Mule

Mule pulling a wagon in rural India, travelling across a muddy road; Carrying goods and people through the mist on a foggy morning.

Motorcycle

From a photo I took out the car window while driving through one of the busiest cities in Punjab. Wrapped in wool shawls riding into the crisp morning air of Ludhiana.

Sketch of a wheelbarrow filled with wrapped bundles or bags.

Sarson da saag

Visiting my mom’s village after thirteen years, and one of the things that caught my eye are mustard flowers bundled in tarps.

A pencil sketch of a small rustic hut made from logs and thatch with an open door showing some items inside.

Kacha Ghar

On the walk to my uncle’s farm, we stopped to admire the goats and cows at a house along the road. The woman in the door happily inviting us in for an afternoon chai.

A pencil sketch of a person walking with their back to the viewer, wearing traditional clothing, near trees including a palm tree and a bush.

Mammi

I was certain if sent alone I would find the house on my own. So I set out, and was off by one. Many have transformed their homes or relocated since my last visit.

A pencil sketch of a person climbing a ladder next to a tree, with a chimney and buildings in the background.

Haveli

Construction site in Jalandhar: Man carrying bricks up a wooden ladder leaning against wooden poles tied with fabric.

Sketch of a man standing next to a street stall selling eggs, with a large umbrella overhead.

Santra

En route to Chandigarh driving by endless carts every 50 metres, filled of oranges stacked in perfect rows.

Sketch of three goldfish, each with flowing fins and detailed scales, on a white background.

Machlee

Swimming in circles within a small tank enclosed by sculptures made of stone.

A pencil sketch of a curious kitten peeking out from behind a wall on a blank page.

Sirhind Canal

Somewhere along the Sirhind Canal live cats adopted by locals and resorts.

Black and white sketch of a large tree with a swing hanging from a branch, a building with an arched doorway and windows, a white chair, and a bench in a yard with shadows cast on the ground.

Friday Afternoon

Shadows and charcoal study. Photo I took on a Friday afternoon, and then sketched on a Friday afternoon one month later.

A pencil sketch of a tree with branches and leaves, and three seated figures nearby, with a landscape in the background.

Rupnagar

Three women sitting by the Sutlej river on a sunny winter day wrapped in wool shawls.

Charcoal

Learning to use charcoal as a singular medium for a landscape sketch. This one’s from a follow-along YouTube video.

Black and white pencil sketch of a landscape featuring trees in the foreground and a flat, open field with distant trees on the horizon.

Himachal

Practicing charcoal sketch for an image I took while travelling in Himachal Pradesh.

Black and white drawing of a leafless tree with a thick trunk and bare branches.

Birch Tree

This is one of my first follow-along charcoal studies, where the artist took a deep dive into how to create softness and contrast in one drawing.

Black and white sketch of a landscape with mountains, trees, and large clouds in the sky.

Cumulonimbus

Charcoal hills with clouds forming in the distance.

A monochrome, abstract portrait of a person's face with dark, hollow eyes, a slightly open mouth, and an expressive, textured background.

Portrait Study

Speed sketch that felt like scribbling at first. The more I look at it, the more details that start to show in the eyes I never intended on drawing.

Black and white charcoal drawing of a lush forest with tall trees and dense foliage.

Tropical Rainforest

Attempting to create my own charcoal scenery combining various images and imagination.