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Here we used to call REs 'The Bullet' … Enfields were just 'Bullet' for us. It’s still the same. The old cast iron engines with chrome details are still considered legendary here.

Throw together inking, ‘Made like a Gun’ motorcycles, a little Shaolin Kung Fu philosophy, and a passion for action-based, sometimes ‘wacky’ concept art … and you've got Dehradun-based freelance concept artist Prankur Rana.

From the mountains of Chamoli Gharwal – hatched near New Delhi, India – Rana has been making waves in the moto art world for the past three years with his unique take on motorcycles and the riders who obsess over them.

India is a country with a rich motorcycle heritage and culture: Royal Enfield is based in the Southeast Asian subcontinent, and RE’s highly successful 'Himalayan' was originally developed for the market there. Bollywood films and the streets of major cities like New Delhi and Mumbai are full of chrome-tanked vintage and modern classic bikes, like REs, BSAs and Nortons.

Appropriately, Rana is highly passionate about riding and his motorcycles – both are a key influence and motivator in his artwork.

“Here we used to call REs 'The Bullet' … Enfields were just 'Bullet' for us," Rana said. "It’s still the same. The old cast iron engines with chrome details are still considered legendary here. If you go back to my social media (Instagram) from the last few years, the first ever drawing I posted was an old 'Bullet' engine drawing. Royal Enfield has been the biggest and dearest inspiration for me to illustrate motorcycles and to try to make a career out of it."

Conceptual Calendar Art for Isle of Man TT veteran and British former motorcycle racer Guy Martin — Prankur Rana

I went with that and made him so, so old that his skin is falling apart … civilization has moved on with flying bikes and cars, (but the) poor old dude is still trying. That was the whole idea behind it. Now that you mention it, that piece does resemble Jamie’s (Gorillaz) work. He’s the guy behind those characters … big fan of his work, Jamie Hewlett.

Channeling a Gorillaz ‘virtual band’, anime aesthetic, Rana’s favorite illustration to date was part of a series of concept pieces drawn for a prospective calendar featuring Isle of Man TT veteran and British former motorcycle racer, Guy Martin.

‘Guy Martin Attempting For the 3000th Time!’ evolved simply from an email request, and the title, referring to the moto racer’s continued quest to break the 300-mph barrier on a turbo-charged Hayabusa superbike.

“I instantly thought this is impossible … he’ll become old man before he tries it for the 3000th time. So, I went with that and made him so, so old that his skin is falling apart … civilization has moved on with flying bikes and cars, (but the) poor old dude is still trying. That was the whole idea behind it. Now that you mention it, that piece does resemble Jamie’s (Gorillaz) work. He’s the guy behind those characters … big fan of his work, Jamie Hewlett."

The 32-year-old, who graduated from the Punjab Technical University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Multimedia, credits his mother as his first and biggest influence in choosing a career in art. A music and art teacher, Rana’s ‘Maa’ taught him how to draw and paint from early childhood.

The process: inspirations by (panel 1) @gearsandglory / @choppers.inc | (panel 2) @thruxton999 / @marks_moto_photo | (panel 3) Valentino Rossi; @bryanhelm / @choppers.inc; Ducati India — Prankur Rana

Roughly a week or so is enough. (The) first couple of days are just lots of screaming and panic to get the concept right. That’s the most painful part. The final couple of days are just smooth sailing.

Rana’s process for creating his pieces always starts with a warm-up using pencil and paper.

"I do this automatic drawing technique where you just scribble your heart away … just not caring about what (you) draw. I do use lot of references – when I say a lot, it’s sometimes 10 to 15 references for one illustration.”

Rana's process then moves to inking or digital work on a computer, depending on the job's requirements.

“(On the digital side,) I use Procreate first and then take it to Photoshop, Sketchbook Pro or Illustrator.”

It can take seven days or more for Rana to complete a single piece from original concept to final colorized version.

“Roughly a week or so is enough. (The) first couple of days are just lots of screaming and panic to get the concept right. That’s the most painful part," he says. "The final couple of days are just smooth sailing.”

