Awhile ago, Dutch postcrosser Paulien (aka Paulienvdmeer) received an amazing illustrated postcard from India… and was so impressed that she immediately wrote to let us know about it. Following up on her suggestion, we reached out to Ashwin, the illustrator behind these special postcards, to ask him a few questions!
- How did you discover Postcrossing? What made you stay?
It was on a 2015 trip to Ladakh in the Himalayas that I posted my first ever postcard — to my parents back home. By the time I got back home, the postcard had already arrived, and it was fascinating to know that something could travel 2000+ kms and from 11500 feet altitude to sea-level — for as little as 6 rupees (8 cents USD). Ever since I got back, I knew there must be more people in love with postcards and I googled for postcard exchange platforms. Postcrossing happened to be amongst the top results and I was impressed by its member base. I am a huge travel buff and the fact that you get to hear stories from across the world by the way of postcards is the secondary reason why I continue to use the platform. The primary reason, of course, is that I imagine postal services might be discontinued someday (they shouldn’t be) and my postcard collection will be worth millions then! 😄
- What attracts you to urban sketching? How do you choose the buildings/sceneries that you focus on?
My training as an architect-urban designer led me to sketch and doodle a lot of ideas. But it was my Bachelors thesis professor, Ar. Shrikant Sathe, who insisted that I never give up sketching. I simply followed his advice and now I end up sketching even while waiting at airports and train stations! Life in urban environments is very interesting and I usually pick a small frame of a large and chaotic surrounding to sketch it. At the moment, I am focusing on drawings humans better in my sketches!
- Do you have a favourite postcard that you’ve made?
I doodled a map of my city titled 'A-Z Bombay’ for a heritage travel company called Khaki Tours I work with. This map chronicled the 26 must-do experiences in Mumbai alphabetically laid out on a map.
Since then, I have used the illustration across posters, mugs and postcards. It remains my favourite card till date. But I am always looking to find a new favourite.
- What are members reactions when they receive one of these sketched postcards?
While posting the cards is a reward in itself, it is heartening to know that my recipients love my postcards. I have made friends with so many people from around the globe and many are in touch via Whatsapp/Instagram with regular exchange of postcards. I am happy when my sketches inspire people to visit my country. Perhaps someday my life partner will show up on a postcard too!
- Which materials do you use to make these cards?
Sketches are usually done in my sketchbook that I carry with me at all times. They’re then scanned and laid out on my computer before being printed on a thick 300gsm textured paper. I am extremely finicky about the finish and take the delivery of the cards from my printshop myself.
Thank you so much Ashwin! We love it when people pour their talents into the postcards they send — it’s so inspiring! 😍 If you’ve received a particularly nice handmade postcard lately, let us know in the comments below!
76 comments so far
Wow! These drawings are splendid! Thanks for this post.
Beautiful!! I hope to receive one some day. Ashwin is a real talent!
Wow ! So much talent ! Congratulations !
Thanks to your blog got to know this talented Postcrosser from my city Mumbai...Loved your sketches Ashwin...Keep it going...Best wishes...Happy Postcrossing...
Very pretty sketches, congratulations to all talented people that make this world brighter. :)
What a splendid spotlight! Thank you, Ashwin and other artists of Postcrossing, for making the world brighter--especially now!
Very well done! I love urbank sketch so is specially nice to find this kind of treasure
Wow! Amazing! I love those urban sketches. I do hope that one day someone will send me a card like that.
Congrats to Ashwingreat urban sketches love them. Thanks for this blog brightens up these days of crises all over the world. Stay safe and smile ciao.
You are fantastic to make your drawings intocards. I hope I get one some day. Thank you for sharing you re talent!
What a great story. I hope I get your postcard someday. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing the story.
Awesome. Keep on showing the world your wonderful talent. 👏🏻
Well done! *Thumbs up*
Thank you for sharing Ashwin's story and sketches with us! What a bright idea to make postcards of sketches, they are awesome and unique 👏 Keep on doing your great work, Ashwin, and good luck 🍀!
Nice and Original! Hope I get one of your cards one day!
WOW! So, cool! I would definitely support this artist if these postcards were for sale!
That is really Beautiful! Thank you for sharing
Love these drawings! Ashwin, if you ever decide to print these and sell them, I would be happy to buy some from you! I'm always looking for artistic postcards to share with other Postcrossing members.
I love seeing other Postcard artists out there! As an artist who sends handmade cards, it's so encouraging to see other fabulous drawings from others. ;)
I LOVE this :D I just started studying interior architecture and we do a lot of urban sketching and stuff too. This is so inspiring. ❤️
thank you,great postcards
Very nice illustrations! My sister also illustrates postcards, and I'm always happy to send out one of her postcards. It just feels so unique :).
So much talent!
Fabulous postcards Ashwin! Your illustrations are gorgeous!
I love homemade postcards! One of my favorite handmade postcards was done by Svemapaan (Svetlana and her sister) in Germany. I received it in July of 2017 and I have had it up on my wall ever since :)
Oh my gosh, fabulous! Such talent. Thank you for this article.
I think my favorite cards are the handmade ones! These are beautiful -- thanks for sharing them and Ashwin's talents.
Why i can not meat you,your paint are excellent！
What an incredible talent!! Thank you for sharing your gift!!
Absolutely amazing, Ashwin!! Would love to get one of your postcards one day, too!
Thanks for sharing your story! So cool and you're so incredibly talented.
