I Like कला

Logo for ISA

2012-02-01T23:07:00.000-05:00

So we had few designs in mind. We started with this...

I like this one, simple. I was planning to add a globe in the middle. But this design is a little too old, you might find similar design somewhere else.

then I started thinking about what I could create. I made this very rough design in Illustrator. I was going to hand draw the Temple T in 3-D. But I am trying to use the program as much as I can, so there are ways to make simple 2-D objects into 3-D.

And I came up with this...

It is really a boring design. This is what I have so far...I need some creative juice or something. And the line needs to go behind the globe. Still trying to figure it out.

It is so frustrating to figure out the tool (photoshop, illustrator) while you are trying to work on something and it is not doing what you want it to do. But I guess that is the best way to learn, technical side in you is challenged by creative side in you.

We still haven't finalized which one we are using.

It will be coming soon... time being. I'll try painting in photoshop.

"Turn Turn Turn" by The Byrds

Turn Turn Turn by The Birds on Grooveshark

Day 70

2012-01-23T17:54:00.000-05:00

For an active person, lying on bed all day is so difficult. I tried to watch tv, movies and read books but the medicine and pain were too distracting. I managed to re-read some of the book called "Sophies World", its a brilliant book for anyone who has no idea about the origins of western philosophy from Natural philosophers to Freud and everything is mentioned in a story from. In the beginning of the book there is a chapter called "What is Philosophy?".

An excerpt from the chapter:

"What is the most important thing in life? If we ask someone living on the edge of starvation, the answer is food. If we ask someone dying of cold, the answer if warmth. If we put the same question to someone who feels lonely and isolated, the answer will probably be the company of other people.

But when these basic needs have been satisfied--will there still be something that everybody needs? Philosophers think so. They believe that man cannot live by bread alone. Of course everyone needs food. And everyone needs love and care. But there is something else--apart from that--which everyone needs, and that is to figure out who we are any why we are here."

"To summarize briefly: A white rabbit is pulled out of a top hat. Because it is an extremely large rabbit, the trick takes many billions of years all mortals are born at the very tip of the rabbit's fine hairs, where they are in a position to wonder at the impossibility of the trick. But as they grow older they work themselves ever deeper into the fur. And there they stay. They become so comfortable they never risk crawling back up the fragile hairs again."

Well after 4 days of doing nothing. Today I had decided to something productive for sure. Make use of this wonderful Tablet =)

SO, in celebration of Vivekananda's birthday that passed on Jan 12th I created this desktop wallpaper.

Its not as cool looking as I thought it was going to be, but I am learning to use more Photoshop and Illustrator. So I should be getting better soon.

I took inspiration from this..Tutorial

You are MORE than welcome to use it as a background for anything. I only hope, this inspires people.

If you have special request, I would love to work on them.

Let me know.

"There is no such thing as talent!"

2012-01-07T23:09:00.001-05:00

As a child who is fairly above average in drawing skills or is able to color in crayons well hears all sorts of things from peers and adults. Things ranging from 'ohhh this is wonderful, can you make me something', 'this is great, keep working', or more commonly I have heard 'stop wasting your time and go study'. Or there are many who will say 'you have a great talent'. But is there such thing as talent?
All I have heard from my high school art teacher Ms. La Due is "there is no such thing as talent".
A quote used to hang in her classroom, "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration"- Edison, written in calligraphy by her high school art teacher Mr. Musselman. Ms. La Due has learned the mantra of 'practice practice practice' from this calligrapher himself, who truly believes that talent does not exist.
Morning Call, the local newspaper has written an article about this great gentleman who inspired my art teacher, Ms. La Due; who inspires me.
http://www.mcall.com/opinion/yourview/mc-jim-musselman-allentown-ely-yv--20120104,0,2399520.story

Doodles I found drawn on a paper towel cardboard. At Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

Paul McCormack- demo at National Arts Club

2011-12-27T22:45:00.002-05:00

I got to see Paul McCormack do a demo at National Arts Club in New York City in November.
My watercolor professor James Toogood invited me to go see the show that was up and watch his demo.
The way he uses watercolor is much similar to the how an oil painter would paint.

btw, thats his wife!

an hour worth of paint job. He tends to spend a week on portraits like these with 9-10hour work days.

Thats some solid time for a portrait. I have never put in that much time on a piece before. =/

this is one of his oil piece. SO beautiful!

here is small video I took

Occupy Wallstreet, of course!

Movie Translation

2011-12-26T10:28:00.000-05:00

This movie was made by Cameron. It's wonderfully edited. I helped him do some of the translation from Gujarati to English.

The music is just beautiful!

My amazing opportunity

2011-11-19T22:43:00.000-05:00

This is my amazing opportunity. Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

I have learned innumerable things here and met ever more vibrant people.

So much passion that it exhilarates me when I hear some of my teachers talk.

Really the soul of American art, with deep history and known for producing successful American Painters such as Eakins, Robert Henri etc.

I love every moment that I spend there. May it be struggling to get the proportions correct for 2 hours then, finally getting them and not having enough time to finish or painting at 6 in the morning to finish a still life before the actual class come in at 8. Or simply watching other people draw, paint, sculpt and smile as they notice you observing.

All my classes have been wonderful from water color to oil still-life to the color theory.

Sunset from 9th Floor where my locker is.

There is a world out there that studies for the sake of studying.

A new piece that came, I think some of the students are working on them to finish it. Yes its a plane from WWII.

Finally got to see the "Gross Clinic" by Thomas Eakins. Its in the building I have my figure drawing class every Saturday morning.

Close up of "Gross Clinic"

Dr. Gross I think

Painting by Robert Henri (one of the most amazing art philosophy authors)

How beautiful, I GO TO THIS SCHOOL. YEA THIS ONE...freakin amazing.

when they were bringing the plane in

in progress work

"knot" in progress, actually I never finished it lol

gray scale still life

Piece the I made then I had to re-use the clay to work on my full figure sculpture.

Music by Mynta

Song from Brahmaputra by Mynta on Grooveshark

Day 69

2011-10-24T10:02:00.000-04:00

"Taking the trash out"
(Ritual self-portrait without my face)

Photoshop project. Pictures taken by Indhu, thank you mucho.

Yes blogging from class as I am done with this project. But now I will go back and edit my old illustrator project.

It feels great to get on my bike again! Oh how I missed biking in the morning for the past few weeks.

Fall weather is perfect for biking except the runny nose and watery eyes from the wind.

It's a calm and chaotic morning sort of like this song.

