#LookoutFor | Anne Milan
This month, TLJ's find is a 24 year old illustrator and photographer, from Delhi. Anne, an architecture student who loves to travel, has been drawing for as long as she can remember. "I am not much of a painter," she says adding that it's just a medium she's been using lately, still experimenting with and learning the technical bits.
Her art, showing mostly minutiae rather than entire scenes in themselves are canvasses that TLJ thinks everyone should be on a #LookoutFor.
She spoke to us about how and where she finds sustained inspiration, and told us about how her travels and art go together.
From Anne's '30 days of musings' project
From Anne's '30 days of musings' project
From Anne's '30 days of musings' project
TLJ: Tell us a little about your '30 days of musings' project on Instagram.
AM: April was ‘National Poetry Writing Month’ (#NaPoWriMo) and as a person who loves poetry, I decided to take up the challenge. But instead of writing, I thought I'd illustrate the idea before writing the lines. Some pieces developed because of the initial lines, some of them helped adding to the story of the vague poem in my head and some came out of the previous day’s art piece. It was an interesting journey because of this mixture. Another reason I took up this challenge was because I wanted a routine in my day to day life.
TLJ: What tends to inspire you on a daily basis?
AM: I carry my notebook/postcards and my art supplies everywhere I go and draw whenever I have time. It’s a daily affair. I was in the hills recently and sketched whenever possible and made art for everyone I met on the trip — quick snapshots of the conversations, food and the area, as a way for me to document the time spent meeting fellow travellers.
When I am not travelling, I'm sketching, either with a friend or alone.
I firmly believe that ‘inspiration’ comes to people who work hard every day for it. I see it as a practice of readying oneself to be receptive and mindful of when the ‘rain of ideas’ falls. You can’t catch the raindrops if you haven’t cupped your palms. They will flow away.
TLJ: How did you think up your Led Zeppelin zine (on Instagram)? Whose music are you currently drawing to?
AM: I have always been fascinated by the effect of music on a person. Drawing while listening to music was a project I started because you can't foresee the results. It is also a form of relaxing when I am stressed. I put these drawings together as a zine to allow people have art they can associate with the music, like mini posters.
'Somewhere Only We Know' by Keane (C) 2003 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
I am currently drawing to the songs of the band, Keane. They are incredibly visual in their lyrics.
TLJ: A few artists you love:
AM: I love the raw style of Joe Sacco’s art, the dream like quality of Jillian Tamaki’s illustrations. I also admire the work of Jasjyot Singh Hans, Aditi Damle, Neethi, and Sameer Kulavoor to name a few. They all have very specific and beautiful styles even though they all see the world as I see it.
TLJ: Your style in three words
AM: Almost all of my work is characterized by reminiscence, some are simply outlandish or strange but mostly they are emotive.
Recently, Anne was interning as a graphic designer at the Museum of Goa. Here're some sketches she made while there, and some others that were made in retrospect.
You can follow Anne on Instagram, for more of her work.