Illustration | The Cranberries - Roses

After ages, I have tried working on a music based illustration. Trust me, I really find it draining. With music based illustrations, I pick up a song that fits my mood for that day. After this, I listen to it again and again until all my feelings are raw. This way, they jump out of my mind and heart and run towards the pen. And then, I stop thinking, close my eyes and let the pen sing. 

Though it sounds like three easy steps, being an amateur it takes me a long time to get this done. The first step seems a bit easy. I usually pick up the song that is a current favorite. It is easy that way because I normally listen to songs according to my mood. The next step is really draining. Opening my heart out to a song, letting all the boundaries fall and bringing down all the barriers is exhausting.  The mind is not used to it. Being subjected to bars is what is the routine for it. Now when the flood gates open, it doesn't saunter out like a lion. Nor does it burst out like the water out of a dam. Instead, it squeaks like a scared squirrel and watches each step. By the time, I have heard the song for 7 times (in loop) the squirrel starts transforming into a lion. Confident and knowing. With each step, the mind opens up, the music seeps in and melody of lines start forming.

This time, Roses by The Cranberries helped me listen to my mind. Please listen to the song while you look at the illustration. I have poured in my emotions there. The illustration is incomplete without the song. They are not two parts anymore. They are one. And I want to share them with you.

 

         

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Illustration | Five Years Of Blogging

So five years huh? That was the first thing that came to my mind when the calendar said it was 2nd May, 2013. Next thought was - Really? Am I dreaming? and lastly my mind went on a hyper ventilated mode and screamed loudly (thank god, only in my mind) OMG! Yes, it has indeed been five years since I have started blogging. Correction there, as my friends say - 5 years of blogging and not 5 years of having a blog. 

They are right in a way. I have worked hard (not quite, I know I could have done better) to maintain this blog in these five years. Please don't read that as boasting. Contrary to what everyone thinks, blogging is NOT easy. Some people, do make it look like it is really easy but it is not. I have had my share of problems. One, I am never really happy with my content. I know I can do better. There is this constant quest in my mind that strives to do better with each post. I aim for satisfaction, if not perfection. Two, I am very lazy. Well, that is an understatement. I am super duper hard core dedicated passionate lazy bum. I will make huge, amazing, stupendous plans in my head. Though when it comes to execution, I would just go to sleep thinking tomorrow is the best day to get going. Alas, the saying is right - Tomorrow never comes. So what! I am a committed lazy bum. I try really hard to get started tomorrow. 221 posts in five years is a glaring example of my laziness. (Half of them are hidden because I haven't formatted them accordingly to the new layout. Yes, I know what your mind is saying. I am lazy!) Three, I face a block easily. Maybe it is because of my laziness or that I get bored easily. Or maybe because I need to passionate about something to actually work on it. These are the three major problems, other than the usual of Oh, what do I post next? Why did they give such a feedback? No comments? My post was not so bad huh! Did my readers get my point or did I do a bad job in putting it across? How do I get more readers? and more. 

However, all of these vaporize in thin air when a post is appreciated by you guys. That is quite a feeling. Please don't ask me to describe it. You need to feel it to know it. For a moment, I feel satisfied. The aim seems achievable. Next moment though, the quest is back in my mind. It is because, as a friend quotes,

 "No true writer writes for himself. That’s the biggest lie anyone can spout. You write to be read. You leave little nuggets of your soul in quiet, little paragraphs, waiting for people to spot them, and announce your genius. No, it isn't wrong. It’s just a little insight."

Though I love writing, drawing and jazz, you guys make me do it. It is my way of communicating with all of you. Every post is a question, answer, statement to every feedback, criticism, appreciation from you. For that, I thank all of you. Every new mail to me, asking when am I posting next (after being away for months) reminds me that somebody (other than me) cares about this space.

This blog started as an escape from writing science journals, went on to become a book review platform, got bombarded with lot of emo poems, then came the dark ages when it did not have a new post for months. Post which, stories (where fiction and reality were entwined) sprung on the blog. Then came the time when I was simply sharing pictures that I clicked and now when it is more art and emotion led. It has got its share of art, pictures, words, new name, changing urls, fiction stories, musings and ramblings, events, and more but nothing beats that notification of "1 comment awaiting moderation".

Thank you for these five wonderful years and cheers for the ones that are on its way. 

P.S. Stay connected with me on the go. Download the *free* Flirting Kaapi app here http://bit.ly/ZJTPRb and do rate it as well :)

                

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Words | A perfect recipe for disaster

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He tries to talk while she works hard to ignore. She likes to keep the conversation going even when he suddenly vanishes like vapour. He makes an effort to be casual. She recognizes it. She tries to be formal and aloof. He overlooks it. Every second she fights with herself while hanging mid-air between wanting to break free and tying him down. Every second she looses the battle and shoves those thoughts in the darkest corner of her mind. He loves to poke her and attack the chink in her uptight armour. She is forever trying to build new barriers and repair the chinks in her mind's fortress.

He talks in circles. She over analyzes those circles. She tries to be nice. Sometimes, he is genuinely nice. He knows his words. She reads between his words. He beats around the bush. She cuts through the bush and comes straight to the point. When she least expects, he appreciates. When she hopes, he never does so. He wants attention. She hates giving attention. She hates that she can't read him. He can see through her frustration. He has world on his mind. She always has him on her mind. 

Such is the story of Fragile Ego and Straightforward Words. And it is safe to say that together, they are a perfect recipe for a disaster.

P.S. Download The *free* Flirting Kaapi app here http://bit.ly/ZJTPRb and do rate it as well :)

                

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