April 29 Saying Goodbye

Day 29

Saying Goodbye

This is how I spent my last day.  I felt strangely grateful for the accident.  So, tomorrow I say a bittersweet farewell to my cast and my month long art retreat.

April 28 The Rooster Story

Day 28
The Rooster Story

This was an unforgettable day.  We drove into the city and sat at the back of an audience of grade 2's and were transported into Antonio's magical world.  I've never seen a group of children so engaged and delighted.  He told a story of a rooster with a magic stomach who returned stolen treasures to the people of a town ruled by a mean and greedy king. 

After the show, I reintroduced myself.  He remembered our visit on the plane. I asked him to sign my cast.  Such joy!

SEVAL is Red Rooster - a symbol of spiritual unfoldment, wisdom.

April 27 Synchronicity

Day 27


Synchronicity

I once sat on an overseas flight with an engaging storyteller from Maine.  He was travelling to perform at a festival in Bangalore.  I was returning home for Nikhila's wedding.  I kept his business card on my fridge in University.

This week in Winnipeg he is performing at the Storytelling Festival.  I recognized his name, and then saw his face on a flyer.  Wouldn't it be fun to see him perform.  I might see if Phil wants to drive in for it.

April 26 More One Liners

Day 26

More One Liners

My neighbour Hillary Rose is a character.  She has the perfect hat for any occasion.  I see her out walking her dogs each morning.

She's a retired dentist.  She is always smiling and her dogs have the cleanest teeth in town.

I love drawing without lifting the pen.  It gives the face a whimsical touch.

April 25 How I Feel Today

Day 25

I saw a photo online of this bust.  This is how I feel about going back to work.

Coulrophobia: Fear of clowns.

April 24 Composition

Day 24

Composition

Phil was teaching me about composing a shot.  It all started Saturday when I took pictures at the flea market.  There was a saddle made into a swing.  I had fun cropping it into small abstract compositions.  I think each one would make a good painting - perhaps a western series.

One week today, my cast will be no more.

April 23 Satya's Birthday

Day 23

Today is Satya's birthday.  I hope she received my package.
I miss her so much.  She would be so happy to hear I'm painting and drawing and being expressive.  She was the first person to tell me I was an artist.  She was the only one who encouraged me to draw.

I'm going to take a picture of this painting of her and send it to her.

I send love to you dear sister.

April 22 Fortune Cookie

Day 22

Earth Day
We walked the dogs on the Boardwalk.  It was a treat to have a day with no plans. We took home Chinese food and watched the "Blue Planet" series.

My fortune cookie said this: "Your nature is both dramatic and romantic".

So, I found this face of Meral on Sktchy to go with the fortune.

April 21 Flea Market Finds

Day 21

Flea market finds.  A book and 3 wooden toys.

April 20 My Split Personality

Day 20

My split personality
Right brain - Left brain

Art vs. Work

I've decided to continue writing with my left hand.  I feel different.  More alive.  More honest.  My sketchbook has become my haven.  Open.  Uncensored.  Strength in vulnerability.

How will I be able to go back to work?

April 19 Career Day in Gimli

Day 19

Career Day in Gimli

"Do you ever cry when an animal dies?"
"How much money do you make?"

I was one of 10 guests to spend the morning at the school talking to interest students about life as a vet.  They were so engaged and their questions were hilarious.  "What's the weirdest thing you've found in a dog?"  A pair of dentures.  I even brought the x-ray to show them.

Best part of the day was meeting an artist who brought her sketchbooks.  She was working on a "Fake Journal" where she was pretending to be a vet.  How synchronistic.  She took pictures of my display.  She especially loved the tapeworm in the jar.  She gave me her card and we're going to get together to draw!

April 18 New Approach

Day 18  NEW APPROACH

Left - Draw   Right - Write

Shadows and hights.  highlights.  My spelling goes out the window when drawing with my left hand.

There.  I used my right hand to hold the pen.  But, I will continue to draw until my cast is off.  I'm learning so much with this exercise.

It's all I can do to leave fix it with pen.  Just leave it!

It feels strange to use my right hand.

April 17 Breakthrough

Day 17 - Breakthrough

I'm trying something new.

I painted watercolour shadow shapes and I like it just the way it is.  I'm so tempted to go in and add lines, but I like the mystery and drama that will disappear with overworking it.

I actually feel like an ARTIST.

April 16 Phil's Birthday

Day 16

oops.  I wasn't thinking...

