Everyone is an artist.

Posted on by writershilpa

 

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I have often heard people remark, “Ah, how I wish I could draw as well!” each time they view my drawings. I can very well relate to that wistfulness; I, too, wish I could carry a tune as well as some people can.

As far as singing goes, one has to be blessed with those special  vocal chords that can lull the listener into a state of tranquility. Singing is not something every Tom, Dick and Harry can indulge in, except,  perhaps in the bathroom!

However, art – as in drawing/sketching – is something anybody can try their hand at. One may not be able to draw like M. F.Hussain or Van Gogh, but trust me, one can definitely draw a fairly decent picture. You can always begin by drawing a straight line, or a curve and then take it forward. It is really quite doable.

You don’t believe me, do you? Well, believe me. There are people who may not have drawn a straight line in their entire lives, but have worked hard at it and learnt to bring out the artist that lies hidden within them.

Case in point – my dad.

Baba.

All his life, the man did not ever draw a single line, leave alone a picture.  But some years ago, as a result of sheer ennui, he began to draw. Now 81, the man has filled a few drawing books with sketches that range from object drawings, to figure drawing, to landscapes to illustrations!

How did he do it?

That’s really simple. He just picked up a pencil and began copying simple pictures from  magazines and newspapers. It was quite an uphill task for the old man considering he had never done it, ever. I am also not sure either of my grandparents was a born artist. But, perseverance, patience and regularity helped him achieve what most of us might only dream about at that age.

Last week, I had been home and asked dad to show me his drawing books. He pulled out few of his drawing books, opened them and began turning the pages, showing me his artwork. Right from the first pencil drawing and an attempt at pencil shading, to coloured ones that he graduated to along with time.

When I asked him if he had ever drawn in his entire life,  he  nonchalantly replied, “No”. I was sure he had not drawn earlier, still I asked him to confirm. I photographed many of his drawings and told him I would put them up on my blog for a post on drawing.

He is so eager to see his drawings on my blog. But, for me, it will be a matter of pride. The comments I receive for this post will be my gift for him!

Retirement can be  difficult for a person who hardly took a  leave of absence, even when Mumbai was reeling from the 1993 bomb blasts and the ensuing religious clashes that rocked the very sensitive area dad’s printing press was situated in.

So, keeping him occupied and his mind agile  post retirement was a task mum took upon herself – she had to persuade him to do it because she was scared his idle mind would turn into a devil’s workshop! She handed him a drawing book and some pencils and off he went to work.

So, long story short, my dad took up drawing at the ripe old age of 75 and this is what he has achieved so far. And, if he can do it at that age, I am sure we can do it, too, at any time of our life. All we need to do, is begin!

Start with simpler drawings, and enjoy the activity. Try not to be too strict with yourself, or too critical of your work. Also, try not to compare your work with that of the others – it only leads to low self-esteem. And, draw because it makes you happy, not to prove a point to anybody. That will really help you come out of your shell and discover your hidden talents!

So, presenting my dad’s art work, right from his very first drawing.

One of dad’s first pencil works.
An object drawing, with pencil shading.
I liked this cute picture..Dad loves it, too!
Don’t miss the expressions on her face! Dad managed it perfectly!
Loved these illustrations! I am going to try these myself someday.
I am never going to get this right, for sure!
I was stunned when I saw this pencil sketch of Rabindranath Tagore!
A potter at work. An artist at work, too!
Cute, no? One of dad’s first coloured pictures.
In some other life, I guess, dad must have been an artist, for sure!
The Ice cream guy!
Cute birdie!
I loved the way he has merged the shades of blue to get the perfect hue.
Loved the vibrancy of this picture!
Ma Durga! I look up to her.

 

Our favourite deity.

 

These are just some of dad’s art works.

So, now, don’t you agree that anybody can, indeed, draw? The motivation is right there, inside you! Allow it to give you a helping hand and guide your fingers to come up with art that conveys your innermost feelings! Trust me, you can do it!

Wishing you the very best and looking forward to seeing your artwork some day.

Do share with me whenever you begin on your arty journey!

 

Love,

SHILPA…

 

There's a artist hidden within us all.

