If any of you were following my LJ for past 3 years (don't deny it...I have seen you lurking around) this may not come as a surprise. I haven't updated in a long time because I have decided to move on... to Blogspot. Before you start throwing virtual rotten tomatoes at me, I'd like to say that this was a great place to share my trials and tribulations but I see more sense in blogging at Blogspot as it lets my blog be more Etsy-friendly. LJ, are you reading this? You should! It all boils down to Javascript/Flash. Very hi-tech, if you ask me.

So, I'll see you at my new address: smthedaydreamer.blogspot.com/

Buh bye, LJ.

I was thinking the other day of how to give an existing artwork a twist, to add one more item to my shop. The answer didn't take long to surface. Remember the 'Cookies' painting I made not so long ago? Well, a few tweaks to it and it transformed itself into a nifty Recipe Card.




You can print these out individually or bind together to make your own recipe booklet, or simply give them out as gifts to your friends and alike. The cards are up in the shop. Have a good week ahead! :-)

Long time no update! Actually, it's long time, no art! So without further ado, here's my latest work.






*rubs hands in glee* I'll take the liberty and toot my own horn because this is one piece that I'm really pleased about. What started out as an experiment with colours and shading resulted in this. The title 'Storm Of Thoughts' may seem a little obvious but there's more to it than meets the eye. Someone once remarked that my mind is like a storm churning with thoughts, and though it did seem a bit exaggerated at the time, I know it couldn't be more true.

The painting is up in the shop. Have a nice Sunday. :-)

An excerpt from an interview I read today:

In ten years I'd like to be...

Jacqui: Still creating, but up on a sunny hill with the ocean in front and a mountain in back. A large garden surrounding a just big enough home for me, Scott and any little ones produced along the way. Oh, and fresh cookies out of the oven and art all over the walls.

Scott: I’ll second that.
 

What started as a discussion post on my magazine group on Facebook resulted in a lovely exercise that stimulated my memory. May this list grow forever...


Shimla: Riding on a yak for the first time was a thrilling experience. Imagine not having seen a yak before... my first thought was that the animal was a fairy tale creature.

Delhi: The political monuments of this city infused a sense of Indianness in me.

Vrindavan: Six monkeys doing a jig on my car made me nervous.

Mathura: A halt at a local 'tapri' in the dusk hours made me think deeply about the word 'Shyam'. 'He' seemed to permeate every corner of that city.

Agra: No points for guessing what took my breath away... The Taj Mahal, of course. The architecture of the Agra Fort is also amazing.

Bharatpur: Being a bird-lover, the Keoladeo Sanctuary blew me away. Never before had I seen such a plethora of cormorents, flycatchers, cranes and rare, migratory birds.

Udaipur: Witnessing a local wedding just outside my hotel was awesome. The colours and patterns that the womenfolk were wearing were no less than a kaleidoscope.

Alwar: Freezing in the cold inspite of wearing three layers of clothes and standing in front of a mini-bonfire, is something I won't forget.

Baroda: The enthusiasm in localites for the festival of Navratri was great.

Mandu: Imagine my sheer delight on spotting The Milky Way for the first time in my life, away from city pollution and lights. Oh, I could give anything for one more sight of that brilliant night sky!

Omkareshwar: The Narmada river flowing (nah, gushing and roaring) right below my hotel balcony was a thrilling sight.

Mumbai: Oh well... My first camel ride on Juhu beach when I eight or so, getting lost in the Esselworld mirror maze, my first trip to the Taraporevala aquarium, watching an open-air play... the memories are endless.

Pune: The first time I travelled alone in an out-station train! I was 16 or so. Met a wonderful elderly lady on the train... we talked for 3 hours non-stop.

Khandala: Spicy fish curry in the chilling rains!

Kanha-Bandhavgarh: I can never forget my first Tiger Safari! Not to mention the elephant-back safari, which seemed scary at first but totally worth it.

Goa: Lounging in a chair on the beach and watching the sun set! Can there be greater joy in life?!

Bangalore: I remember mom doing a small but sweet puja right in our hotel room as it was Diwali day. The festival didn't feel any less special in Bangalore.

Mysore: The fragrance of sandalwood wafting down almost every other tree! The streets of Mysore are a walker's delight!

Ooty: A walk in the foggy, chilly tea gardens was filmi yet refreshing.

Q: What do you call a wordy dinosaur?
A: Thesaurus!

Sense of humour prevails.

Looking at my art collection, I realised I didn't have an artwork which showed a close-up front-view portrait. So pop comes a new idea.





Funny that when I showed mom and dad this painting, they said THE girl was ME, without blinking an eye. How I love good music! :-)

The artwork is listed in the shop. Do keep an eye out for my next painting; it's something I wanted to do since a very long time. As of now, it's shaping up well *rubs hands in glee*. Have a good week, people. 

My shop was in dire need of a makeover, which actually means I was tired of looking at the same banner. So, I tinkered away in Photoshop and created a new banner. 




Here's the old one:



And here's the new one... ta da!



I can see a visible improvement in my Photoshop skills. Notice how I experimented with colours and fancy brushes in the old one, whereas the new one has a minimalist look and yet showcases my art. :-)

Today while travelling to work, I found myself contemplating on all the train travel I did my entire life. I was 14 when I first started travelling by train, and now it's been 13 years going up and down the big old Western Railway. Gosh, that is an awfully long time!

All the people I came across... from the grumpy old lady occupying only THAT window seat in THAT particular train, to the loquacious but sweet aunty who'd always offer her seat to others. From the almost mad (and I mean literally) woman who'd dress up in the most atrocious of outfits and talk to herself as loudly as possible, to the collegian who progressed from a heavy backpack and books, to mangalsutra and a pregnant belly.   

And while I'm rambling on about the nostalgia, let me add an interesting discovery I made today. I seriously feel there is no need for the louder than loudest announcements made in the train informing passengers of the next arriving station. Here's why:
1. If someone has claimed your seat, you can be rest assured that lady will wake you up from the deepest of slumbers once your station arrives. It's her seat, after all, once you leave it.
2. If you keep your eyes and ears closed (like I usually do), you can still know where you've arrived. For example, you know you've arrived at Malad when the stench of fish makes you screw up your nose, or that you have arrived at Vile Parle when the delicious, oven-fresh aroma of Parle-G biscuits wafts all around you, or that you've arrived at Bandra, when the most-unique smell of the Mithi river permeates every corner of the train.

Is it a wonder then that the great Railways have inspired literature, art and a few posts on this blog? :-)

Nothing is better than receiving a note from someone saying that they admire your work.

I got compliments on my artwork AND my magazine work. Life is good! :-)