31 May, 2020

Tale of two cities in a pandemic



By Rohit Kulkarni and Farah Irani


Bengaluru sketch diary by Rohit Kulkarni


Dear Farah,
I am glad we are collaborating on this challenge by Simo Capecchi on the USK Talks..

Podcast Inspiration
Bengaluru 7 May
Dear Farah,
As the lockdown continues, the uncertainty on the continuity of some things becomes stronger.. podcasts are turning out to be a nice way to relate to how a lot of others around the globe are experiencing the same.. there is some sense of relief when you find company through uncertain times.. one of the podcast host shared a quote by the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca “we suffer more in our imagination than in reality”.. left an impression.. and made me think that the quote is true when reality is normal.. in todays’ time do we find hope in our imagination.?

The Mail
Bengaluru 8 May

Dear Farah,
Today was full of small little packages that kept coming through.. the new society rules of not doorstep delivery meant that I had to go down couple of times to pick each one up from the main gate.. one such trip also included some research on the steep electricity bill as well..

Out for essentials
Bengaluru 9 May

Dear Farah,
Felt so special to go out and drive a little distance to a local hypermarket.. the road to this hypermarket is usually bustling with people and I can hardly go beyond 30kms/hr.. today was different.. not much on the streets and I could drive faster and I pulled the window down.. that simple joy of some wind gushing into your face was so special today..

Mother’s Day
Bengaluru 10 May

Dear Farah,
Had a super relaxing day.. the week before I went for a walk every single day and reaching a certain number everyday results in one episode of GOT in return.. This week I had 5 and so all of the wee hours today were spent treating self with some binge watching.. being a Chathurti, we got treated to sabudana wada for breakfast.. aambyacha-raas poli in afternoon and some idli sambar at night.. it was Mothers day but guess what – we got pampered by Mom instead 😀


Pune Cantonment sketch diary by Farah Irani







Dear Rohit,
The Usk talk by Simo Capecchi and her inspiring diary journaling collaboration with Amanda Roelle made me want to sketch my experiences too. Collaborating with you gave me a chance to take up her challenge “2 halves to a story” to chronicle a tale of two cities in India, Pune and Bengaluru and exchange individual experiences through our sketches during this pandemic lockdown.

The unsung heroes of the pandemic lockdown- Our essentials suppliers
Pune 4 May

Dear  Rohit,
Today I went out for our essential supplies armed with my sketchbook to record what I was seeing around me. Most shops have run out of stocks. I have never seen such a shopping frenzy as we have just finished a three day total lockdown with only milk and medical supplies allowed and now more such lockdowns were expected in the future.

Social Distancing goes for a toss

Pune 5 May

Dear Rohit,
It feels  like we are back to the cavemen days. We now only step out to forage for food. I got an opportunity to sketch as I waited for the lines to thin.The police walk around with Lathis (sturdy sticks used to whack, thwack and quell dissent) to enforce social distancing while the stores beg people to maintain 5 ft distance even while seeing to their needs.

Maximising a trip in the days of no petrol for the non essential sector
Pune 6 May

Dear Rohit,
Now going out for supplies is just an excuse, the lure is getting a chance to sketch. Strings tied to scooters are some ways the store owners are trying  to  maintain some social distancing in front of their  stores. Most people walk everywhere as petrol is  still not available to the common man. Those who use their  vehicles,  have to maximise each trip. A common sight was  scooterists with a mountain pile of shopping bags in front of them as pillion passengers too are still not allowed.

Locked in Containment zones in Pune Camp
Pune 7 May

Dear Rohit,
Petrol is now allowed from 7 am to 7 pm, but I chose to walk to get my supplies. To my surprise I found the access to various streets blocked with iron sheets. The irony was that now we could drive our vehicles but we could not reach the stores as Pune Camp had started creating containment zones overnight by blocking off streets from each other.
I observed people on their scooters  coming to a screeching halt in front of these blocks, stare hard at them in shock as if mentally willing them to move and then when that did not happen they would suddenly speed off to find a new route to the store.