Day 68

2011-10-13T10:59:00.000-04:00

My brothers reaction to this was "What the hell?" ( He thinks he is so cool...-_-)

A vector project done on illustrator.

I personally think it turned out pretty well.

Inspired by Kehinde Wiley's painting.

Thank you Radha for letting me use your computer =)

Kehinde Wiley's paintings are usually of hip-hop singers

Such as this one of "LL Cool J" I saw at the National Portrait Gallery in DC.

I was thinking about how the original image I used in my work (him standing in a very 'dont care about anything' pose) is similar to the style Wiley uses in his paintings. A gesture can convey large amount of information about a person's personality.

In Wiley's painting, he depicted a sort of high class status in the stern look on a larger than life canvas.

My brother on the other hand is sort of just chilling with his headphones that I gave him in the windows wallpaper background (because he is a geek and is addicted to his ipod)

Forget hip-hop. Here is some nice Niyaz music.

I read Robert Henri's "The Art Spirit" this summer and I can probably read that book over and over again. Every sentence in the book is lyrically attractive and his words leave me in awe every ime.

one great thing I learned from that book: concept of Self-education

He reiterated this 'best education is self-education'

he talked about how this thirst we have to know and learn can only be quenched by ourself.

Now I am reading/trying to read "Thoughts on Art and Life" by Leonardo Da Vinci (did I mention we share birthdays ^_^)

Excerpt from his book, he sort of talks about the same thing Henri does.

"he had searched to find a scientific basis for art, and discovered it in the imitation of nature, based on rational experience. this idea was, in part, Aristotelian, imbibed with the spirit of the time though in the ordinary acceptance of the word Leonardo was no scholar, least of all a humanist. his own innovation in aesthetic was in requiring a rational and critical experience as a necessary foundation, the acquisition of which was to result from the permanent condition of the mind. he had trained his own faculties to critically observe all natural phenomena: first try by experience, and then demonstrate why such experiments is forced to operate in the way it does, was his advice. The eye, he gave as an instance, had been defined as one things: by experience, he had found it to be another."

THIS IS MY 151st POST.
wow, I certainly didn't think I'd keep up with this when I started 2 years ago.

Day 67

2011-10-11T16:59:00.000-04:00

This is not exactly the final version of the t-shirt design done for Muslim Student Association but its almost the final version. Right now the Illustrator is not co-operating with me regarding this font business. Next time I will post the final version.

So Ms. Prabhakaran and I started this thing called Radiant Colors (not sure if I mentioned it earlier, but she got this idea of starting a small business with me while eating cereal, yes cereal).

This T-shirt was designed under Radiant Colors. You can find us on Facebook...yayy woohoo.

Ok I am done.

I hope you are all doing Awesommeee ^_^ weeee for the fall weather.

Like us on Facebook.

Radiant Colors

Baby Ninja (Injured)

2011-09-30T08:37:00.000-04:00

Baby Ninja (when she was looking fynee)

Baby Ninja (after she got hit by a drunk driver, no human body parts were injured)

When I get a chance I am going to draw her.

But listen to these ridiculous bicycle songs..

Bute the best of all is this last one...

hahahaha
=D

Day 66

2011-09-22T13:55:00.000-04:00

Photograph by Saleem Ahmed

Always wanted to paint this photograph, taken in India by Saleem.

Ok I tried, the drawing isn't so good and watercolor is sooo hard to work with.
No justice done to the original photograph.
You think painting requires patience? Watercolor requires even more patience!!
around 2.5-3 hours of work...
I am learning to get better at watercolor
Ahh hope I create something better in my Friday class.
I will try this in Oils someday.

Watercolors remind me of a beautiful mess like this song...
messy yet vibrant, coordinated yet unexpected
"Beautiful Mess" by Jason Mraz

Artist Statement!

2011-09-18T22:11:00.003-04:00

My life has greatly been influenced by the Vedic way of life that originated in southern Asia. Indian classical music, festivals, values and so on are all a part of this rich culture. It is reflected in the art that I create, from the painting of ‘Diwali’ to the ‘Girl inside the temple’ and even my doodles on used coffee filters. My artwork and vision has been highly influenced by my Indian cultural upbringing with close ties to family.

Essentially artists are mere imitators of nature, the surrounding within and outside. It is the artist who decides what aspect of this greatest creation of all, nature, to illustrate. I desire to portray beauty that is found in simple things and send a positive message about life.

For example, the idea to use used coffee filters as a medium was inspired from the natural pattern created on the coffee filters from coffee brewing. Some parts were stained, and some were not, in a very random manner, sort of like the different life experiences we all go through. Our life is never plain like a new coffee filter, but always like a used one: stained, used here and there, torn here and every one of them is unique only after it is used. My motive was to make this used coffee filter even more attractive and beautiful, like the way it is our job to make this life beautiful regardless of the stains we are given.

My art, many times is observed and brought to life in oil, water color, pen, sharpie, acrylic, on canvas, paper or used coffee filters. A lot of the work shown here is few years old; recently I completed my Bachelors degree in Biology from Temple University and have been working on improving my skills of drawing from life as I am aspiring to pursue a career in medical illustration.

yataḥ pravṛttir bhūtānāḿ

yena sarvam idaḿ tatam

sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya

siddhiḿ vindati mānavaḥ

Chapter 18th of Bhagvad Gita, Verse 46

“The perfection of self-realization is only obtained in perfection from worshipping the Supreme Lord and offering everything one possesses to Him”

I offer my efficiency to him, my art.

ACL ACL ACL

2011-09-15T10:33:00.003-04:00

wake up early, bike, class, bike, eat, bike, class, bike more... is what I do all day everyday!

I have been biking a ridiculous amount lately, but can't tell you how much I enjoy it.

Few months till have to go under the knife to get this ACL of mine fixed. So far I dont feel any pain (in terms of it coming in my way of daily life), but my knee is very weak.

So I am trying to soak in all the physical things I can do for the next few month, after december I will be a little sedentary (hopefully not in my thinking).

Till then trying to take it slow.

What does my ACL have to do with a blog that is about art! Well, look at this gorgeous animation about ACL reconstruction.

Day 65

2011-09-09T11:08:00.001-04:00

This is the most I have biked in one route!

and we return after a long break from blogging.

Blogging is such a good way to keep track of my artistic progress, and a log of all the things I have done.

Introspection is important . To check once in a while where I am, and where do I want to go.

Artistically I do that by looking at what things have come naturally to me, things that initially used to take frustration and intense thought about what exactly I am doing.

