Ashwin Chacko “journeyed down a long and winding road” to get to where he is today in his career as an illustrator. He began working in advertising as a graphic designer, and then moved on to be an art director, all the while drawing and freelancing. Over the last two years he has made the transition to become a full-time illustrator.
“As far back as I can remember, I’ve always drawn. My mother recently retold me of a story of me aged 5 or 6, asking why I couldn’t make drawing my life. In many ways, I’ve made that a reality” says Ashwin. He explains; “More than the act of drawing, I think the story behind the drawing, has always been my driving force”. As an introverted child, for Ashwin, drawing was a way to experience the world around him and to express himself. This ability to communicate a story through a visual language has always fascinated him.
“The act of drawing, to remember or to tell a tale, goes back to our ancestors leaving a mark in the caves they inhabited. The act is very intimate and intuitive. A story has an ability to reach past the many filters and walls we build and to touch the heart. It’s this intimate act that has fuelled my love for illustration.”
The illustrator draws something everyday as part of his creative process, be that first thing in the morning, in a spare moment between work, or just after putting his kids to bed. He states; “It’s something I try my best to stick to and have been able to foster that discipline”. Although Ashwin loves experimenting with different mediums such as painting, screen printing, and linocut, when it comes to client work he usually works digitally on his iPad with procreate and the Adobe suite.
Ashwin’s inspiration comes from a variety of places, but is generally from things he is interested in, like skateboarding, cycling, typography, adventure, books, and comics. Each category has it’s own layers of people or places that he takes influence from.
As for the future, he hopes to continue to create more stories, told through many mediums; books, t-shirts, murals, and packaging. Ashwin also hopes to continue to host talks and workshops to encourage creatives on their own journey.
“My positive messaging and voice stems from who I am, and who I am, stems from my faith… My hope is that in this chaotic world we live in, I can bring encouragement through my art, bringing joy and a sense of peace… My encouragement for creatives is to understand this fact; your values does not come from what you do but who you are. Nurture you and in doing so it will have an immediate impact on your work.”
www.whackochacko.com
@whackochacko
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