The first week of the year flew by quicker than one could blink. This year, it is one of my deep wishes for myself to take focus away from the instant updates on social platforms and direct that energy into filling the pages of my blog. Just like the old days :)
I spent the last week of 2024 in Goa with friends and it seemed like a lesson in Murphy’s laws - tilting towards the bad side. Everyone got the flu and I had a panic/anxiety/heartburn because of all the lack of sleep and black coffee consumption. So I have stepped into the new year a little wiser for limiting my coffee intake specially when I am sleep deprived.
I have been reading The Other Side - a documentation and revealing of artists that leaned into their spirituality to create art. I have been making meditation drawings for over five years now. Something that I started making at a low point in life and have always assumed them to be non publishable pieces. The drawings are tiny to begin with and with no text around them, hard to understand by anyone other than me. This book gives me courage to continue my practice.
2. On the 1st January, while we were taking our flight back to Bangalore with problematic throats and cold, Nishita hosted her friends at home for an art party and they played around with an Anomalie tattoo she designed. It always feels nice to see people wearing these tattoos. Watching people look at a design and feel that it is a part of their identity gives me goosebumps!
Nishita’s friends sporting the tattoo she designed. You can get the tattoo here —> https://www.anomalietattoo.com/products/brown-kudi-temporary-tattoo
3. I came home to a pending list of dispatches I had to do for our upcoming collab with the Kairo Store - a brand whose tees I have really liked and we made a cute little postcard to send along our tattoos.
4. Visited an exhibit by Prof Kohei Sugiura where almost 100 of his designed books were on display with Noopur and Rasagy. The exhibit was so full that all of us decided to revisit it to actually enjoy seeing the books properly.
Noopur, Rasagy, Kenneth and Garima came home and we chatted and ate idlis and chikkis. Noopur gifted me the cutest hand made sweater, this graphic novel and a postcard and Garima and Rasagy gave a little working camera that fits in my palm. I have been blessed with friends who take so much time and effort to think of the most beautiful gifts and I do feel I need to make a zine of all the little gifts I keep receiving.
5. Started working on a book illustration project that I need to complete by this month and when I printed the existing illustrations, I figured that the readability was an issue so I need to redo everything I’ve done so far!
6. In the evening, Niramayee came over to hand deliver my belated most thoughtful birthday gifts (which featured this graphic novel) and by that point, I was just reflecting on all the good energy of this tribe around me. There’s something about sitting with classmates that lights a warm glowy bulb inside one’s head. The laughter comes so naturally and easily :) Oh, Rashmi brought flowers to the mix!
Ending the weekly notes with these are two sunsets. One is 31 December, 2024 and the second is 4 January, 2025