May people think, painting or drawing is a passive act. To some it can be, if it is reflecting the inner nature and they are using no technique and its all emotion. Such as the random doddles and patterns are I create in class, or when a Buddhist monk creates mandala (though he is in a 100% concentrated stage, opposite of passive, yet relaxed). But for the most part, drawing and painting from life is all attention requiring and frustrating process. Its about observing, thinking about what you see, then putting that brush stroke down. No random brush stoke will not get you life like work. Even though there is so much frustration involved, the process is extremely rewarding. The feeling of getting a glimpse of what

its like to create. The little power of creation that we have is amazing, cant even imagine how the world was created.

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up"-Pablo Picasso

Most people cant get past this frustration and stop creating.

Its good to think about where you are at, but at the same time can't get stuck.
Api chet su-duracharo

I am super duper pumped for all my classes. Watercolor, charcoal, oil, pen and ink and graphite is all that I will be using!

In my computer imaging class we started with this project, where we had to create a pattern from 1'x1' square on a 8'x8' work space. We are working on Illustrator for now. These are all the patterns I came up with.

Surprised no paisely?

This whole month of September, my art will be showing at Metropolitan Bakery .

Its a nice-small-cute, place to have my first public exposure.

Artist reception is on the 23rd.

from 6-8:30pm. Stop by!

I have been thinking about my ba a lot recently, I wish she was here.

and at the same time my family in India. Miss you all sooo mucchh!!!

New Favorite Website

2011-08-04T16:57:00.004-04:00

http://iheartguts.com/

Day 64

2011-07-26T12:49:00.003-04:00

These painted shoes are becoming popular!
If you want to get your shoes painted please holler at me =)

Indhu wanted some Lotus, so here they are.
Here are Krupa's.
Here are mine.

Ok so don't hate. But I am in love with Rihanna's song "Man Down"
Whatever you say, she is a beast.

Day 63 continued...

2011-07-23T10:48:00.001-04:00

Fancy cocktail party at Johns Hopkins!
I got to learn a great deal from these handful passionate and dedicated medical illustrators from around the country at this meeting

Final product!

I went to give these two items (wine bottle case and this hand painted bag) to Square Peg yesterday but it was closed due to scorching heat!
So I decided to give it a try on Etsy.
Let's see how it goes.

Day 63

2011-07-19T14:30:00.004-04:00

Wine bottle case.

Gesso'd the box!

Music tends to have a huge impact on art, most certainly my art.

This one track by is Mustafa Sandal inspired me to make a Turkish/Moroccan pattern...

I don't know why I picked such a complicated design, it's taking me so long to just draw the darn thing on the box. But this is what I have before I depart for Baltimore =) and network at Johns Hopkins tomorrow.

Pumped!

Hilarious!

2011-07-19T10:38:00.001-04:00

If you have taken Art History, you should be able to name each of the paintings depicted in the music video.
So creative!

70 Million by Hold Your Horses ! from L'Ogre on Vimeo.

Day 62

2011-07-05T01:44:00.003-04:00

After having too much chill time at home and doing nothing creative for 5 days, my hands start to itch and head hurts!

So I was walking around Boscovs and found this bag for $3!!!! only $3!!!!

I had to buy it and since it was blank and white, either my sharpie or paint were definitely going to jump on there.

I painted peacock feathers.

Yes, I love peacock feathers!

(look at my super dark-tan-summer-skin)

Some people think I have a bohemian style, maybe by default because I make art or maybe because they actually notice my odd clothes . But the truth is my aunts in India love me too much and send me TONS of clothes. So I usually mix and match them with clothes I buy from here and make them look different =)

Like this pretty desi skirt with the newly painted bag.

Some people even think its funny of me to use ton to south asian motifs (such as peacock feather, paisleys, chai etc..) in my work, or everyday life. Something that people might perceive as a reflection of my descent, true for the most part. But at a certain point after being exposed to million other things your threshold to hold on the base can easily be surpassed. Yes, this culture is in my foundation but I CHOSE to keep it this way and have molded myself towards this culture.

I am Desi!

Now onto some non-desi things

"Love Song" by 311

Coldplay does it artistically

2011-06-29T14:16:00.001-04:00

Earlier Coldplay did the beautiful chalk drawing video for "Strawberry Swing"

Now, for their new song they used colorful graffiti..

"Every Teardrop is a Waterfall"

They do it best!

Day 61

2011-06-25T00:40:00.001-04:00

This is what it turned into.
A sun? a sun flower?

song of the night
Aaj mera jee karda

Day: 61

2011-06-22T17:37:00.000-04:00

Edited.

For my final drawing project, I dont exactly know what I am doing with this project.

Day 60

2011-06-22T02:00:00.002-04:00

All the paintings I have been working on. Some of these are not finished, some are.
Driving back late night today, I learned a friend also likes Don Omar. Yes we had to listen to "Bandoleros" by Don Omar. Can I sing along? YES. Do I know what he is saying? NO.

Day 59: Self-portrait

2011-06-21T14:11:00.001-04:00

Still working on it. But this is the final project for my painting class.
This summer has been awesome, a great learning experience! Despite all the setbacks.
=D

You can see how much I have grown as a painter from the first self-portrait I did back in 11th grade. It's on my website, couldn't find the original image to post here.

Little Brown Girl! Yea!!

2011-06-14T01:37:00.003-04:00

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://iyadede.bandcamp.com/track/little-brown-girl"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Little Brown Girl by Iyadede&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

"I am just a little brown girl in a big wide world, ya know, let me show you how I sing my song"

More and more cool things from Washington DC

2011-06-07T07:22:00.001-04:00

More beautiful things from Washington DC

2011-06-07T07:17:00.001-04:00

Random things I saw In DC

2011-06-06T23:19:00.001-04:00

First set of paint

2011-05-23T21:21:00.000-04:00

I found paint at home that my aunt had passed it down to me 14-15 years ago. Old paint that she used to use in college. This is how it all started...

Just threw them out!

well, it was all dry

Beautiful skull!

2011-05-10T07:32:00.003-04:00

I cant stop staring at this carbon dust rendering of the human skull by Dr. Dunham.

I think this is art

2011-05-07T07:40:00.000-04:00

I was facebook creeping someone and found this beautiful quote by that person...

"Im just a young man trying to serve God and live the right life. Without God I SUCK!!!"

Motif

2011-05-03T10:02:00.001-04:00

A motif that represents myself!