"I don't think.  Therefore, I'm not." - H. Hunter

I burned two fingers on my right hand.  I was amking a birthday amelette for Phil and the pan slipped.  I caught it with my sore hand.  I guess I wasn't thinking.  I'm a better non-dominant artist than chef. Thank God for aloe.

Happy Birthday, Phil!
We're driving to Hecla for lunch and a walk.  I'll take photos to draw later.

April 15 A Wish

Day 15

I want to be an artist.
There.  I said it.
I am so lucky to have this time to draw.

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."  - Lucius Annaeus Seneca

What would Phil say if I told him my secret desire?

April 13-14 Friday the 13th

Day 13

Friday the 13th.  Why do western people suffer by following luck?  I know at home we have many beliefs which dictate our behaviour and are passed down through generations so perhaps things are not so different.

Sneha Massi believed an elephant trunk would attract fortune.  Pointed up would hold it in greed.  Pointed down, disperse to all.

Day 14

headache and flu.

April 12 Birds

Day 12

Birds

I phoned the office early this a.m. as we didn't get home til late last night.  We went home down back roads exploring the countryside.  Phil is happiest on a dirt road with his camera within reach. We saw 7 bald eagles circling overhead close to Libau, and he cursed that he didn't have his big lens.  We stopped for the mail and there was a package from Parminder.  She always chooses the perfect stamps.  I steamed them off and will bring them to the clinic.

And... yesterday was International Pet Day.  I missed the party at the clinic.

My injuries are healing.  I think I could hold the pen, but I'm enjoying the non-dominant experience.

I love our feathered friends.

April 11 Puppets

Day 11

Puppets by Ronnie Burkett

"It's funny, dark, smart, and extremely entertaining for a puppet show" - Vancouver Sun

Everyone knows I'm a fan of puppets.  A marionette puppeteer used to sit on the steps of the Radha Krishna Temple.  I would visit every time we went to Ahmedabad.  It was magic.

In the motel was a 2015 travel guide and Ronnie Burkett was featured in an Arts and Entertainment article.  I had seen him perform in Saskatoon that year.  He is indescribable and seeing these photos took me back to the steps of the temple.

April 10 Blizzard with Plastic Plant

Day 10

Blizzard with Plastic Plant

"Sometimes the flowers arrange themselves" - The Office

I got no sleep.  When I put the book down it was 3:00 a.m.  I'm reading Shantaram - a good read set in India.  Phil got up early to go on a shoot just east of Lac du Bonnet.  At the last minute, I decided to go.  It's so lovely in the Canadian Shield.  Unfortunately, we're stuck here overnight as there is a spring blizzard.  I'm in the lounge of the Brokenhead Motel waiting for Phil to finish.  Just me and the plastic dieffenbachia.

April 9 Mandvi

Day 9 - Chopati at Mandvi

Beautiful crumbs of memory.  Today I miss home.  I spent the morning looking at old photos.  I rarely get homesick but when I'm not busy, my thoughts turn to family.

When I said I was leaving Gujarat, Bhavya said to me "Geography is destiny".

April 8 Leave Me Alone

Day 8

"It's only one month."
"Are you enjoying your 'holiday'"?
"Have you eaten today?"
"How are you spending your days?"
"Did you hear about Ankita?" "Yes. Lucky to have time off!"
"Have you fed the cat?"

Leave me alone.
This is a test.  For years I wanted to have all the time in the world to draw.  I've missed it.  It's a cruel joke I have to use my left hand.

Everyone means well, but I'm SICK of hearing how I must be enjoying this 'time off'.
This is what I'd like to say to them.

April 7 Surprise Treat

Day 7

Fancy Sandwiches

Why do I love egg salad? It seems to be the perfect western food.

I used to think the worst thing about Canada was the food.  No spice, no taste, no salt.  I've come to love some things like pasta, but most surprising was discovering eggs.  Before I moved here, I had never had an egg. Yes, I had eaten things prepared or processed with them, but never the simple hardboiled egg.  What a perfect food.

Mrs. Fawcett's husband Bill suffered a stroke last week and died on Tues.  Memorial service was today and Arleigh dropped off some leftovers.

We talked about death and dying.  We decided Bill had crossed the Rainbow Bridge and was playing frisbee with Petey.

बहुत सा आशीर्वाद  (Bahuta sā āśīrvāda) - many blessings

April 6 Stillness

Day 6

I've been invited to Lighthouse Studio in Wpg Beach for an evening of wine and life drawing.

Create stillness in the brain
Prayer of the heart
Stabilize the body, stabilize the mind.
Wisdom of the inner body
Stillness
Seated Diamond
And... I won the door prize!

