Over years, as work increasingly took more of my life/art space, I re-discovered the ritual of making Diwali rangoli as a justifiable excuse to create art for self expression at least once a year. My Rangoli-art only represented me until my son started to protest in the last two years of growing brains — “You always make Mumma rangoli, I want you to make Mumma-Arjun rangoli”. And finally this year, I could fulfill my promise to him through this 3ft×3ft Mumma-Arjun Rangoli, made over a straight 17hrs effort with barely any breaks.
As two figurines meant taking on more work than previous years, I decided to not deviate from my familiar illustrative style. Instead, I pushed boundaries in other ways:
1. Created a complex multi-layered background for a sense of multi-layered depth. Past two years, I have just been focusing on the subject for lack of time. Even before, it were just two layers.
2. Created sheer effect in the saree. I think I did a decent job given that this was the last thing I created at the 16th hour (~2:30am), battered with heat and body ache. I had no idea how to do it.. discovered it on the fly, knowing well that there was no undo option if anything went wrong.
3. Each year I scout for a reference picture from the internet and pick up one that comes closest to my mood and artistic aspiration that year. But this year I used #gemini image generator to generate a reference illustration for my visualization (albeit achieved after much prompting). I was thrilled to marry my two passions of tech and art!
4. I pushed my pedals harsh on time, and finally finished this one also in 17hrs as last year despite lot more work!
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All in all, I am excited to share the outcome. I must say, all the messages I get around Diwali wanting to see my annual Rangoli, have also been acting as a positive reinforcement (and some performance pressure) 😁
I have already decided to step away from the illustrative style next Diwali and now can’t wait. Alongside, Arjun has already decided he wants Papa-Mumma-Arjun rangoli next time and if I can manage only two figurines, it will be Papa-Arjun as they have been left out for far too long 😁
With newer hopes and aspirations already in place this Diwali week, wishing everyone a very #HappyDiwali and a New Year full of hopes and aspirations, art and technology!