Somehow I am always drawn to this pattern at all times. May it be when I do mehndi (obviously), making modern design for a birthday card or doodling. It is so graceful, delicate, represents harvest time and magoes.

In Eastern religion, the two paisleys are reminiscent of the yin-yang, the interaction of two polar energies of which encompasses creation (a befitting motif for the union of marriage).

Ink on my pen will always flow in curves.

Day 58

2011-04-24T08:48:00.000-04:00

When sickness and insomnia take over.
As you can see I need A LOT more practice =/
it does not look like me at all.

Gopal Khetanchi's art!

2011-04-21T11:21:00.002-04:00

This is Gopal Khetanchi's art. He used classic paintings and recreated them in his own way. Added some south asian touch to all of them. Hope you can differentiate between his work and paintings by other artists. SO COOL! I had done the same with Mona Lisa back in 9th grade. But his Mona Lisa looks amazing.

Portfolio

2011-04-19T10:44:00.003-04:00

I submitted this portfolio this past January to graduate schools, it was not good enough . Click HERE to check it out.

Song of the day "In The Waiting Line" by Zero 7. Pay attention to the lyrics.

Medical Illutstration from India

2011-04-18T08:54:00.000-04:00

Medical Illustration from India

This image is from a book called Tibb-i Akbar or "The Medicine of Akbar" published sometime in the 18th Century.

Mona Lewis

2011-04-14T14:36:00.000-04:00

I found it again.

http://psdweb.parklandsd.org/lewis/Site/Welcome.html

Massive Attack - Teardrop

2011-04-13T16:32:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite bands. People may think this is creepy, but I think fetuses are fascinating beings.

Day 57

2011-04-06T22:57:00.001-04:00

A logo for Montez Smith's company. Purple Tye. An endeavor to start a business connecting people looking for jobs and employers in the Philadelphia Region.

Day 56

2011-03-26T23:25:00.000-04:00

Coffee filter stolen from SAC.

Song of the night
"Low" by Coldplay

SNMA-Final T-shirt design

2011-03-23T00:30:00.000-04:00

Finally these shirts are in print and will be in next week. Can't wait to wear it!

Day 55

2011-02-28T00:31:00.000-05:00

Krupa's Shoes before

After

Harvard: powering the cell.

2011-02-27T15:15:00.000-05:00

One of the most amazing educational video ever created.

Something human

2011-02-25T10:33:00.002-05:00

"It's not the medium or the oil or the price or whether it hangs on a wall or you eat it. What matters, what makes it art, is that the person who made it overcame the resistance, ignored the voice of doubt and made something worth making. Something risky. Something human.

Art is not in the eye of the beholder. It's in the soul of the artist."

Thanks for sharing Ankoor bhai

Saanvi's 1st Birthday!

2011-02-22T09:30:00.002-05:00

Remember this??

Now look at this...Magic!

The Shah family is so awesome.
Happy Birthday to Saanvi!

Last week was crazy. A dream about my father made me realize how much I love him. Thinking about that dream made me cry. First time in my life I told him I loved him very much and he said the same thing back to me, my heart just melted. No matter how much I disappoint him or not live up to his expectation, he will still love me. He is the only man in my life my head will bow down to. Cannot thank God enough for giving me a wonderful father like him. Going to a family event/saanu's birthday made me realize even more how family is what keeps us running. I owe my everything to them.

Song of the week: "Challa" by Rabbi Shergill

new project: drawing-a-day
http://nirjadesai.tumblr.com/

Day 54

2011-02-22T09:11:00.000-05:00

watercolor and marker on watercolor paper

Saanvi turns 1

Greeting card!

2011-02-04T15:02:00.000-05:00

My dream of making a greeting card business is still unfulfilled. I mean I still have a long life to live =) so it will happen someday. Though there are tons of greeting card businesses out there. I was thinking something along the lines of anonymously signed positive messages only with a personal touch. Yes, meaning everything hand drawn.

For now I have a great program idea!

and here is a card for Hasmi

Congratulation Hasuben!

Google rocks like no other!

2011-02-01T22:23:00.002-05:00

I am not sure if this is going to help museums make money or rather hurt them. But another one of Google's endeavors called "The Art Project" has made it possible for people to enjoy beautiful paintings right from their computers.

Check it out!

YouTube channel

Website

2011-01-31T16:52:00.002-05:00

There is a stotra written by Adi Sankaracharya about guru/teachers... गुरुँश्ताकम or Guruashtakam.

Even if you have a pretty mien, a beautiful wife,

Great fame and mountain like money,

If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,

What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Even if you have a wife, wealth, children grand children.

House , relations and are born in a great family,
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Even if you are an expert in six angas and the four Vedas,
And an expert in writing good prose and poems,
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Even if you are considered great abroad, rich in your own place,
And greatly regarded in virtues and life,
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Even if you are a king of a great region,
And is served by kings and great kings,
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Even if your fame has spread all over,
And the entire world is with you because of charity and fame,
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Even if you do not concentrate your mind,
On passion, Yoga, fire sacrifice,
Or in the pleasure from the wife
Or in the affairs of wealth,
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Even if you have priceless jewel collection,
Even if you have an embracing passionate wife,
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Even if your mind stays away in the forest,
Or in the house, Or In duties or in great thoughts
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

For all that Ms. La Due has done for me...

I could at least make a website for her to promote her personal work.

www.lindaladue.com

work under construction

Morning run...

2011-01-10T09:48:00.000-05:00

5am, Mother and I drove 35mins to this beautiful place!
Serene and radiant.
Every time I go here, I am inspired to create a painting.
Like the last one...

Beautiful!!

2011-01-09T10:58:00.000-05:00

Nude Egyptian Girl

by John Singer Sargent

Such a beautiful painting!!

Portfolio Day-18

2011-01-08T20:59:00.002-05:00

Indhu found this awesome picture online for me, its so funny.

Talking about french girls and modeling.
My mom gave me a weird look when I told her I have to draw nudes.
=/
Well, human body is the most beautiful creation of God (I think). Inside and out.
I have to learn how to draw the outside to learn to draw the inside right?!

Song that gets stuck in your head.
"Stereo Love" by Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina

I thought "Stereo Love" sounded like

"Rapture" by Nadia Ali but it doesn't

One of them French girls..

lol

http://www.flickr.com/photos/st3f4n/3916528250/

Portfolio Day-17

2011-01-07T02:39:00.001-05:00

My Grandpa's beautiful bunions. This (dad's side) is where I get my bunions from, though mine are not as extreme yet.
And I get flat feet from my mom's side. To sum it up I have messed up feet.
This drawing is not finished but this is what I got done today.

