12/27/2023
Joining the trend
2023, what a ride! It all began with my daughter's decision to take on the Arangetram challenge. Initially, it was just about decorations, but then the invitation card unleashed my creative spirit. Designing a digital lotus backdrop was cool, but I felt it needed more. So, I embarked on a mission to create a 3-foot lotus from scratch using foam sheets – a humongous task that took me on a journey of cutting, carving, and adding flowers for five whole days.
The centerpiece had to be majestic, reflecting the dance theme. This sparked my crazy idea of incorporating a new painting medium and sticking to the lotus theme. After overcoming challenges, the centerpieces turned out great. However, my artistic mind couldn't ignore the floor, leading to the birth of the idea to recreate the dance stage setup with dolls – a whole new world of doll-making.
In the midst of all this, I unexpectedly took on a photo book project, which wasn't originally on my list. Dissatisfied with the professional's background designs, I learned to edit photos and add special effects myself.
Despite the chaos, I managed to stay focused on my art classes. My students, with their dedication and my artistic touch, completed a beautiful piece, giving me confidence in handling multiple creative endeavors. I owe a big thanks to friends for suggestions, students for their support, and family for being my rock throughout this crazy year.
Reflecting on it now, the stress was real, but 2023 was a steep climb of learning and handling things that boosted my confidence – a testament to the fact that I can achieve anything with dedication and passion.