- By Manoj Nibhoria I still remember the time when I first held a crayon in my hand. I had no clue about what I was supposed to do with this strange colorful stick. We were asked to fill up the little boxes in our drawing books. Considering it as any other homework, I started filling them up hastily, missing most of the edges and corners. After I had filled up half of the boxes, my dad happened to have a look at my work. He then had a chat with me about the importance of edges and corners. That was probably the first and most cherished art lesson of my life. |
As I grew up, the crayons were replaced first by sketch pens and eventually by watercolors. After 4 years of my on and off relationship with various colors, I discovered the two true and everlasting colors of the universe: Black & White. Encompassing everything within and beyond imagination, these are the only two shades which have demanded and succeeded to be perceived over the ages. While others often shy away in darkness, these two have always managed to prevent the catastrophe of a colorless world. Their bold and omnipresent character paved the way for my love towards sketching.
While sketching in my undergrad college, I was greatly influenced by the work of Laurie Lipton.
While sketching in my undergrad college, I was greatly influenced by the work of Laurie Lipton.
A brilliant contemporary sketching artist from New York, she has developed her own sketching technique which consists of thousands of extremely fine cross hatched lines, making her sketches insanely detailed and intricate. Over the years, I have tried to inculcate her technique in my own work. Though it requires a lot of time and patience but the resulting details and effects are unbelievable.
Besides the details, the ideas presented in her drawings amaze me every time I look at them. Each and every one of her sketches has a shocking value embedded so deep into it that a mere glance is sheer injustice towards the artist. Her work seems to be the extension of our smallest unknown fears. Through her drawings, she forces the observer to get in touch and feel those fears. Even the titles of the drawings are equally well thought and intuitive. One of her such drawings which intrigues me is ‘Closed Circuit’.
Besides the details, the ideas presented in her drawings amaze me every time I look at them. Each and every one of her sketches has a shocking value embedded so deep into it that a mere glance is sheer injustice towards the artist. Her work seems to be the extension of our smallest unknown fears. Through her drawings, she forces the observer to get in touch and feel those fears. Even the titles of the drawings are equally well thought and intuitive. One of her such drawings which intrigues me is ‘Closed Circuit’.
Closed Circuit - Laurie Lipton In an attempt to gain more insight about the ideas and thought process which Laurie goes through while sketching, I tried to reproduce one of her most controversial drawing called ‘Love Bite’. The drawing, though an exemplary piece of art was heavily criticized (Laurie’s interview) due to its content. This was probably one of the most important reasons that I chose to work on it. Although some may argue about the loss of originality and creativity in reproducing someone else’s work, but I strongly believe that an artist should gain as many perspectives as he can. And what better a perspective to add than of one’s own inspiration? From my experiences with sketching I can say that it is an overwhelming feeling to see the transformation one can bring in a piece of paper by a common HB pencil. Different tones can be obtained by mere adjustment of the pressure applied. Add some more grades of pencil and you can even sketch objects as complicated as glass and water. | This drawing called ‘Closed Circuit’ by Laurie Lipton shows the fears of modernization as perceived by any common individual. Traffic lights at the top, guiding strangers in humongous numbers who are being kept in check by closed circuit cameras installed on suffocating skyscrapers, are more than enough to bring out horror and insecurity in any person. The observer, on one hand is gripped by the fear of living in a society where his each and every action is monitored and governed by some unknown entity, while at the same time feels insecure about the loss of his identity as an individual. This drawing, while depicting the concepts of commercialization, boldly showcases the dark side also. Laurie’s ideas and drawings have served as true inspiration to me. Most of them are not just mere replication of some beautiful landscape or an enchanted beauty, but rather a dive into the surreal, which has motivated me to go one step beyond what I see, hear, smell and feel. In short she has given me an artist’s perception. Recreation of Laurie Lipton’s ‘Love Bite’- by Manoj Nibhoria |
At the end of the day, it is really magnificent to see a part of your ideas objectified in front of you and ready to be shared with others.
Manoj Nibhoria is a PGP student at IIM Ahmedabad and a member of Finesse.
Manoj Nibhoria is a PGP student at IIM Ahmedabad and a member of Finesse.