New Supply chains
Pune 7 May

On my way back home, I got an opportunity to sketch this  veggie handcart in a little side lane. But when the police came the cart and all vanished into thin air in seconds. An absolute study in logistics!

Treasure Hunt
Pune 8 May

Dear Rohit,
Navigating lanes that have been blocked without warning or finding a store that is adequately stocked has turned getting essentials into a outright treasure hunt.The news of another total lockdown had us scurrying again but in the midst of it I also got one more sketch.
The import of the closed roads I had sketched yesterday hit me hard in the early hours of this morning when an ambulance could not reach on time to help Someone in need due to the maze of barricaded roads.
When I began sketching this project I thought I was just a observer but it was not long before I realised I was no longer a bystander but in the midst of this all.

01 December, 2019

My Urbansketching Gear

Hi,

Sharing details of the materials that are a part of my Urbansketching gear.

Sketchbook
1. Stillman & Birn Alpha Series sketchbook - I use their hardbound landscape for bigger sketches and pocket size landscape format in my mini kit. I like the (lighter)weight of this paper - it takes linework very well and you can use watercolours easily. I usually work in light washes and finish most of the colour application in single wash. So the Alpha series work best for me. And I love whiteness of this paper.
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If you want a paper that can take watercolour application in its conventional use, try their Beta series. Or check out their website for more paper varieties.

2. When I want to sketch on loose sheets, I find the Fabriano Academia paper the best match to my sketching style.
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Pens
3. Lamy Joy - This pen is a workhorse. I like how it feels in the hand. Its grooves are best suited for how I hold a pen. Even if I pull out the pen after 2-3 weeks, the ink will start flowing within 1-2 strokes. I use De Atramentis document Black ink in myLamy.
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4. Platinum Carbon Pen - I am very fond of this pen. It gives this consistent thin line, never dries up and is best suited for the Platinum Carbon Ink which is the darkest permanent black ink that I have come across. You can buy cartridges or there is a convertor option. I just refill ink in the cartridges with a syringe.
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5. Platinum Preppy - For beginners, I recommend this pen as the investment is less and it still gives a very consistent fine line. I use this pen with a grey ink supplied by Noodlers.
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6. Uniball Signo (white) - I love this gel pen as it gives the brightest opaque white lines over watercolours for the highlights.
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7. Apsara 2B pencil - This pencil comes handy when I want to just suggest some lines before going in with direct watercolours.
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Brushes
8. Rosemary Travel Brushes - I use the Rosemary R8 Pocket Kolinsky Travel MOP. Its an expensive brush but worth the spend.
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I am trying out some other brands and will add my experience about these in 2020.



Brushpens
9. Kuretake Brush pen - Brushpens can be filled with water and serve a dual purpose of a brush and a water reservior. The Kurerake brushpens are longer than the others and gives me a good grip.
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10. Pentel Brush pen - This brush is generous with its supply of water and I use it when I want to pain skies.
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Inks
11. De Atramentis Document Black Ink
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12. Platinum Carbon Ink
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13. Noodlers Lexington Ink
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Watercolours
14. Daniel Smith Artist Watercolours : I simply love these colour as they are from natural source. The colours are vibrant and activate from pans from the very first dab of a brush.
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I will share more details on the pigments I use for my sketches soon..

Any questions, please email me at rohit711@gmail.com

Happy Sketching!!


14 September, 2015

Day 12 30 Paintings in 30 Days

A cute little penguin that has a video game screen on its back.. The game works even after the toy being like 6yrs old!!


11 September, 2015

Day 11 30 Paintings in 30 Days

This toy is very interesting.. If you press the hands of Bugs Bunny, the legs rotate around like a cool 70s dance move..


10 September, 2015

Day 10 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Teapot and Teacup from the movie The Beauty and Beast decided to drop in today.. The Teapot is Teacup's mom.. She has big eyes..


Day 9 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Rio comes in on a bright roller skater..