I have not shared anything here for a long, long time, I know. Initially this blog was meant to be a record of what I create— painting, sketches, poems, short stories and, of course, my quilts! A sudden loss of some of my work reminded me that I do need to get back to maintaining this record, so here I am!
When I am visiting my son in the USA, I cannot quilt for various reasons that include a highly inquisitive grandson who turned three this year! So I sketch. It is much easier to gather a few pencils and a sketchbook and hide them when the mischievous imp appears!
The sketches are al on Strathmore Grey using a 2B and a 2H pencil.
So this year, I started a sketch of this old puppeteer that I had photographed a few years ago in Jaipur.
The sketch was half-finished, when Grandson saw what I was up to!
“Draw me, Amma,” came the command. Obviously, Amma put aside everything else and started on a sketch of the baby, from a photograph taken when he was two!
As I had only two pencils—a 2H and a 2B to work with, I decided to put this away and start on this sketch of my daughter. To be completed when I got back home to India!
When packing for India, I removed the sketches and wrapped them up in some sheets of paper and got them home in my carry-on luggage.
And then, when unpacking, I forgot what those white sheets were all about, and threw them away in the garbage with all the packing material (or that is what I presume I did, because they are not to be found anywhere)! I have hunted high and low but no sign of the sheets or the sketches.
Well, they do say, enjoy the process when creating art and forget about the fruit of your labour! In any case, these would most likely have gone into the garbage after me. So be it. A lesson also, perhaps, about the transient nature of this world!
Whatever it is, I am glad I have these photos and some close-ups which I am adding here, to come and look back at, whenever…
Perhaps I shall do a quilted portrait now using this photo! I am less likely to throw that away by mistake!
And here are some process photos of the sketches of the puppeteer!
Getting the features down in place
Bringing in the values
Blending…and more blending!
After about 8 hours!
And finally, a close-up of a pair of eyes which can change from innocent to naughty in seconds…
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