Song of the night
Aaja ve mahiya by Imran Khan

Yes I know eww its Imran Khan, but after driving G's car for so long with only one CD (of Imran Khan) in the car I have sort of started to appreciate his music.

Portfolio Day-15 (part 2)

2011-01-05T16:16:00.000-05:00

A certain friend of mine agreed to model for me, I will not disclose name for obvious reasons.

This one is OK, but the hand study turned out nice.

This one I LOVE!!!! Definitely going in my portfolio.
Song of the Day "Sexy back", just kidding.

"Todo Tiende"
by Ojos De Brujos

Portfolio Day-15

2011-01-05T01:04:00.002-05:00

Finally done!!!

My Dad's hands in colored pencil
Now I feel like I am done, but I am sure ms la due will find 50 millions ways to make it better tomorrow morning.
SONG OF THE NIGHT
"Used to love you" by John Legend
Perfect song for this day, or is it just ironic. muhahahahaha

Portfolio Day-11

2011-01-01T02:38:00.002-05:00

4 pieces complete

Bobby- a sweetheart

I made her fall asleep on my lap with the magical touch of my hands. Which included a little massage, little positive vibes and some warm love. =)
I have really grown to love animals (meaning dogs), they have such unconditional love for humans. Its easy for us to practice the same on them as our egos are diluted in their presence. It doesn't matter to them how much money you make or what kind of social status you have; they will still love you. Likewise, a man loves a dog with the same pure heart as they are not being judged. Its easy to practice selfless love on animals.
Now practicing it on humans is another story.
Way more difficult!

Portfolio Day-8

2010-12-28T09:16:00.000-05:00

YOUR LIFE is your work of art

Sheila Sheila...

2010-12-27T00:32:00.004-05:00

SHEILA -1

There is one Sheila who wears her Saree properly and sings beautifully.
Sheila Chandra

SHEILA-2

And there is this Sheila who seems to have bought the wrong size saree. Is that even possible?!
Sheila ki Jawaani

With a horrible song that is stuck in my head.

Sheila is so lucky. My 100th post is about her.
Happy Blogging!!

Portfolio Day-6

2010-12-26T22:44:00.000-05:00

Been procrastinating. =(
Watercolor and colored pencil on illustration board.
This is almost done, I just don't really want to keep looking at the same thing so I will move on. I will wait till I show it to Ms. La Due and she can help me fix this piece.
Next, a self-portrait.

Portfolio Day-3

2010-12-22T16:56:00.002-05:00

Finally finished the drawing I started yesterday, it took me soooo long.
Tonight I will start a watercolor piece of boots.

Portfolio Day-2

2010-12-21T22:15:00.002-05:00

This morning I started a drawing of sardine cans, I am still not done. It is taking me so long, must finish it tomorrow morning.
This above is Dora, she agreed to meet me at Panera as my model for the night. I might work with her tomorrow also for an extensive drawing. I haven't seen Dora for more than 4 years now, it was good to see her again. =)

Portfolio Day-1

2010-12-20T21:56:00.002-05:00

First day of drawing. I didn't think I could draw, I thought I had lost the ability. But some how I was able to create this.

Needed to take the rust off.

Art and Medicine

2010-12-12T10:16:00.000-05:00

Few years ago when I was looking up information to write my personal statement to apply to medical schools, I had found this interview of Dr. Therese Southgate, Senior Contributing Editor of JAMA. I recently found it again and would like to share it...

Essentially I think every field is related to one another. Left and Right brain must be used equally. Society in early days worked to become more and more specialized to the extent that today a neurosurgeon has no idea what the orthopedic surgeon's job is. Specialization is needed for best performance, though it is also necessary to have people who are able to bring things together. Our job today has become to incorporate and merge all these fields that were separated so long ago such as Dentistry and Medicine. Same way looking at two extreme sides of the spectrum Art and Medicine are very much alike. Dr. Southgate was a journalist till 28, then decided to pursue medicine for the rest of her life.

Here is what she has to say...


Portrait of Dr. Samuel D. Gross (The Gross Clinic) by: Thomas Eakins

The question I have been most frequently asked during my years with the JAMA covers is: "Why art on the cover of a medical journal? What has medicine to do with art?"

Let's look at what medicine and art have in common:

First, they share a common goal: to complete what nature has not.

Second, they have a common substrate, the physical, visible world of matter.

More significant, however, are the similar qualities of mind, body, and spirit demanded of the practitioners of each, painter and physician.

Chief among them is an eye: the ability not only to observe, but to observe keenly -- to ferret out the tiny detail from the jumble of facts, lines, colors -- the tiny detail that unlocks a painting or a patient's predicament.

Observation demands attention, and this is the key to both art and medicine. Attention is nothing more than a state of receptiveness toward its object, the artist to nature, the viewer to the work of art, the physician to the patient. It is no accident, I believe, that clinicians -- or treating physicians, as they are often called -- are referred to as "attending physicians." "Attention" and "attend" are both derived from the same Latin root meaning "to stretch toward."

Many more "affinities" exist between medicine and the visual arts, but I will close with just one: Medicine is itself an art. It is an art of doing, and if that is so, it must employ the finest tools available -- not just the finest in science and technology, but the finest in the knowledge, skills, and character of the physician. Truly, medicine, like art, is a calling.

And so I return to the question I asked at the beginning. What has medicine to do with art?

I answer: Everything.

That's my opinion. I am Dr. Therese Southgate, Senior Contributing Editor of JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association).

Symbiosis: art and science

2010-12-02T17:41:00.000-05:00

Day 53

2010-11-28T12:24:00.000-05:00

Things I shouldn't have been doing during the break =/
Lopa taught me the pattern and helped me with the blue crotched part.

You always find people who think like you...

2010-11-15T11:38:00.000-05:00

How cool is this??

Quote from

"The Art of Looking Sideways" by Alan Fletcher

The girl who made this is still an undergrad at Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

http://www.teaganwhite.com/

Very Inspirational.

Potential career

2010-11-08T11:26:00.001-05:00

Art on Teeth!

Might have figured out what I want to do for the rest of my life =D

or just a thought.

Day 52

2010-11-06T23:06:00.000-04:00

Acrylic on canvas

Super late birthday gift!

Cartoon version of Devansh.

I had very few acrylic colors to work with. Red, brown/burnt sienna, teal green and yellow. No skin tones, no white, no black! I had to go wild, out of my boundaries to create this.

