Thinking aloud through sketches, words and humour
Koi didn’t visit Monk for over a week. She spent time reflecting on all the conversations over the last few days. Soon, winter arrived and the mornings got even more colder. At the crack of dawn, a expansive blanket of fog stretched sleepily across the lake. At the bank, where Monk sat every day, a... Continue Reading →
Monk knew Koi was back and she was patiently waiting till Monk was ready to speak. “Good morning Koi. I see you are up early today.” “Good morning Monk. Yes I am. I swam here as soon as I woke up.” The lake was silent this morning as the sunrise unraveled itself. There was no... Continue Reading →
The sun cast long shadows and began its goodbyes by kissing the lake golden. A lazy mist floated upon the water, as Koi made her way back to the banks. She could see the Monk bathed in the shimmering hues of the evening sun. His face was glowing with an ethereal aura. Koi hesitated and... Continue Reading →
It was still raining heavily that morning, when Koi returned to the Monk. This time, she was sure the Monk would still be there. All the other fish had swiftly retreated to the safety of lake bed, perturbed by the rhythmic pitter patter of raindrops on the surface and the occasional sound of distant thunder.... Continue Reading →
“What is gut feel, Monk? I hear everyone speaking about this and instinct and intuition. Tell me more.” Koi had been waiting to ask the monk this question since the last evening. Monk gifted Koi his trademark smile, that always radiated suddenly from his calm meditative visage. “Your questions are getting interesting Koi. Often, you... Continue Reading →
There was a slight drizzle and Koi wasn’t sure he would find the monk. She swam towards the garden anyway, amidst gentle ripples that danced as raindrops kissed the water. The monk was there, in his regular spot by the water, sitting cross legged with an aura of calm around him, unperturbed by the rain... Continue Reading →
Monk was expecting the Koi any moment now, he could sense Koi’s curious energy. Koi appeared on cue, gently past the lotus leaves near the banks of the lake. “Monk, I have something I want to talk about today.” “Koi, I see you have brought your friends along too.” “I have been sharing our conversations... Continue Reading →
The Koi was back after a few days. Swimming up to the monk on a cold winter morning, as a blanket of fog hung over the lake. The monk spoke first, with his eyes gently shut, yet sensing Koi was nearby in silence. “You are back Koi. How have you been?” “I am well Monk.... Continue Reading →
The Monk eyes were still shut, but he sensed an aura of restlessness as Koi approached him. “Is everything ok, Koi?” asked the monk with his eyes still closed. The Koi spoke as he neared the banks of the zen garden. “Monk, I am not feeling happy today. I watched you and have been trying... Continue Reading →
The Monk felt the Koi’s presence and opened his eyes “Welcome back my friend.” Koi smiled and said “I have another thought today Monk.” The Monk waited for Koi to continue. “Monk, how do I learn to forgive?” The monk smiled at Koi. “I love your questions Koi” and then closed his eyes in silence... Continue Reading →
The Koi fish was back early morning. “I thought of another question Monk.” She said. The monk patiently waited for Koi to speak. “What is wisdom Monk?” The monk was silent for what seemed like eternity and then he spoke softly. “Koi, Wisdom is listening intently to knowledge and making use of what she imparts.”... Continue Reading →
The Koi came back one morning at the break of dawn. He looked up at the Monk and asked him “What is true happiness, Monk?” The Monk remained silent for a while, then answered the fish with a smile “Koi, happiness is greeting both sadness and happiness the same way. As two friends who will... Continue Reading →
The Koi asked the monk one day “Have you found the answers you are looking for?” The Monk paused for a while and answered the Koi “I am not seeking answers, Koi. I am just beginning to know myself. When I really discover myself and become who I truly am, the other answers will magically... Continue Reading →
The Koi fish approached the monk one day. “I have a question for you” said the Koi. The monk waited patiently for the Koi fish to ask his question. “Why do you close your eyes?” The monk smiled with his eyes gently closed. “It allows me to be with myself and shut out the noise... Continue Reading →
“What is meditation?” The Koi fish asked the monk. The monk smiled and answered “Meditation is being in the now.” Koi went silent for a moment and asked “Are you meditating now?” “Yes. Right now I am completely present in our conversation. My mind is not astray, my thoughts aren’t scattered. The water is still... Continue Reading →
I try and draw a monk as often as I can. And when I do it’s a bubble of silence as I draw. It’s a wonderful metaphor to be completely in the now. The last few years I have been drawing just monks and koi fish. Zen is about doing the same think without an... Continue Reading →
My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. -Clarence Budington Kelland Exactly a year ago, My father left us, leaving behind a treasure trove of memories. He didn't leave behind a vacuum for the family, instead he filled our minds with warm thoughts of his positive... Continue Reading →
The food and beverage industry is one of the fastest growing industries world wide with new concepts launching everyday and existing concepts growing by leaps and bounds. It is also the industry with one of the highest rates of failure. Successful concepts suddenly fade and disappear due to innumerable reasons. New concepts catch the... Continue Reading →
In today’s dynamic global market space, competing on price and quality will never be a game changer. Businesses today are looking to create a brand that speaks their story, that packages their USP and expounds to the world why they are so good. They need a visual depiction of their offering that emotionally connects their... Continue Reading →
In today’s fast changing economy, marketing has taken a new dimension completely. Combined with the rapid leaps in the use of social media on one side and an economy thats unstable and challenging, brands have to adjust to the new landscape and adopt a new strategy that remains effective. The first step is to look... Continue Reading →
With the advent of social media, a new era has opened up for brands and with it a plethora of challenges. Brands are now directly in touch with their consumers interacting one on one. This is both an opportunity and complex at step he same time. Today companies have to step down from their ivory... Continue Reading →
What you end up remembering isn't always the same as what you have witnessed. -Julian Barnes, The sense of an ending A bus rumbled through a sleepy town, past rocky hillocks and green fields, past garish hand painted walls, past a greying sky pregnant with nostalgia and the chance of rain. Little did we know the... Continue Reading →
How to market your business in a challenging business landscape. 10 simple ideas
I have begun creating some time lapse videos of the monks being sketched. This is an initial exploration of the same. I am going to try and do this regularly and share the process of how the illustrations are created color, ink and all.
"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that... Continue Reading →
Tried playing and exploring working with photographs and creating layers with the monk. Some cool results. Still learning and having fun. Miss the simple joy of pen and ink and the meditative state of drawing them. But also having a blast playing with color. The best of both worlds - who said I need to... Continue Reading →
Tried my hand at some explorations with the Apple iPad pro and the apple pencil. Had some fun with color and textures. Still not got my hand at it fully. Here are the results.
A series on self awareness and getting to know yourself.
Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others. Jonathan Swift A vision board is a tool that has time and again helped me create a road map and clarify my own picture of where I want to be in the future and become a catalyst to achieve the dreams. I have... Continue Reading →
I explored adding more color to the monks. Detailed the buildings and depicted them in concentric circles to symbolise the inner journey to find oneself. Finding your own quiet spot and rejuvenating yourself need not await a vacation but finding balance everyday, all the time.
SEEKING ANSARS 