E-Paper
#FirstLetMeTakeASelfie
A digital illustrator imagines Disney characters as people who love selfies; she shares her art fundas with Delhiites.
Picture Ariel — who loves summer and bikinis, Hercules — who is big time into body building, Alice — who is having tea with the Mad Hatter in Wonderland and Wendy — who is enjoying a pyjama party with John and Michael with Peter Pan photo bombing. An Italian digital illustrator, Simona Bonafini, is doing all that by imagining Disney characters who love to flaunt their selfies. The 26-year-old freelance graphic designer’s series ‘Selfie Fables’ has everyone in the fairy tale world showing off their best sides on social media platforms.
So how did Bonafini come up with fictional characters taking selfies and posting them on Instagram, an act which has social media written all over it? "I got the inspiration for this project looking at the recurring photographs which my friends were publishing on Instagram. In particular, the mirror selfies made me imagine the evil queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and her magic mirror," she says.
Bonafini, who has enjoyed drawing since childhood, says that being a Disney fan helps. "I had really been looking forward to drawing Jasmine. I loved watching Aladdin because of her. When I was younger, my other favourite movie was The Lion King for its great, warm colours and music," she says.
The illustrator, who draws and colours her works personally, says, “I have always been a fan of the idea ‘What would have happened if…’ Stories that talk about fictional characters, who live and act like they are present in the modern world, have always fascinated me. Through drawings, I can bring to life anything I want.”
She usually gets ideas from everywhere she can, but in particular from the web. “Pictures I find online, a virtual argument or even the general social mood — anything can turn into an illustration. And of course books… I love books!” As for any tips for budding Delhi illustrators, she says, “My only advice is… draw, draw, draw. And then, draw again!”
So, the next time you want to visit Wonderland, don’t forget to click a selfie with your favourite beach-loving princess or the demi-god hulking up for the perfect picture!