I was restricted as to, I could not paint the way I normally paint with neutral tones and and dark background. Skintones were impossible to create without white or beige. Yet, I think this piece turned out pretty alright (except for facial proportions, hence he looks like a cartoon).

I realized while painting that just like painting with restricted colors, life gives your restrictions to live with. These restrictions help us grow rather than set us back. If I had every color in the world to paint with, I might have created something that is very normal looking and might have followed norms. But with restriction I was able to explore and extend what the few colors were able to produce. Same way in life we are given certain limitations to live with and with those we work to make the best out whatever we are given. Rather than following the norm, true creativity only pours out in life and on canvas with limitations. Making the best out of the worst. When you have 100% freedom, there is just too much you can do and we might end up creating a chaos. Hence, there are laws of nature that we must follow, rules of society, family values and so on. My point is, one does not need 100% freedom to live life to its fullest. Free will can still be implemented with all the limitations that apply to our life or thinking positively, all the possibilities that are available to us through our options. Limitation is what creates our life interesting. Not having everything, but working to create beautiful things from what we have. Creativity is basically a unique way of solving problems/applying skills. It can best be seen when skills are applied to solve set backs and from that a person grows more.

Something I was thinking when painting.

Make friends people

2010-11-03T09:33:00.000-04:00

Day 51

2010-10-27T08:50:00.002-04:00

This design was in my head since last year and never worked on it. Finally its out on paper, but needs more tweaking. Thinking of placing "SNMA" on the sleeve or back instead of the front side. Colors are not final yet. I have used this "I <3 NY" sign at SO many places. Its getting a little old now.

Someone asked me yesterday, how do I find time to do random things like this which is essentially not beneficial to me in any way possible. Well, I really don't know how it works. Time and art finds me. But I say is why not do things for the sake of doing them, rather than thinking about what is going to happen. This is not going to help me get a better grade in any class, nor am I going to make my parents happy, nor is anyone ever going to remember I made this shirt. No monetary gain, no recognition/fame can ever replace the feeling of doing things you love to do. Just don't let your skills go to waste.
And there is no such thing as talent.
"Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration" - Edison

Live the idea!

2010-10-24T10:12:00.003-04:00

While most of us are struggling every moment to make trivial selfish decissions of life. Some have made it beyond this superficial facade of daily grind.
“Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.”-Vivekananda
Some are breathing this sentence every day, not for themselves but for others. These are the ideas that flow against the norm. Devoting their life for a different purpose other than themselves.
I was touched when I read the story of a 19 year old going to Nepal to help orphanages independently from the money she had earned babysitting in high school.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/magazine/24volunteerism-t.html?pagewanted=3

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/10/24/magazine/nepal-aid.html?ref=magazine
People who see change is needed and are working towards it, need more acknowledgment.
This post is for the ones who bring light in other people's lives. I someday want to do the same with art, influence positively and implant possibilities of doing the impossible.
Something I have learned from a very special person, Dadaji, and will keep in my heart all my life. My head will always bow for the time and effort he has put in to enlighten people's lives and personally my life.

Another interesting project http://www.intlprincess.org/.
Neat video.

Day 50-USNDA Emblem

2010-10-14T17:58:00.001-04:00

USNDA-Temple Chapter

T-shirt design, logo for newsletters etc.

Day 49

2010-10-11T23:22:00.000-04:00

Finished. I can't believe Bayan actually trusted me with his macbook.

Malgudi Days

2010-10-04T11:30:00.003-04:00

I found the title song of the tv show Malgudi Days remade by a band named Nakshatra Uncorporated. I am liking it a lot, very melodic.

First Friday

2010-10-02T15:42:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was First Friday and it was one of the best ones I have been to in the past 3 years. I did a program for my residents and took them to their first 'First Friday'.

At the end of the night we went to this old book store where they had random antique/vintage/trashy/old/rusty items including books, records, painting prints, boxes, and just random things. It is located right next to aka music. At the store I found old books from India such as first edition Vivekanda books from Ramkrishna mission from 1950s, old Indian art history book, first edition R.K. Nayaran

story books/cartoons, couple of them were about Swami and friends. 'Malgudi Days' has been one of mine and my father's favorite t.v. shows of all times, introduced to me by my father as one his childhood memories. I started loving the show because I used to look at my father as a hero (still do) and wanted to do everything he did, even eat eggplants because they were his favorite. But when I saw the the original stories by Narayan which were then turned into the t.v. show my mouth dropped open. SUCH TREASURE IN PHILADELPHIA!!!!! so freakin random. Then I found this book called "The Tagore Stories" (big fan of Tagore) which has excerpts from his works, conversations and letters. Here is the bigger surprise, today happens to Mahatma Gandhi's 141st birthday and yesterday freakishly I found an article cutout in the Tagore book about Gandhi's 100th birthday being celebrated at University Of Pennsylvania's campus in 1969. How random!!!! It was such a wonderful day yesterday =) I bought all these books and a gorgeous vintage wooden box to keep jewelery. One of my residents found a Renoir charcoal drawing framed print for $10.

This shop is just amazing, messy and unorganized; filled with random collectible old things.

And we saw this old guy improvise 'eleanor rigby' on his acoustic electric guitar accompanied by another old guy playing the electric violin. It was beautiful! How can I forget the purpose of our visit, the art was breathtaking.

View Larger Map

Happy Birthday to Gandhiji!

"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well"

-Gandhi

Day 48

2010-09-28T00:05:00.001-04:00

One of my co-workers Bayan, is letting me free hand draw on his Mac-book pro.

Work in progress

Sunset at the skyline

2010-09-23T18:25:00.001-04:00

Had to get of my bike to take a picture of this.

More and more mehndi

2010-09-16T18:24:00.002-04:00

I found more pics
3:00 am Mehndi on my hands for Amal's wedding

This one below is from spring break when we were bored.

More shaadi stuff

2010-09-16T18:15:00.001-04:00

Lekhani's hand

Its like this blog is turning into a Mehndi blog.
Mehndi didn't turn out that good, because I made the hole too big and with thick mehndi it's hard to do detailing.
But the color looked awesome.

Day 47

2010-09-04T02:19:00.000-04:00

For Lekhani's new house. Thanks for supplying the canvas and cheese.

Probably one of the fastest paintings I have done.

I found out today my molecular bio professor who I will be doing research with this year is an artist and an art collector. Part of her Ph.D thesis was on histone structure (people still cite her, first one to figure out what the shape of it is) at Princeton. How freaking cool?! Only she knows how many hours she spent in lab but still pretty cool.

