing on creating a retail presence in India
Creating KAIRA
Long fascinated by Indian fabric, Nikita Gupta has launched an attractive line of contemporary apparel in traditional block prints
Stories faces tell
Aditya Narula dabbled in various vocations before he realized portraiture was the best way to express the fascinating complexities of the people he encountered along the way
time tested DESIGN
Surrounded by art and architecture as a child, Sarah Sham went on to take the family antiques business in a new direction through her interior design venture
DANGEROUSLY DELICATE
Kavya Potluri's attention to minute detail is what sets her intricate and unconventional jewelry apart
music as muse
A multidisplinary visual artist, Aaron Pinto, also known as Kidsquidy, has had an interesting journey that started with MTV and has him now working on everything from music videos to stage design
DEVELOPING A DISCOURSE
Documentary photographer Taha Ahmad believes his work has a greater purpose than merely being admired by a select audience for its esthetic value. It's when people are able to see the underside of society and understand the prevailing social injustice that the work tries to reveal that it is truly worthwhile.
Tiny little Stories
Creating miniature worlds allows Ruchika Nambiar to continue to play childlike games of make-believe
The Richness Of Handmade
Amit Vijaya and Richard Pandav are committed to bringing together many hands and hearts through their clothing label ‘amrich’
The perfect balance
Aniruddh Mehta is as much graphic designer as visual artist, and he tries to do justice to both through his work at Studio Bigfat