Rana’s portfolio includes numerous rider/motorcycle images which capture the intensity, passion and even humor of motorcyclists. That, in itself, is an art … conveying rider emotion, even when a helmet is worn.

“In the world of art, we call it the ‘line of action’ or ‘flow of action’ … basically the intention or the emotion is shown using the body pose or gestures. For example, the body movement or pose tells you what (a character like) Spider-Man is up to. You don’t need facial expressions to tell you what someone else is trying to say or do.”

Conceptual Poster Art for Portland, Oregon's ONE Moto Show — Prankur Rana

(The Electra) was originally owned by my uncle who was a bodybuilder – every big man from that era had an Enfield. I remember how macho and cool he looked while riding that thumping motorcycle. It was pure joy and (I got) goosebumps every time I used to hear that sound when I was a little kid.

Rana has worked with several large motorcycle companies in India, including Harley Davidson, Ducati, Royal Enfield and TVS Racing. Commissioned jobs usually provide a rough background of the design, with the artist adding his own style and aesthetic to the mix.

“I provide them with multiple sketches for them to choose from and we take it from there. I love it when clients just leave everything on you and trust in your wacky ideas.”

Recent work Stateside has included art for Portland, Oregon’s ONE Moto Show as well as a Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride campaign, serving up cool rider/bike illustrations for donations to Rana’s Dehradun, India-based ride. New York’s A & J Cycles and NYCMotorcyclist.com both contributed.

Of his local DGR event, Rana said, “This time more than 80 riders showed up. It was a huge line (that) keeps getting bigger every year.”

The idea to draw for DGR donations came from the Inktober Challenge, a worldwide effort encouraging artists to maintain and improve their inking skills.

“You ink every day in the month of October. In this case I drew for people who donated a small amount a month before the event. I got to practice and grind while generating money for a cause I believe in. So far, I have done this for the last two rides and raised a total of $2800 USD (for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health resources). I’m happy to use my art for a cause, especially in this beautiful motorcycle community. We all have each other’s back, brothers and sisters.”

Rana has participated in the DGR five times since 2016, and this year rode his cherished 2002 Royal Enfield Electra.

The 350-cc mount has a unique and personal history all its own.

“It was originally owned by my uncle who was a bodybuilder – every big man from that era had an Enfield. I remember how macho and cool he looked while riding that thumping motorcycle. It was pure joy and (I got) goosebumps every time I used to hear that sound when I was a little kid."

Rana ‘procured’ that bike and ‘forced’ his uncle to buy a car, adding the Electra models are popular due to their ‘naked’, simple design, and their mod-ability.

"It’s like that Chinese philosophy Bruce Lee says – ‘it’s like water’ – it takes whatever shape you want, that bike," he said.

The adventures, the rides, the art, the signing — Prankur Rana

Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend.

Rana does most of his own maintenance on the Electra, a nice byproduct of it simple design. But for larger jobs – valve or cylinder head changes – he has a go-to ‘old-timer’ mechanic.

Rana started riding at 16, taking his father’s old Indian-made Chetak scooter out for spins when ‘Dad’ wasn’t home.

“I was trying to ride it, no, trying not to die while riding it to be more specific. My first motorcycle experience was a Yamaha RX100 two-stroke … beautiful motorcycle it was. One of my relatives had it and I was so mesmerized by that two-stroke sound,” he said.

Looking to the future, Rana has high hopes to work with several North American and European-based iconic moto entities: Biltwell, Bike Shed (London and LA), Austin’s Hand + Built motorcycle show, Top Gear, Vans, Dice Magazine, the Born Free motorcycle show, the American Flat Track racing circuit, and Revzilla.

“I can go on and on about this.”

To that end, Rana's unique, innovative and flowing style should see more partnerships soon.

Stay like water, Prankur ... stay like water.

For more on Prankur Rana visit his website at prankurrana.com or follow him on Instagram: @prankurrana. For commissions, Rana can be reached via email at: prankurrana@gmail.com