Art and Science. Yum!

Day 46

2010-08-23T21:35:00.002-04:00

Existential love

http://peabodyhall.wordpress.com/staff/

What is it really that we are expected to do in life?
When you do something, no one notices. When you don't do it, the whole world is after you with a sword claiming the person has changed for worse. Maybe they just need a break.

Service.
If a man must think about how good is the person he is serving, then the man is not serving. Or if the person will ever remember this act, the man is not serving.
If I have to find good people to serve, what is the point?
Isn't it about selfless love for everyone. Doesn't matter who.
Apparently not. I am expected to find good people to serve.
Don't agree.

Day 45

2010-08-21T23:04:00.003-04:00

Sometimes art is forced from us.

Glad to be back. Cant wait to go biking again.

     allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="224">

We had to do some kind of skit at the end of our training for the closing ceremony. Instead we did this ridonculous rap video. ( "A Milli" by Lil Wayne) Called "Peabody" by the fabulous Peabody Hall staff. (if you have never heard "a milli" go listen to it and then watch our video, Cody did an amazing job of creating the same sound effect)
This is called true creativity. After spending hours and hours at sessions during the day, we spent our night doing this and didn't sleep. It might just be the funniest rap video you have ever seen.
Kerry and I learned we weren't born to be rappers. So we just stood on the side and tried looking gangsta.
so G!

Day 44

2010-08-11T10:00:00.003-04:00

iPod touch art

Day 43

2010-08-05T15:53:00.002-04:00

Its been just a little over a year since I started Blogging and like Chai I am addicted to this thing.
Both are sad things.

Anjali-4 years old

Sandhya-2 years old

2 Sisters I baby sat couple of days ago. They asked me if I was Tinker Bell. sooo CUTE!!!!
except when Sandhya peed on the floor and I had to clean it.

I am not that type of person to 'like' things so much that I would go about saying "I want this" as Tyler Durden from Fight Club said, "The things you own end up owning you."
Even when I saw these shoes on the shelf never thought they would look good. But when I put them on, my eyes popped and I was drooling...such beauty. It makes my ugly feet look attractive. Well this thing cant own me yet because I don't own a pair myself. The love story ends at this picture.

Day 42

2010-08-02T00:27:00.001-04:00

This is how much I love my brother =)

that I draw him when he is sleeping.

and when he is playing video games.

now I need one when he is eating.

Sketchbook Project

2010-07-27T08:11:00.000-04:00

Someone donate $25 to me for this noble cause.

http://www.thesketchbookproject.com/

Day 41

2010-07-25T14:54:00.001-04:00

Mehndi Mehndi Mehndi!!!!!!!!! Amal's wedding.
Some of the people I did Mehndi on, I couldn't take pics of everyone.

We danced to this song =)-Lathe di Chaadar

Remember this old song, they remind me of the Pussycat Dolls, Indian version of the Pussycat Dolls. This song is from the good old 90s!!

Day 40

2010-07-14T11:06:00.000-04:00

This summer so far has been a big roller coaster ride, with ups and downs. Too many things going on and many big decisions to make. One thing I am looking forward to is being an RA.
Coming school year I will not get to light candles in the residence hall. =( It will be like freshmen year all over again, but with way more responsibility. This time around I will get to yell at drunk kids and write them up for knocking on my door at 3 in the morning, unless its an emergency.
So I was walking around a dollar store and found this electric candle (these are allowed in the residence hall) for well a $1. It was plain white and is made of wax. I tried markers on it directly didn't work. So I painted it with gold acrylic paint and then used permanent marker on it. Oh yeah before the gold I tried spraying it with clear glaze, it wouldn't dry.
The designs are all Thai art inspired.

It looks like a real candle. But it's odorless.

Speaking of rock...

2010-07-09T11:00:00.003-04:00

I used to play the drums at one point in my life. If only I had continued. But I chose (or was conditioned for) the more feminine of the artistic fields, fine arts! Not that fine arts is all that feminine, I just had positive feedback from relatives and friends. I was positively reinforced as Skinner would put it (mostly unintentionally, with art supplies and compliments).
No one bought me a better drum set, but I did get old paint brushes and paint from my aunt who was in art school at that time. Also, my other aunt who was a principal would buy me brushes and always tell me sweet things (she still does) that would make me feel like I can do this and give me all those sample books she got from publishing companies. Another aunt took me to Bombay at her place for a week and bought me art books, pastels (so much better than crayons)and took me to my first Christmas party ever(considering this was the first time I was meeting her and I was in 3rd grade).
I am thankful to all those who have been giving me art supplies on various occasions and still do.

1st Birthday
(I think the drum set was gifted to my cousin but I took over on our shared '1st birthday' party, he didn't seem to mind)

Doodling is the antidote for sleepiness in class!

2010-07-07T22:01:00.001-04:00

The FRAY - Heartless from IE HAGY on Vimeo.

This music video has it all. The Fray did a great (its a lot better than the original) rendition on Kanye West's "Heartless." More importantly the video is awesome. Pencil doodle animation, which reminds me of a drawing I did back when I was in 8th grade.

Linkin Park was rubbing off on me a little too much. You like the water dripping from the pipe? ;)

Btw, I drew this all from my imagination. and was done at home NOT in class, just to clear that out.

ok now I need to do some real work =/

Brown Ninjas be accepted!

2010-07-07T20:22:00.000-04:00

Crack of dawn

2010-07-06T10:33:00.001-04:00

4:00am Melissa and I at Trexler Park, to watch the sunrise at 5:30am and paint.
It smelled so good and the temperature was perfect. We were stopped by one of the maintenance workers as we were munching on our granola bars, he asked what we were doing there in pitch dark at 4:30 in the morning. Technically the park is closed at that time, it doesn't open till the sun rises. But we were two girls so he let us go, I mean if we would have been two boys or a boy and girl we would have been definitely kicked out.

Perfect place to do Yoga!

Melissa doing her thang

Mr. Bug really really wanted to help. Nature is so generous.

This is when you see just a little light and its still pretty dark.

So the light kept on changing, well duh! right...it was a darn sun rise. Ehh...not what I wanted it to look like. Better idea would have been to be there when the light is steady, but that would mean to paint in hot and sticky weather. who wants to do that?

But it was fun doing it, regardless of how it turned out. Essentially it is the perception of the artist that matters correct? How I see the world? not what the world really is, that everyone can see! Well I guess some people cant even see the world...they are blinded by their self interests and indulgences. Ok I will stop here. Dont want you lose you as my blog reader.

