Brinda's Art Shop

Recreated yesterday's washed-out colours. Even if it rained, I had a euphoric moment and almost felt like I was back with the impressionist artists, transported back in time. So today, I am singing in the rain and painting this indoors. Thank you, Wohlen Kultur Kommission , for organising this trip.

The Spanische Brotli Bahn also on display at the .brugg is very historic. Here comes the story. On August 7, 1847, Switzerland's first railway ran from Zurich to Baden and back for the first time. Soon after its inauguration, the railway was given the legendary name “Spanish Bread Railway” that is still legendary today. This is because the “fine” people of Zurich had their messengers fetch puff pastries from a well-known Baden chef and master baker - especially on Sundays. Previously, the poor servants had to set off on foot shortly after midnight so that their employers had fresh Spanish rolls available for the Sunday morning table! There were 4 courses in each direction every day, the travel time including 3 stops only 45 minutes. There was soon strong competition between the existing stagecoach routes and the railway. On August 1, 1848, the horse-drawn mail carriage service between Zurich and Baden was stopped during the day (the train only ran during the day). The first actual Swiss rail mail appeared after the extension of the existing railway line to Brugg on October 1, 1857 between Zurich and Brugg.

'I want to be free', this song often comes to my mind. Yesterday at our village market, I saw this beautiful young lady strolling with her family. And when I asked her, if I could photograph her, she stood there, and gave me a big, bright smile. I clicked, and tried to freeze that, open, honest and infectious smile.

When I look around, I see more and more layered people, difficult to understand. Narcisstic dragons in white and blue collars, with plastic smiles and fake promises. They are constantly lobbying for mini-kingdoms, full of pomp and prestige.

Often I feel alone. But then, I keep walking in this crowd. I find many, who like me, are also trying to make their way out of this cogwheel. And then, sometimes you spot a person, who like a beautiful sunbird, flies in and settles down on a branch nearby. She spreads her colourful wings, and makes you look up.

She whistles a tune, so true, that it touches your heart. You look up, and see a beautiful blue sky, calm and peaceful.

Then you know, freedom is not far.

Can you believe it, our Etsy tote bag, with my paintings on it, is travelling all around the world! Here are few photos from San Martin de los Andes, NYC, and today from Maldives!
Both are supporters of our creative activism projects. They have also together contributed their travelogue in our book, 'Wanderlust, Travel Stories'.

You can find the Etsy bags here:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Brindasartshop?section_id=41262119&order=date_desc&utm_source=boe&utm_medium=android&utm_campaign=6_hJ5G3VSoKHTP7zMK1P-Q&utm_content=Tote%20Bags

Travel book here:
https://www.bosecreativepublishers.ch/order-books

Today as I was returning from work, I saw a mother with an infant strapped on her back, and holding a pram, with a toddler nibbling on a Darwida biscuits. Just about a decade ago, I may have looked pretty much the same. So, I returned home and sat down now for a speedsketch in honour of all working mothers and fathers with toddler and Infanterie. Hold on tight, a day will soon come, when you will get a bit more time. Hold on tight, one day, you will again pick up the paintbrush. And then once you start, the gap years will not matter. You will paint and paint, every free monent that you ger, and even time will bent backwards, and create that negative space, that will make your drawings even more powerful.

Yesterday as part of our Swiss Aargau Urbansketchers Group, we went to an exhibition of Giacometti!

My rendition with colour pencils is just A6, holding infront, but the original oil on canvas (refer to the red bouquet) is A0, don't let the distance play tricks ;-)

My IG Blog, travelling and sketching:
https://www.instagram.com/artistbrinda?igsh=ZTk1b3V1aGdlcHVl

I was returning home with the BDWM train, and in the last 15 minutes of my journey, I saw two tall policemen get into our train, wearing those heavy green jackets to check our tickets randomly. Now, I don't know why. The moment I see a policeman or a ticket checker, my heart skips a beat, and I panic by default. Being slightly absent-minded, I double check, if I punched my ticket on time, or lately, if I swiped my new Swissplus app at the right time. Typically, I was so immersed in opening the SBB ticket app that the younger policeman tapped on my screen at one time and said, 'All perfect', he showed a 👍 and left. I sighed, and then my heart started racing again. The second burly policeman suddenly announced my name! Wait, how did he know me? I looked up!

