#18 - Seizing Opportunity
Last week, I shared a sketch of Nirula’s in New Delhi, made for a client in NYC. Today I am sharing some SneakyArt that went viral on Reddit + the new episode of the SneakyArt Podcast. Enjoy!
A Bridge in Chicago City
Earlier this week, I posted SneakyArt on Reddit. The pics attracted a lot of attention, so I figure it can be fun to talk about these drawings.
Below is the first one, posted on r/pics. Sharing your work on a large, broad interest subreddit does not guarantee traction. A lot of “going viral” is about timing and luck. In this case, other than pretty lines on paper, the quality of the picture mattered too. But it is worth trying because when it works, it can have significant payoffs. I have two new commissions because of this post, and was able to send more people to my local exhibit in Chicago. Also, a few hundred more followers on social media.
It started with wanting to draw a boat. The warm days are numbered, and very soon opportunities to draw boats in the wild would have vanished. So on this atypically warm day, we walked to the river-walk. I looked at a boat in front of me, and decided where I wanted to put it (middle right). Then I drew my way to the boat. I went down my side of the riverwalk, to climb up to the bridge. Like a spider then, I leapt over the Chicago River, trailing ink in my wake, cutting across the sky to finally land upon my subject.
So it goes.
I broke everything
Down into dots, lines and shapes
While autumn leaves fell.
#haiku
SneakyArt of Travel
On r/travel, I posted some sketches from my first accordion-style travel sketchbook (in 2017). Drawing while traveling can seem daunting. You are always pressed for time. But I contend that there is hardly a better way to spend time in a foreign landscape. Making SneakyArt is my favorite way to document travels. I look at all sorts of details in my surroundings, and regard with care and attention anything that strikes my interest. More than anything else, I spend time with the things that spark interest, and the importance of that cannot be overstated.
I carry sketchbooks on all trips I take, even if they’re just a weekend. You never know when you run into moments of great art. They’re sneaky too.
We spent 12 magical hours in Krakow. It is a city with a rich history - from a recent Pope to an ancient dragon. At lunch, while our food arrived, I looked at the buildings, listened to distant music and the murmurs of life, and tried to locate the source of all the magic. But it was all of it. All of it is magical.
We sat on a bench in the old town area of Warsaw, Poland. I drew this over an hour’s rest from walking around. Afterwards, we got ice cream and a nice patio dinner.
While walking around Vienna, we were able to buy same-day tickets to the jazz festival, and see not only one of my favorite musicians (Madeleine Peyroux) but also the legendary Opera House of Vienna. I sketched this in the dark!
I ‘signed’ a card to a friend with a quick drawing of the royal palace across the Danube river. Budapest is one of my favorite cities to travel to. I love the history, the buildings, the food and the unique alcohols.
Looking at Art in a Pandemic
On the 12th morning of November, for two hours, I had 2500 years of art to myself.
I looked at symbols made by ancient people on an Egyptian mummy’s head-dress. I stared into the eye of Osiris. I strolled past headless statues of ancient Greek gods. I looked upon the bust of Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher. I kept walking until I began to go forward in time. I walked past huge canvases. Renoir, Degas, Seurat. I stopped at Lautrec’s posters of dancing halls in 19th century Paris. I saw van Gogh as he saw himself. When I was tired, I rested beside a 1000-year old sculpture of Vishnu in his boar avatar.
I never regret going to the Art Institute of Chicago. It is the best way I know to go back in time.
Past sketches at Art Institute
SneakyArt Podcast
Ep 7 Seizing Opportunity with Suhita Shirodkar
In this episode, I speak with artist and educator Suhita Shirodkar (San Jose, California) about how she finds artistic opportunities in brief moments of calm during her day. From looking at her work, you can tell that Suhita is always working against time. Her sketches are driven by instinct and inspiration. By drawing quickly, her work portrays a domestic life that is nonetheless dynamic, people who are doing things, and settings that are alive with activity and color. We talk about the importance of drawing regularly to “turn the page” as an artist, the idea of the sketchbook as art, and the interesting ways she is reaching out to students and followers during lockdown. More here.
Note to Indian audiences: SneakyArt Podcast is now available on Gaana and JioSaavn apps in India!
Spotify | Apple | Website | Pocketcast | Gaana | JioSaavn
In last week’s Brain Pickings newsletter, I came across this quote by Vincent van Gogh, in a letter to his brother.
Do you know that it is very, very necessary for honest people to remain in art? Hardly anyone knows that the secret of beautiful work lies to a great extent in truth and sincere sentiment.
It’s something to think about.
That’s all from me this week. Thank you for your attention. I would love to hear what you think of the new episode.