How One Day in Bangalore Filled My Sketchbook
A day of slow looking
Some Saturdays leave your sketchbook fuller and your heart a little lighter. This was one of them.
We started the day at Cubbon Park. I made an illustration of three friends sitting on a tree bark. With this piece, I wanted to explore the idea that “the grass is always greener on the other side”, but in a simple, illustrative way.
After that, I sat down to draw one of the trees and spent some time rendering all its textures. My friend looked at one of my tree paintings and said, "Ye mighty mighty tree!" and I absolutely loved that. There are so many mighty trees in Cubbon Park, and each one has such a unique personality. The more time you spend looking at them, the more they seem to come alive.
Later, we visited Champaca Bookstore, and it was so beautiful. My favourite section is always the picture books, and this one didn't disappoint. One book I especially loved was The Lost Words. It had the most wonderful poems paired with beautiful illustrations of birds. I could have spent hours there.
Then I wandered upstairs and found this incredible swimming pool nestled between rows of potted plants. It was such an unexpectedly beautiful view that I had to sketch it. So while my friend happily browsed the grown-up books, I sat there making a quick sketch before we left.
One of my favourite discoveries that day was this beautiful ornamental plant called the beehive ginger. I had never noticed anything quite like it before. It looked so unusual and sculptural that I couldn't stop admiring it. Nature really does have the most incredible designs.
And of course, we ended the day with amazing dosas, idlis and kesari bath.
Sketches, books, conversations, good food, and a day spent noticing beautiful things. It was such a lovely Saturday.
Happy Creating
Oh it was lovely to read this! Words make us experience everything twice. Looking forward eagerly to see you paint the intricacies of tree lives!
Love and light.