'Frau Bose', and the policeman threw the warmest smile at me and extended his hands for a handshake. Standing tall like a Canadian bear, the policeman turned into a 'teddy bear' in my mind🧸 :-). He was the same senior policeman who had launched my report about a month ago. He informed that the schizophrenic guy had repeated his act once again, this time with an elderly man. The police, Herr E. enquired about my welfare like a friendly neighbour, and then got down at the next station. It felt good. I got down from the train smiling.

PS: This is a sketch of a young commuter from the same train. He had a beautiful crop of hair, and the spring sunset had gently shampooed his hair with a warm hue.

A small A5 paper, an hour of free time, a few scattered pencils, and a photo that I had taken back in 2019 in NYC - the first and last time I laid my eyes on Times Square. I was there back then for a symposium with two other younger colleagues. Within hours of landing, we made our way to the glittering area, which I had seen in so many movies. To be honest, I was a tad disappointed. Felt I was now part of the commercial circus, too. However, in an attempt to make the most of our time, we seeked the cheapest and shortest theatre that we could spot in the ticket windows at Times Square. It was me who had been pestering about wanting to see a Broadway Show, and I thought every theatre in TS was a musical. Half an hour later, the three of us sat in an underground make shift stage, front row (premium ticket), watching a one man show. The theatre was named Picasso. We could make neither head nor tail of the concept. Maybe we had jet lag. Before half-time, all of us were softly snoring. For my sake, the other two had endured the solo-theatre so long 🙄. We left and walked back from the shiny Times Square back to our hotel. On our last day, we got the chance to see one of the best ongoing Broadway musicals, 'The Wizard of Oz', restoring my faith in the charms of NYC.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
(The Wizard of Oz).

For interested participants please send me a message by April 3. For any queries, let me know. From beginners to advanced level.

Two days, one night in Solothurn and Neuchâtel and a few urbansketches in A5 postcards on the go. Each sketch was done between 20 to 30 minutes while waiting for the train, or while food to arrive in a restaurant, with family and friends, eight in a group.

Although I have visited Neuchâtel thrice before, this time, I was looking at it with fresh eyes for my upcoming workshop on with Swiss USK Symposium organised by in June thus year.

As always, when you sit and draw outside stories, they happen around you, like little whirlpools with their own characters and setups, dragging you into them sometimes. By 7am I was yesterday I was at Solothurn marketplace (which was close to our hotel), to draw the market, and as I drew, middle aged man, wearing shabby clothes, unable to walk properly or move (I realised later, he had Parkinsons), parked his bicycle next to wear my folding stool was, and stood at a distance watching me sketch. I didn't pay him much attention. Then, many passer-by started greeting him, 'Sali Thomas', he too would go forward and talk with couples, holding baskets full of Saturday morning vegetables or fruits. I realised he was quite well known in the community. As it was time to go for breakfast back in the hotel, I started wrapping up my tools (a rolling equipment with my pencils and a stool). He came and said he used to sketch too before. In fact, he had published a book 'one sketch every week, for 4 years'. Then he said (he understood I was of Indian origin), that ge had been to Chandigarh and many other cities, as an architect he had worked worldwide. I asked for his name. We exchanged crude visiting cards, I wrote my name with a blue pencil on a piece of paper, and he wrote his on the back of a brown paper. Later, I checked online, yes of course I had read about this book before by the artist and architect Thomas Zuercher from Solothurn. It was nice meeting him in person, out of the blue.
Then, back in our hotel (Roter Ochsen), just before we checked out, wsaw our very own 's picture postcards at the reception. The receptionist a,friendly lady, who had travelled to Kolkata, passed on her greetings!

