Arty Party

Since the model from the Life Drawing sessions was open to private posing, I invited some of my interested illustrator colleagues to my home along with the model. The difference was huge. 15 minutes per pose is a lot of time as opposed to 1 minute and 2 minute poses at the crowded life drawing sessions. The natural light at my home was at its best and the model, posing amidst the potted palms looked like a woman in a Gauguin painting.

Life drawing is difficult. You need to be given a firm foundation in art college, something which most of us do not get, and the one colleague of mine who made excellent drawings (with a felt pen that too) had some grounding at JJ School of Art. I was pleased that with just a few regular sessions of Life Drawing, my own figure drawing skills have improved, especially with the leisurely pace we were indulged with.

When illustrators get together to socialize, they need a "purpose", and drawing from life provided that. I guess it is the equivalent of a party theme. There was one exemplary 3 year old boy engrossed with his train set in one of the bedrooms. The other "boy" at the table was engrossed with his phone. He came and left with the model. There were salads and foccacia for lunch, but the serene superwoman mom of the 3 year old baked and brought the best New York Cheesecake ever. While all of us decided we must call a model over for private sittings like this again, I think we also (read I also) secretly hoped there would be cheesecake as an accompaniment every single time.

The Bookshelf

My bookshelf is the focal point in my new home and since I've moved in here it has become an evolving work of art. At first it was spartan and neatly arranged, but now over the couple of months I've stayed here, it has started to acquire more personality. 

Apart from my much collection of books which I must have as company, the things I love are also showcased here - the inevitable seedpods make their way to my bookshelf, as do objects picked up from my travels - driftwood from a beach in Roncesvalles somewhere in Toronto, the tiniest seashells from beaches in Australia, striped pebbles from Hampi, lucky pigs from Singapore...they are all placed here with love and care. 

 

Every time I pass by this bookshelf, which is many times during the day, my heart expands, my fur rises, I feel a sense of contentment. 

The Bottles at my Window

There are no lines in nature, there are only areas of color set against each other.
~ Edouard Manet

*

‘The study was slowly lit up by the candle that was brought. Familiar details emerged: deer’s antlers, shelves of books, the back of the stove with a vent that had long been in need of repair, his father’s sofa, the big desk, an open book on the desk, a broken ashtray, a notebook with his handwriting. When he saw it all, he was overcome by a momentary doubt of the possibility of setting up that new life he had dreamed of on the way. All these traces of his life seemed to seize hold of him and say to him: ‘No, you won’t escape us and be different you’ll be the same as you were with doubts, with an eternal dissatisfaction with yourself, vain attempts to improve, and failures, and an eternal expectation of the happiness that has eluded you and is not possible for you.’

But that was how his things talked, while another voice in his soul said that he must not submit to the past and it was possible to do anything with oneself.’
(from Anna Karenina, chapter 26)
Many thanks for this quote to Jenni Birchwood.

I will be closing my comments section for a while. My email is always accessible to those who wish to contact me. 

June and a bit of July

I almost think I am repeating the madness of last year’s June post as I write this. Everything chugs along peacefully for the first 6 months of the year and then comes June whirling me away on a wild mad ride (mad as in exciting and adventurous) until I pass out. I have somewhat recovered enough to write this as life resumes its normal routines once more – back to blogging, back to gym, back to French class…

Here are just pictures of some of the more peaceful moments in June and a bit of beautiful happy July. I hope it stays that way. There aren’t too many details links or captions here. I have just made a post of pictures for you to enjoy. The mad stuff I think I’ll just keep to myself. Enjoy these instead.

Wild Cardamom

Katydid

The only thing that gets me out of bed really early are Saturday sketching sessions 

with friends at Richard's park.

John sketches with us.

A boy and his dog. This is one of the most beautiful photographs I have ever taken.

From one of the countless visits to French Loaf @ R town.

A lovely colourful lunch @ Imli with A :)

My first Aam ka Panna (a drink made of raw mangoes)

My first Moleskin sketchbook! And it is a GIGANTIC one :)

So big, it does not fit into this photograph.

A beautiful tea party at the home of the Chai Goddess

A green and blue dessert

Thoughtful gifts, Seedpods and cards by Aa.

Vanilla bean cheesecake by Chef N

Henrik Drescher is to illustration what Naomi Campbell is to modelling. Imagine my surprise when I get a mail from him in my inbox asking me to contribute some pictures for his project Artist's Workspaces.

Now I must begin shelved projects once more...if I can find some space at my desk!

See you later :)

Violets

Since several bloggers have asked me about this pretty plant on my desk, I thought I'd indulge you all with a few pictures. It is a Violet plant that I bought at the flower show in Lalbagh. It needs careful handling and care, therefore it is on my desk rather than out in my garden. My studio window does not face the garden so it is nice to look up and have this pot of violets keeping me company with their quiet beauty.

The other beauty has defiantly found herself a different place where she can sleep undisturbed since there was always a tussle for space between both of us at my desk. There is no sight more beautiful than the serenity of a cat asleep :)

My old sketchbook has come to an end. Here are the last few pages -

And here is a new sketchbook, freshly bound with customized cover from a school chart bought on the streets of Avenue Road.

And this is what my desk looks like right now :)

I learned… that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic, striving, but it comes to us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness.

                                           ~ Brenda Ueland (via ArtPropelled)