45 - Komorebi
a new podcast episode, and a new word for something beautiful
Last week, I shared portraits of people who have supported the 100+ Faces for India Project. To read more and participate, visit here.
This week I share a new episode of the SneakyArt Podcast, and the Japanese word ‘komorebi’.
Ep 18 - Gone Digital with Rob Sketcherman
In this episode, I speak with Rob Sketcherman (website), an urban sketcher and digital artist in Hong Kong. Rob is popular in the global urban-sketching community for making his work exclusively on the iPad, and for being the host of USk Talks.
Rob’s artistic journey constitutes decisions motivated by both curiosity and pragmatism. It was a combination of curiosity and pragmatism that led him to urban sketching when he was trying to become a better artist, and the same thing led him to the digital medium when he was becoming a better urban sketcher. Listen to our conversation on your choice of streaming service by clicking the link below.
If you’re an avid listener of the SneakyArt Podcast, I would appreciate your leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts. This makes a lot of difference to the reach and visibility of the show.
Blog
Last week, I sat by the corner of Davie/Howe in downtown Vancouver to draw some tiny people.
It was a sunny afternoon, and a lot of busy life crossed paths with other busy life. One thing that strikes you about life is that it’s always trying to get to somewhere else. Rarely do you see it satisfied to simply exist, or content with its place in the world. With life, it is always one thing or another. It is always restless…
I went to the sea-wall on a sunny day to draw some boats.
Yachts waddled on water glittering under the summer sun, framed inside bridges and railing and tall masts and a sign saying “New Members Welcome”…
Komorebi
Living in parts of the world that have long winters, it is curious how summer brings with it some measure of guilt. Everyday that I do not step outside, I feel I have wasted an opportunity. Yearning for the sun is not a very Indian trait, but I have a distinct memory from childhood of winters in my hometown, Kolkata. In this memory, I sit in the balcony, bare feet on cold floor, as sunlight filters through the leaves of trees. My mother is peeling water chestnuts, and I am next to her. We are sitting on the floor. The water chestnuts are juicy and crunchy. I could keep eating them forever. I close my eyes, and feel my body toasting in the gentle warmth.
Komorebi roughly translates as the sunlight filtering through the branches or leaves of trees. I learned this Japanese word yesterday, from a comment on my Instagram post of this drawing below.
I watched people picnicking in George Wainborn park, in downtown Vancouver. The task of drawing from observation is first a task of seeing - filtering down reality to a set of important elements. The second half of the job is representing this vision on the page. The seeing is just as important as the drawing.
Here’s how I filter the scene.
I watch. I make careful observations. I frame the observations in a simple but beautiful description. As beautiful as possible, as simple as possible. I sit there unmoving, doing this a few times in my head.
Here’s my observation.
I saw a lot of life. It was sandwiched between the green grass below and the dark canopies of trees overhead. The world existed between these boundaries. While some of its life sat cool in the shade, other life shone brilliantly in the sun.
I saw young families, older couples, a person reading a book, people playing badminton, and several people walking along the park’s periphery. In a 1-inch tall space in my sketchbook, over a double-spread, I was able to capture this much life.
This ink drawing is available as a 20x30” giclee print on my shop*. All the large prints are on sale, because new shop and all that. To select this or other prints for yourself or someone else, visit here.
*(Currently shipping in North America only)
100+ Faces for India
I made my second donation (of 5) to GiveIndia this week. It was to aid relief efforts towards COVID-ravaged populations in India. This donation was made possible by the wonderful people who have supported me in the 100+ Faces for India project.
Here’s how it works. They buy a digital portrait using the link below. I draw and send them a drawing by email. 100% of the money goes to charity.
There are some spots still available!
Bonus Commentary
The new podcast episode will be followed by a bonus commentary this weekend, available at the cost of just one cup of coffee. Check out my previous bonus commentaries here.
In this one, I will share my experience alternating between digital and traditional media in order to become a better artist. I will also reference Rob’s account, and connect that with other guests who have pursued a similar path of self-education via urban sketching.
Bonus commentaries are free to my monthly patrons. To become a member, and read more details about it, visit here.
This Week I Read…
An article on Brain Pickings - Albert Camus on Strength of Character and How to Ennoble our Minds in Difficult Times
An article on Pocket - How Political Opinions Change
“Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment” by Francis Fukuyama
In the next one, I will talk about some of my recent commission work. Also, I hope to get out more, so there should be more SneakyArt.
Thank you for your time and attention!