International Artist’s Day Special: Exploring The Artistic Odyssey With Pranita Kocharekar

For centuries now, Art has been at the forefront of Revolutions and Renaissance. From the mighty empires to an adult trying to make a house a home, Art has been the catalyst. This International Artist’s Day, we celebrate the imagination behind the artistry, the Artists. As they colour the world with their imagination, they make it a better place. Today, the team at Social Nation spoke to Pranita Kocharekar, the master of pens, brushes and pixels. While breathing life into countless pieces at her store “ThePikoShop,” she has put a smile on the face of millions of people. Join us as we explore the vivid realms of her illustrations, unravel the stories behind her creations, and get a glimpse into the magical world she has crafted on canvas. It’s a journey you wouldn’t want to miss!

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SN: On International Artist’s Day, can you share some of the first illustrations that you worked on?

Pranita Kocharekar: One of my first few commissioned pieces was an ad for Vodafone! 

SN: What drew you to the world of visual storytelling?

Pranita Kocharekar: I have always been a storyteller since childhood. I expressed myself through music, greeting cards & wall murals. All my school books had scribbles & doodles of how I felt! I have always believed that visuals can narrate a story better than words alone – especially in the commercial world.

SN: Can you share some insights into your creative process as an illustrator, from concept development to the final rendering of the product?

Pranita Kocharekar: I’m the founder of Piko, a thoughtful gifting stationery ecomm store. All the products created at Piko have a very unique process. Especially for a product like a planner, I begin with a ton of research of understanding the consumer’s usage. After sourcing feedback from customers and diving into the process of one’s everyday life – I try solving problems using design. The problems people face with planners are largely the overwhelm of planning, the inability to disconnect and reconnect with their work day, the inability of staying consistent, the lack of knowledge of data analysis of their planning and so on. 

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The goal for me is to collate these problems and find solutions using design – to create an easy yet effective planner; and illustrations – to further help ease the overwhelm. Once these ideas are in place, the designing & illustrating process happens with the help of Adobe Suite, iPad Pro & Wacom Cintiq – most trusted work devices!

The rendering of any final product requires print sampling because if the product looks good on a screen but not in print – it loses its essence. Print sampling is a lengthy process that involves understanding different processes of printing, how colours work with different processes & how they react to different kinds of paper. The end result is extremely satisfying!

SN: When taking up projects with brands, how do you ensure you stick to your personal style?

Pranita Kocharekar: I’ve been illustrating for almost a decade now. My personal style is something that comes to me very easily (probably even in my sleep, haha!) Although, the tricky part is when a client wants versatility to ensure that a brand language and visual mood is maintained – in times like this, I make a conscious effort to step away from my style and deeply understand the client’s requirements. Most clients approach me for my own style though!

SN: According to you, what is one way in which AI has improved the creative process and one way in which it has negatively impacted the industry?

Pranita Kocharekar: AI is exciting! Any tool that can help elevate and simplify the creative process is exciting. A simple example: extending a background to a photograph in Adobe Photoshop using AI saves at least 30 minutes of hard labour. This is good!

The misuse of AI happens because of the human using it. What I mean is, every creative idea and process needs a human touch for it to communicate to another human. Seeking help from AI is great, but depending on it simply loses the point of creativity.

SN: What is your advice to those who are new in the visual storytelling industry and are planning to grow in this niche?

Pranita Kocharekar: To develop individuality & the sense of self. The confidence it builds & the effortless authenticity it creates is priceless!

As we draw the curtain on this captivating conversation, we’ve had the privilege of delving into the mind and heart of an artist whose work speaks to the universal language of creativity. Edward Hopper once said, “If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.” Rightly so, some of Pranita Kocharekar’s  illustrations help us express ourselves better. Art has the incredible power to inspire, connect, and transform, and Pranita has certainly embodied these principles through their incredible illustrations. We wish happy art to all the artists and budding artists this International Artist’s Day