Before the coffee gets cold' (her book's title), a dash of pencil colours on a water colour base. I wanted to post this before the painting got old and shuffled inside my drawer. My drawer is like a dungeon with infinite space. Sometimes, I wonder when I put my hand inside what will emerge, a drawing or a dragon.

'Before the coffee gets cold' (her book's title), a dash of pencil colours on a water colour base. I wanted to post this before the painting got old and shuffled inside my drawer. My drawer is like a dungeon with infinite space. Sometimes, I wonder when I put my hand inside what will emerge, a drawing or a dragon.

A working commuter in the BDWM train from Wohlen to Dietikon, in my series of Commuters in Watercolours:-).

I've received 100 reactions to my posts in the past 30 days. Thanks for your support. 🙏🤗🎉

Everyday can be a Valentines Day, give yourself that treat 😀
Order this coffee/tea mug with my Zermatt painting.

Ceramic Mug With Watercolours of Zermatt switzerland by the Artist c Brindarica Bose - Etsy This Mugs item by Brindasartshop has 2 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Switzerland. Listed on Oct 25, 2023

Running out of a table runner?

Here is one, based on my folk art paintings. For those special guests.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1519836492/table-runner-cotton-poly?ref=share_v4_lx

https://brindasartshop.etsy.com/listing/1656558368

This is a double sided (two paintings from Zurich) bag, click on the link to see more, a tote bag that fits in all the odds and evens :-).

The Zurich AOP Tote Bag - Etsy This Totes item is sold by Brindasartshop. Ships from Hendersonville, NC. Listed on Feb 2, 2024

Joining Swiss Urbansketchers Symposium is always a pleasure, that I look forward to. This year, I also have the privilege and honour to join as an instructor, thank you. I am looking forward to seeing you all, speedsketching:-).
A terrific lineup of international instructors from all over the world, artists whom we all admire and follow 2024 is the place you want to be to learn, to meet, and to share your urbansketches. Save the date 27 to 29 June, 2024, in the picturesque town Neuchâtel in the French part of Switzerland!

Wrapping up the weekend

Artsy shopping made easy with my Etsy shop, have you browsed the products?
Take a look and click here:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Brindasartshop?load_webview=1&bid=N_Z1IzNGVubbAc1wdrxUc0PPiXNC

I would like to thank you, my dear IG friends, for joining me in my journey to discover and express colours on papers. I take this opportunity to wish you and your near and dear ones happiness, resilience, and energy to pursue your goals for 2024. May you make time for your creativity and all your passion projects. Keep sketching and painting, Happy New Year!

Sunset in Paris,

I would like to thank you, my dear IG friends, for joining me in my journey to discover and express colours on papers. I take this opportunity to wish you and your near and dear ones happiness, resilience, and energy to pursue your goals for 2024. May you make time for your creativity and all your passion projects. Keep sketching and painting, Happy New Year 😉!

Flatiron, NYC, experimental with pastels, pencils, and watercolours. I went there in 2019, and this building has often been my muse.

Save the Date!
At Aarau Weinachtsmarkt

Drawing and Sketching on the go | Kurse & Seminare | Freizeit & Hobby | 02.12.2023 Werden Sie kreativ und erlernen Sie die Basics vom Skizzieren mit Urban Sketching Einführung in Aquarellzeichnen. Inkl. Material: Papier, Stifte, etc. Veranstalter: Brindarica Bose www.brindarica.art https://www.instagram.com/artistbrinda/

Monthly watercolours class online, from the comfort of your home continues, 1.5 hrs, last Sunday of the month. Kids class thereafter, 1 hr.
DM if interested. Today's topic was, how to simplify a complex scene and paint with a limited palette.