Untitled

2010-06-30T09:01:00.000-04:00

Tyler School of Art kids are so creative!

While I was packing I got a chance to organize the cigar box. You can see how horribly the compartments are designed; speaking from an open mind I can say it has some personality. ^_^
Thanks to Palak's purple paint job on the cardboard, it looks a lot better.

SOLD SOLD!!!

2010-06-26T19:19:00.001-04:00

Thank you to all who support my crazy ideas!!!

My coffee filter with the mandala on it just sold at Square Peg Artery and Salvage!

First income, where I have used my efficiency. This one is for you bhagvaan.

Art for appreciation

2010-06-22T10:51:00.002-04:00

After spending a long day at Penn's library, I was biking home through the streets of Philadelphia filled with filth, reckless drivers, traffic, more bikers, and the normal hustle and bustle of city life. People trying to get away from work and towards home, the Sun was still shining bright in the sky. The heat was actually bad, real bad. It felt like it was 2pm, when it was 6pm in the evening. With black helmet on my head and book bag on the back, I was sweating ("sweating like a thousand rattle snakes" as a friend would call it)!!! Hungry and thirsty, I was biking. Could not wait to get home and be in the air conditioned environment. So as I biked through the "suburbs/project areas" of north Philadelphia, my speed was being reduced as I went further. I didn't understand why, I had already passed the hill and I was biking on a relative flatter part of 11th street. Then I thought about the bike giving me problems, as it had earlier. But no, the pedals were fine, and the front wheel was not rubbing against the brake to the extent to slow me down. Well it was a flat tire. =( Luckily I was only 4 blocks away from temple. Walking seems like the slowest thing to do in the world after one bikes for a while.

Even on campus, it felt like it took me an eternity to get to the campus library today which is only 2 blocks from my apartment.

So as I was walking I put on my headphones to accompany me on my walk back home. I played Anoushka Shankar's album "Rise". This whole idea of making art for Anoushka came from this walk home listening to her music. As soon as the piano in "prayer in passing" followed by bansuri and sitar hit my ears. Everything else around me blurs. The music just moves and drags me in its world. the depth in her music touch the emotional side and rhythms the creative side. Nothing else mattered. The street was non-existent, my bike's flat tire was non-existent. A state which every artist wants their audience or viewers to be in. To know and explore every strum, every beat, every sound of the bols, every brush stroke, every smudge mark. Artist wants their viewer to feel and have the same experience they had when they were creating. I am not saying this is every artists goal. This state where the artist was one with the process and completely immersed in creation. A state frequently experienced by artists, usually it is a motivation to create more. A type of craving in a sense, to dive in. Take a chance. To create beautiful things. This state is called Flow, described really well by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. Hardly to be experienced by viewers or audience, as it requires engagement and there is a process to how one gets to that state of flow. Also experienced by scientists, teachers, surgeons and any pretty much every field, but to be able to experience that in certain fields takes longer than other. As the time to acquire the skill is very long before the person can apply the skill. Usually this state preceded by little inspiration a ton of frustration. Even Edison had said "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." A lot of times frustration turns people away to not continue. But a sense of completeness is only attained if the threshold of frustration is passed. This is what makes an artist going with a disinterest in monetary gains.

Why am I telling you all this?

Well, while I was walking back, I was in no process of creation. I was tired and extremely frustrated with my bike and the heat. But when the beautiful sound hit my ears, I was in a different world. I don't know why and how but it has never happened before. I was immersed and joyful. It felt complete and content. And so I wanted to create something for her, I thought about it when I was walking back. Her music gets to me every time, no matter how many times I listen to it. I would not call it flow but it was something. The mellow tones, with the classical raagas, the bansuri, the piano, the drums, the tablas, the vocals and finally the Sitar make a beautiful piece of art.

If you have never heard her music, please do so NOW. The album "Rise" is just spectacular.

The colors are not as bright as I would have liked them to be.

But still something, the gold in the background looks better in person.

Take a look at this Mihaly's video (I dont know how to pronounce his last name)

I had read his book few years ago called

"Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention"

NOW, ON TO STUDYING!

Coffee Filters on Sale!!!

2010-06-15T14:23:00.001-04:00

Viva all things handmade!

My Coffee Filters are on sale at "Square Peg Artery and Salvage"

Do check them out!! $120 each, I get 50% and the shop keeps 50%

I had no clue what they were worth, I thought she was going to say like $15 and I had planned to argue and mark them at $30. But when she told me how much she was thinking, I was like....."haaaaa for realllzzz???"

Well I am not really sure if people are going to buy them at $120. But we'll see =) right now I have butterflies in my stomach from the fact that she thought my stuff can even be sold. ^_^

"Natraja"-pen and marker

"the arabic looking design"- i dont know what else to call it

"Lotus in watercolor"- recently made this while studying...or when I didnt want to study

All three of these are on sale there.

Definitely check out the shop, they have some really neat stuff. Its very close to Rittenhouse Square.

and how awesome is their Logo, a Heart and an artery. Art made straight from heart =)

View Larger Map

I had no idea this place existed, one fine day Priya and I were going to the Fine Arts Festival at Rittenhouse square after usual Sunday kendra and we passed this funky art shop. Priya and I exchanged "yeah that looks cool, lets go in" looks and we walked in.

Stolen idea-NOT

2010-06-10T10:43:00.000-04:00

So apparently the horse carriage idea is not original.

Coach already has a design on their bags with horse carriage on it. Well I did not know. I mean do I really look like a person who would know what goes on in designer world?

MY horse carriage looks better than this anyway. =P Coach!

Day 39

2010-06-09T13:48:00.001-04:00

Adventures through South Street sometimes get you cigar boxes for a $1.
So what do you do with it?
Make a Jewelry case.
Or a portable palette. But for now its a Jewelry case.

Books that library throw out and I collect them

glued pages from the book

done with glueing

design with brown, green and gold permanent marker

glued ribbon for easy opening of the box

horse carriage drawn in gold and then sprayed with glazing spray paint

side view

The finished product

finally my jewelry can sit calmly in this organizer.

I have made cardboard compartments on the inside but they look pretty crappy, I need to trim and paint them.

Lets Colour Project

2010-06-08T09:16:00.001-04:00

We need this in Philly!!!

Though we have tons of murals around the city =)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/letscolour/sets/72157623852323548/show/

Lets Colour Project