Published by writershilpa

Writing and art are, for me, a panacea for my restless Geminian nerves. Blogging gives me peace in the chaos called Life, and art helps me distract my wandering mind. An obsession with healthy eating and fitness led me to create this health and wellness blog. Apart from health posts you will also find book reviews, my art work and experiments with words here, at Metanoia. My writing companions--my pets--offer me precious insights into Life and are a constant source of inspiration to me! So, do get comfy, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy your visit. Your presence here means a lot to me, you know?

55 thoughts on “Everyone is an artist.”

  1. Wow.. They are good. And it is so good to start a hobby at 75! I am sure my parents would agree to it. My father took up growing vegetables in our little patch and my Mom took to reading English novels. She is an avid Malayalam reader, but now comfortably reads English too. As for drawing, maybe I should take it up. I love to see artwork.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Awesome write up …..It truly is an awesome read and also very correct….One day even I out of sheer boredom picked up a brush ….. Nothing great but I never knew I do enjoy the moments with my brush.. Thank you cousin ….You were my inspiration

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Wow! These are beautiful!! And it is clear where you get your artisitc genes from 🙂
    Amazing pictures! Do wish Uncle all the mire creativity from my side. More power to his pencil! You could have a wonderful exhibition of these some day 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much, Corinne! Your words are going to keep encouraging him to continue drawing. There are times he just gives it all up. Now, I guess, he will pick up his pencils and get back to his art work!
      Liked your idea about him sharing his work. 🙂

      Like

  4. Thank you soooo much for this!!
    You know what? I have begun to practice drawing from just 1 year. It is, in fact, one of the things I want to learn from my bucket list. Because I am not a born artist, and I haven’t practiced it as much in previous years (of my life) I really find it difficult to imagine things in my head and draw them on the paper. So I have too started by copying other drawings. And when I see so many artists on Instagram and youtube and facebook, sometimes I feel very sad that why I can’t draw? But then I tell myself that instead of feeling bad I should think of them as resources for me to learn new things. But still, sometimes, I feel like giving up.
    But now on, I am going to think of your Dad whenever I feel like giving up. Wow! I need to be patient. Give some time, whenever I can. In fact, he has set an example that it is never too late to learn anything new. And I am going to need this because I want to learn a lot of things. Thanks again! And if your dad is reading then – Amazing kaka! Tumhi mala khup inspire kelat!! last 3 drawings ekdum ultimate!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Awww, Dhanashree…that’s so sweet of you!
      Well, first of all, congrats for taking up art. It is never too late!
      Secondly, NEVER compare yourself to others. That way, you will only find faults within you. You are unique and so is your art, your creativity! Copying pictures from magazines etc is the best way ..Dhanashree, everybody needs an inspiration. You can find it in nature, in your house, in the people around you. Even in magazines, where you might like a picture and feel like drawing it. I, too, use pictures on Google to make dog sketches. I too learn like that. As long as you find happiness in what you do…nothing else really matters.
      Wish you the best, dear!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. This is good stuff, Shilpa. And it certainly does not feel like your dad started so late in life. But you know what, you have not seen the way my kids do art. 🙂 I don’t really think they CAN draw! It is quite an interesting experience seeing their diagrams. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Rachna…beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. If your kids enjoy drawing, and if it’s beautiful in their opinion, I think you should encourage them. Not now, but maybe when they are a little older and understand ‘aesthetics’ they will know what they need to work on. 🙂
      I would love to see their art works.

      Like

  8. These are spectacular! 75?? He started that late? Honestly, I can’t tell. It’s beautiful, the details.

    As for me, I’ll share a secret . I used to doodle a lot as a kid. And I mean a lot. Every book was covered in scribbles. Until I had to draw for science diagrams and they came out so horribly. Then my art teacher looked at my still life and said, ‘Never mind. You have a way with words.’ 😉 Ever since I gave up drawing. I doubt I’ll ever go back to it too. But let’s see.

    Please convey my warmest wishes to Uncle and tell him these are gorgeous and he should keep drawing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aww, that must have felt so bad! But, Shy, I feel you should begin doodling again, like that one you shared with me, remember? You do have it in you to draw. Draw for your happiness. I am sure you will do great!
      Love!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. That’s lovely experience you shared and wow he has done very well. I think, every one who wants to draw should start by copying pictures from books and newspapers. Will share your post to my dad too. He is retired.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I am happy you found my dad’s story inspiring, Ramya!
      Yes, copying pictures from magazines etc is the best way to learn to draw. You can also find inspiration in the world around you. Maybe place an apple in a plate and then try to draw that. That’s how I too learnt! I still look for pictures of dogs and celebrities in magazines/newspapers to draw.

