India Art Journal June 30-July 2 by Meera Rao
"Do not fail, as you go on, to draw something every day, for no matter how little it is, it will be well worthwhile, and it will do you a world of good."
~ Cennini
I am in India for next several months to take care of my M-I-L. I have decided to keep an art journal of sorts doing a vignette a day of my impressions/experience/observation etc during my time in India to force myself to set aside some painting/sketching time every day.
I have a Stathmore mixed media 5.5x8" 34 page 90 lb spiral bound visual journal. I am using Koi water color pocket field sketch box with a waterbrush, prismacolor fine line 8 marker set, pilot G-2 07 black pen and a #2 pencil for my sketching. Dividing the paper into 4 sections and using a section a day (painting on one side only) has worked well for the past fifteen days. This way, if I keep up with my sketching I should have atleast one hundred little sketches :) I already feel a sense of freedom in my sketching. I am not going for perection, finished compositions, nor worry much about values. The idea is to have a simple record of my time here, get some sketching practice and develop some discipline to sketch, draw and paint each day atleast for fifteen minutes! I hope to be able to do a few larger pieces too --please, wish me luck :)
The first page documents our dinner at the airport - vegetarian sushi, different documents used, an air line employee and finally our first happy purchase soon after reaching our destination - Fresh divine Mangoes :) I have to relearn the PC here and hope to post better photographs soon!
9 comments:
Best wishes for your M-I-L. I hope your journaling goes well. I'll look forward to seeing your sketches. Maybe you will get some finished pieces done for a miniature art show.
Thank you Yvonne :) Miniature show --thats a thought! But right now they are basically simple sketches done when I manage to find some time during the day...
I love your sketch/journal Meera. :) I hope your MIL gets feeling better soon, and that you'll get to have some time to paint as well. Sending you good vibes from the states! Take care Meera.
You started it with a bang, so many things together telling me a story in a sequence :-)
Great idea to do while you have a free time, that rejuvenates you to do better nursing, my sincere prayers for your MIL, Meera
Thank you Crystal and Padmaja :) Actually my MIL is in pretty decent health -- but at 90 she is very frail and cannot stay by herself-someone needs to run the household and do the cooking etc - so all the kids are taking turns being with her - its our turn now :)I wholeheartedly accept your wishes and prayers for her continued well being. and I am figuring out how to carve out time to do bigger pieces as well as leaing to keep a house here!!!
Another great idea. You certainly have developed a wonderful habit of sketching and this will really tell a story about your time in India.
I'm glad to hear that you MIL is not ill and it's wonderful that her children are helping in this way.
Kathy, Thanks! I am enjoying keeping a journal of sketches. It keeps me excited to think about what to sketch for the day as I go about taking care of things around the house.
My husband spent 3 weeks last year in April in Bangalore. He was so amazed and intrigued by the culture there and speaks of it often.
I look forward to seeing your journal entries! You are on such a long journey!
Thank you Lisa! You are right about being on a long journey. I am trying to figure out ways to make the best of it and grow artistically and spiritually ;)
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