Yourstrulyme

I remember one evening when I was painting a Madhubani piece. I completely lost track of time, and it was way past my bedtime, but something kept me at it, and I felt so good finishing that piece before bed. I love art. Nothing is as engaging, entertaining and relaxing for me as art. Digital spaces have taken so much time and mental bandwidth from our days. If I were to do a digital detox, I could still spend my time well by trying out new art forms, learning skills and creating. For me, the joy of creating something is amazing. I won’t call myself an artist, because I haven’t really tried to create anything original on my own. But I love practicing artwork. I take inspiration from what I see online and either adapt it into my own version or replicate the same piece. I don’t do this to become an artist, but to try new things and to enjoy creating and relaxing in my own way.

So far, I’ve tried different art forms, and each has a different, nuanced effect on me. Overall, I lose track of time, I’m completely immersed, and I feel rewarded just by finishing a piece and by the satisfaction of learning something new.

Singing

I have been learning Indian classical music (Carnatic music) since childhood. In my earlier days, I was always asked to sing in public, so I used to dread it and wanted to escape learning it. But as I grew up, I developed a real fondness for singing. When I am singing or practicing, it instantly calms me. I feel more relaxed and grounded, and I’m able to see things as they are. I’m most drawn to Carnatic, Indian classical and film music. For me, listening and singing sometimes happen together, and their calming effect on me is huge.

Veena

I learned to play the veena. I moved to the US two years ago and don’t have my instrument here with me, so I’ve been out of touch with it for a while now. I miss playing and learning new pieces, and I feel guilty that my veena is sitting back in India, collecting dust. But back when I was actively playing and practicing, I could feel my focus improve a lot. The veena requires very nuanced coordination between the hands and the notes, so my focus had to be sharp to deliver a song well. Whenever I learned a new song, I used to end up with a heavy head. But as the days passed and I got familiar with it, the notes flowed, the music soothed me and my focus intensified.

Madhubani and Mandala

I have tried Madhubani, mandala, Kalamkari, kolam prints and more. My experience with all of them has been very similar. They require fine attention to detail, yet allow plenty of room for imperfection. What I love is that these art forms are vibrant with colour and free in how they represent objects: you could decorate an animal with patterns or simply colour it in. That’s what I really appreciate about them. They give you creative freedom, and while creating, I get lost in what’s coming next. Ideas keep flowing, and the end product is your own, no matter how good or bad it is.

Embroidery and Crochet

I have tried embroidery, but only the very early stages of crochet. Still, I think both give me the same sense of slow unwinding. The patterns repeat, your hands keep moving in a similar rhythm, and by the end there is something beautiful for you to keep. I’d compare it to the sound of a train or of waves: consistent, patterned and repetitive, yet very beautiful and healing.

Everything Else

Beyond these, I have tried ceramic painting, tufting, baking, pot painting, glass painting and many more. But these have been one-time experiences, so I don’t have much to say about each of them individually. Still, every time I engage in any of them, I love the zest I feel, the calmness in me and the joy after finishing. It’s an experience in itself. The only catch is baking: the end product has sugar in it, so I feel guilty eating it and just as guilty wasting it.

Coming Back to Myself

So much of our time and attention now goes into screens. Making things with my hands is how I come back to myself. None of it has to be perfect, and none of it has to be for anyone else. Maybe that’s why I hope no AI can ever replace these experiences. A machine can make a painting, but it can’t feel the quiet joy of finishing one long past bedtime. I hope these art forms stay alive and keep spreading the joy of handmade things and of creating.