April 5 Pencil Parking

Day 5
I woke up grumpy so I must be getting better.

Pencil Parking

When I first met Phil, I asked him if pencils came from Pennsylvania.  He's never let me forget it.  So, when he found this at a garage sale last weekend, we had a good laugh.  He told the woman he bought it from, "Allegedly, the pencil was invented there."  She replied, "Yes, I think I heard that."

I'm going to tackle supper.  It may be from a can, but it'll give me something to aim for.

The clinic sent these beautiful alstroemeria.  Dr. Lennox from Moosemin was able to cover for me.  He was happy to come as he spent summers at Wpg. Beach as a child.  His clinic closed due to frozen pipes in Jan.  They have to wait til May to reopen.

Charlotte dropped off some muffins.  She was here only a minute when her phone dinged, then rang.  I sat and drew while I listened to her one sided conversation.  How rude.  Yeah, I'm grumpy.  "Pissed off beats scared every time".  - F. Castle

April 4 Phil

Day 4

What's happening to me?  I slept in. Usually I'm out the door at 7:15.  I'm choosing this prison sentence to take these days to do all the things I've longed to do.  Draw, read, sleep, spend time with Phil.  Phil got up early to catch the morning light on the melting ice on the beach.  He had made my chai and the thermos was waiting for me with a cryptic note beside it.  "Anecdotes do not equal evidence".  I think it was his way of apologizing for our blowup on Monday.  He is a man of good heart.

Kindness in giving creates love. - Lao Tsu

I'm so lucky.  Plus, I'm going to get good at drawing with my left hand.

April 3 Weird Dreams

Remember, it's only ONE MONTH.

Day 3

Woke up from weird dreams.  I dreamt I was in the forest and a woodpecker swooped in through the trees and landed on my shoulder.  It kissed me on the cheek then smiled.  It smiled and I could see inside its mouth.  There was a little snare drum inside and its tongue was a wooden drumstick.  It said, "Everything that needs to be said has already been said."  I woke up realizing HAPPINESS is within me.

Morning chai may take all day.  My injuries seem to include a torn rotator cuff and pulled rhomboid.

Thank God for my sketchbook.  Mummy was right for me to leave art school for veterinary college.  But I'm thankful I'm never graduated from drawing.

April 2 Welcome to Your Life

April 2, 2018

Welcome to your life, Ankita.

Phil is on location til tomorrow.  It's me and the animals.  I got mad at him for being gone overnight.  He said "It's about more than just one night", then slammed the door.  He's been so stressed lately.  I don't want to pull him into my vortex.  "Everybody's got dead people.  It's no excuse to get everyone else dead along the way." - Rocket Raccoon.

When the zombie apocalypse comes, I'll be able to either whack them with my cast, or invite them for a drink.  God, I'm miserable.

I hereby promise to stay positive.  Why drag everyone down with me?  I snapped at Phil this a.m. to take out the compost.  It wasn't even full.

I watched an entire season of the Dog Whisperer and have now moved on to All Creatures Great and Small on YouTube.  I called the clinic five times.  Viv told me to take another painkiller.

April 1 The Accident

April 1st, 2018

A client brought in her 18 mo. male pointer cross who tackled me in the waiting room.  I must move the KEEP ON LEASH sign to the front door.  X-ray shows single metacarpal fracture.

My life is about HEALING.  One month of enduring the cast.  Viv rescheduled this week as we scramble for someone to come cover through April.

I guess I make the most of this imposed holiday.  I'm curious if I can keep from being bored.  Ha... I remember Aunt Frances would say, "The cure for boredom is curiosity.  There is no cure for curiosity."

Phil brought me a jam buster and sat at emerg with me.  Sitting next to me was a man holding a bloody towel to the side of head.  Twice he wailed, "my ears are my most attractive feature!"  Poor guy.

APRIL 2018 FAKE JOURNAL

This is my third year joining in the fun with art journal enthusiasts around the world.  The brain child of artist Roz Stendahl it's 30 days of adopting a fictitious persona/premise and see what develops.  It's a chance to challenge oneself, play, explore a new medium or concept, while joining a community of others doing the same.  

Every morning Roz offers 5 prompts which we can choose to use, or not.  

More information: International Fake Journal Month

In preparation, I made a coptic stitch bound sketchbook with 30 pages, using toned Strathmore multimedia paper.  

My personal goal:  

Use Roz's daily prompts as much as possible. 

Use my non-dominant hand

Use gouache and Posca markers

Work spontaneously and playfully WITHOUT storytelling. 

Allow the story to evolve.

I will not decide my character until April 1.