I Am Dulhan

Stylized digital sketch rooted in cultural narrative

Year: 2021

Categories: Fashion & Digital Illustration

Description

I Am Dulhan is a deeply personal fashion illustration that explores bridal identity within South Asian culture. Through soft watercolor washes and delicate pencil details, I try to capture the emotional weight, elegance, and individuality of a traditional bride. Unlike commercial bridal imagery, this piece places emphasis on inner thought — not just ornamentation. The illustration balances the grandeur of bridal fashion with an introspective lens, suggesting both reverence and quiet vulnerability

I Am Dulhan is not just a portrait — it’s a mood, a memory, a mirror. The choice to use watercolors over digital tools adds softness and authenticity to the message. This project underscores Bhairavi’s ability to work with emotional sensitivity while honoring cultural heritage. It also showcases her strength in creating illustrations that don’t just represent garments, but the people and traditions behind them. A clear example of how she turns fashion into visual poetry — layered, expressive, and deeply human.

Conclusion

I Am Dulhan isn’t just a piece I made — it’s a moment I felt. This illustration came from a place of reflection on what it means to wear tradition, carry history, and still be yourself. Using watercolour allowed me to bring softness and subtlety into the folds and textures of the look, while pencil gave me the precision to hold on to the emotion in the eyes and posture.

This project was important to me because it wasn’t just about fashion — it was about identity. About the layers a bride wears, not just physically but emotionally and culturally. Creating this gave me space to explore how heritage can be both grounding and transformative. It’s one of the works that made me realise how much I value storytelling in my art — not just showing what something looks like, but how it feels. And sometimes, it feels like watercolour: soft, slow, and quietly powerful.