Wow, amazing talent.
Amazing!
So beautiful postcards! And great job! Thank you for sharing )
This is really inspiring. I am happy when people are that generous to share their art! <3 Thanks for this amazing spotlight.
Great！❤️
I send hand made postcards too, it depends on what the other people want to receive. If I don't have, I paint! Awsome work Ashwin! <3
Great postcards! I hope Ashwin will draw my address one day.
Really inspiring and talented person! Thank you for sharing your art with us! And thank you PC for giving us the chance to discover several illustrators and designers around the globe thanks to all the postcards we receive!!
Lovely sketches! Have inspired me to try it out so thanks! 🙏🏼
Awesome! I hope to receive one someday!
Great work Ashwin > #realtalent
Take care everyone and stay healthy!
Happy Postcrossing!
:) :D
Your"re very talented and I'm happy you share your art with us in this article. I also hope to receive one someday. And about your country: I visited my foster children in Cochin a few years ago. Great country!
رائع
Ashwin is a very talented man! His drawings are so beautiful! His professor was right--he should always continue to sketch and draw and illustrate. ❤️ Thank you, Postcrossing, for highlighting Ashwin in this blog. I love to learn about other Postcrossers. 😊
Wow that's really great
"Do Epic Shit" = Great advice :)
Very cool!!! Hope to be a recipient some day :)
Wauw they are beautiful, didn't get one yet but hope to get one soon. that would be marvellous. thank you for sharing
Wow, that's really impressing! Love it very much <3 <3 <3
I would love one, one day!
Loved this profile! Thank you. What's Ashwin's Instragram link? I want to follow him and his amazing sketches.
Ashwin, I hope you will also share your sketches with this blog. They've put out a couple of books as well.
http://www.urbansketchers.org/
Finally, someone from India got featured on Postcrossing blog! 😍
Amazing talented. I hope that I find one of them one day in my mailbox!
I am always impressed by the sheer talent of some people!
Wow! I hope I get his postcard someday. I love drawing, too. Thanks for sharing the story.
Wow! Ashwin, your sketched postcards are amazing! So much fun and thoughtful. And I think you’re adorable too lol!
Awesome work! To receive such a card is really a present .
I like to make handmade cards with ink and rubber stamps,
sending them all over the world feels good.I don't know why so may postcrossers don' t want handmade cards .They are my favorite to receive .
Great article. I'd love an Ashwin card one day.
wonderful, you are so talented, Ashwin :)
A great idea! I am an illustrator and I really like the style of your sketches. Maybe one day you could receive a card from me and I'll get a card from you. That sounds great :)
These are fantastic!! Keep up the great work Ashwin!
Love the cards, amazing sketches. Thanks Postcrossing for sharing the story with us.
Your talent is amazing and how thoughtful to share it on a postcard. Truly inspiring!!
Epic talent and blog!
Amazing talent first of all. I wish I can draw....but even stick figures are unknown for me :)
And love the book cover page - DO EPIC SHIT!!!
Wow, great talent! I’m happy to get known your art!
Thank you for showing us the view of your world! :)
What wonderful sketching! I'm delighted to have a chance to see your work. Thank you for sharing it with us. May our paths crossing on Postcrossing someday. :-)
What a wonderful skill!!
Love those postcards, Ashwin! I hope to get one some day. I make my own postcards, too, with my little plein air paintings. People seem to like them.
one word; #Gifted that is what you are Ashwin. A ma zing!
Absolutely amazing sketches! I hope to find one in my 📫 someday! Thank you for sharing your talent!!!!☘️
This is very unique Ashwin, can you do each Capital city in the world like this? It would just take off in Postcrossing
(Long comment, sorry!)
Thank you to the postcrossing team; I am extremely grateful for this feature. Every interaction with Postcrossing gives back so much more than it takes, and I was caught up with something that you all might like:
With too much negative news around, I had started an instagram experiment on 25 March - the same day when the lockdown in India began. The purpose was to create and post one artwork a day. It's keeping me in routine and good mental shape besides improving art skills as well. I also ask a question alongwith the artwork, with one correct answer getting a postcard by snailmail! So everyone who wish to get a postcard (and even if you don't!), you might want to check out instagram.com/atlaskeeda (ATLAS = Art, Travel, Language And Stories)
Although I never created postcards to be sold, the comments here have gotten me thinking! I have begun designing new postcards and will keep posting updates on the same instagram handle.
Special shoutouts to...
danielle110305 and booboo_babies : for your encouraging words.
Sophyxo and SaikaK : Never give up sketching!
WuLeike : I would love to meet you as well, just not during this pandemic!
Sprinkledonut : instagram.com/urbankeeda and instagram.com/atlaskeeda
littleadventures : Swiped you right too! :D
BridgetLarsen : Very valuable suggestion. Will definitely work on it :)
Lastly, I hope everyone is safe and supporting your loved ones. When things are back to normal, I would like to invite you all to India - fabulous place and you know whom to contact :)
Thank you!
Ashwin
Amazing!
Very cool sketching! I only draw portrets from the postcrossers when they share there pfotograph in there info. Very nice to do! Or when they are fan of a specifiek person...I draw it sometimes for them. When they like it...then i am very happy person :)
Amazing, Ashwin!
I once received a wonderful card especially drawn for me by Anke (AnoukBahr)
https://www.postcrossing.com/postcards/DE-7780265
I loved it!
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