      Like

  10. Wow, beautiful drawings, Shilpa. Your dad is amazing. I love when people put their age aside and follow their passion. My mom is only 56 and for everything she says that she is old and don’t want to be bothered, even when I ask her to follow some exercise routine she doesn’t want to because she is old and stiff. It is so discouraging. I can’t express through my words how happy it made me to see your dad’s drawings. I used to draw when I was a kid, as in copy from children’s magazines and color them and stick them on walls. 😀 Later I stopped but now I’m doing it again, not as much I would like to or not as well I used to. I can’t use my imagination to draw but looking and drawing works for me. I will let you in on a secret – I drew a picture from your drawing collection too, Shilpa. That was a couple of months ago. And I drew a picture of myself too. 😀😁All because your drawings inspired me. Now I will attempt these drawings of your dad you shared too. Thanks a lot for this motivation this morning, Shilpa and Uncle. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, wow, Vinitha! Why did you not share it with me? I so want to see your drawings now!
      You must keep doing as and when time permits. It will keep you happy, esp during stressful times, you know. And, you must keep encouraging your mom too.Maybe some day she might come around.
      Looking forward to seeing your drawings, soon!
      Love!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I will share the drawings just with you, Shilpa. I must warn you, they are not even half nearly as good as yours. You take a look and tell me how I can improve. Thanks for the encouragement dear. 😀

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Vini, I have written in the post that one must never ever compare one’s work with that of the others, because that’s when your morale goes for a dip! Do what you like, and do it because you enjoy it, sweetie!

        Liked by 1 person

  12. I feel you totally. My company has few clients who are artist and I can totally understand what you were trying to say. And I love the drawings as well. Never give up on art. As they say, anything is art. It’s just the matter of perspective.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. These are such wonderful pictures, Shilpa. Really inspired. I used to make good sketches and drawings while in high school. But then Mom started pressurizing me for boards and made me say good bye to my drawing books and colours. Uncle’s sketches make me want to try it out again. Will definitely share it with you if I manage to make something meaningful. This was indeed a very inspiring post. Thank you! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  14. What an indulging daughter you are and I think there is no age to indulge in any art though I feel some talents are inborn and come to the fire only when we allow them to .

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Its a beautiful post.. and i love the emotions you have shared because its your dad.. but yes its true if one has the will and is persistent.. one can surely achieve a lot.. even I started drawing by copying simple images and it helps

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Very interesting and inspiring. I can see that the apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree. Now winded you are so talented. And good for your dad . BTW Grandma Moses was a famous American artist who began painting at 75 so he can also become famous ….

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Why I smell Amar Bangla here in this post…???

    What a fabulous post is this Shilpa! Beautifully covered an artist who learned late but was persistent to prove that age really doesn’t matter when there’s a zeal within.

    There are people with talents who kept them hidden in the name of busy-ness.

    A post with lots to learn from.

    My regards!

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Wow.. what a lesson to be learnt. I would never have believed it. I was watching this video the other day which said the single most important ingredient for success is grit and determination. Your father proved just that. One can achieve anything at any age or time by not giving up.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. These are beautiful drawings. It is quite inspirational of your father to take up something as a hobby which he had never done in his life and to start it at 75 is WOW!! How did your mother bring him to start drawing?
    In my home and family, both my mother (aged 59) and my father-in-law (aged 72) talk about dying because there is nothing more left for them to do now. And this saddens me. With my mother I gave her a book which I thought she will enjoy reading.She read that book twice and asked me to order another book by the same author for her. I hope she finds a new calling.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aww, that can be so sad, Anamika. But, that’s how we all start functioning in our old age, I think. Except for a few people, though.
      It was quite brave of my mother to convince dad to take up drawing, but then, she has been a teacher all her life and knows very well how to convince someone to do their best!
      I am happy my dad took it up. Now, though, he doesn’t draw much. Maybe this post will motivate him to do it oftener.
      I am happy your mother found the book interesting. Reading can be therapeutic, no? There is no better friend than a book and I think that’s what your mother found in the book you gifted her – a friend! I too hope she finds a new calling in reading.
      WIsh you the best, my dear. Caring for aged parents is really not easy, especially those who have given up on life…
      Hugs, my dear!

      Liked by 1 person

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