The four books I illustrated for Katha Publishers arrived on Monday. Written by Serene Kasim, they are a series about the adventures of Kuttan the Cat.
They've been a long time coming. I posted some of the illustrations previously at OrangeMellon.
A few days ago I got the result of my Hindustani Classical Vocal Music Exam - I got 42/50 - First Class with Special Commendation!!!!!
I've been studying Hindustani Classical Vocal for a year and a half now and the Violin for two years. Classes are in the morning, daily from 7.30 am to 9.30 am and I try to put in an hour of practise in the evening.
For fifteen days before the exam, however, it was a really grueling schedule -
On the day of the exam I ate a lot of potatoes and bananas - carbohydrates are good for you :-) - and at the venue, drew sketches of the other students - drawing is always a very calming exercise.
Anyway, it all went very well and now on to the next thing. Sometimes I think I'm in the mountain climbing business - one peak scaled and there's a new one looming ahead.
I've always been keenly interested in music. I listened - and still listen - to a very, very wide variety, and after a point I gravitated towards learning to play.
First it was the guitar and I also play the harmonium, both of which I like well enough, but the violin holds a special fascination - the moment I held the instrument I had the 'this is mine' feeling. I love it completely.
I heard a musician once say that it isn't an easy instrument and you should start on it when you're seven or there's no point. I think he meant for playing on the professional level, which is not a concern with me. Yes, it's not easy, but if you want to learn something really bad 'not easy' is not an excuse. And the point that it brings me tremendous joy is point enough for me.
Everyone ought to learn to play an instrument. Apart from the obvious satisfaction of making music, you learn patience and persistence. And the sense of achievement after you get a piece right - after having played and replayed it about 150 times! - is a real kick! :-)
The past couple of months have been very hectic in a very good way, but I couldn't keep up with the blogging.
The home renovation project is still on-going - it's going to be a couple of months yet before it's all done - most of the major work is done, but plenty minor stuff still remains. Then we begin designing for the next one -I've already have a few ideas for that.
I've also begun storyboard work for 'My Ancestor was a Vampire' - I'll post the images here shortly.
Meanwhile, I have a new blog entry on Worthpoint -
Art and Antiques Auctions—A Brief History
We had some visitors the other day, a band of seven gray langurs. They turned up unexpectedly in the late afternoon, clambered up the guava tree and sat there for a while eating the fruit, having a sip of water, then leaped gracefully back and forth from the Mango, the Neem and the Gulmohor trees.
They stayed the night and we woke up to their whoops in the morning. The birds, annoyed by the newcomers, were making a huge big din. It was like waking up in the jungle.
They breakfasted on mangoes and then moved on. Good thing. I didn't want them destroying the mangoes and I didn't have the heart to call the Forest Department and perhaps have these lot sent to a zoo. They were having such fun.
I have a new blog at Worthpoint -
http://www.worthpoint.com/blog/sonal-panse
I'll be writing about collecting Toys - and, hopefully, also on Fine Art.
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