The Dolls of Japan exhibition at Japan Foundation, New Delhi

When I first visited the exhibition,  The Dolls of Japan, I fell in love with them. I decided to sketch them  on my several trips to the show. Some days, I would spend an hour and at other times, two hours. Still, I found how much I missed the sweet petite dolls whenever I left. I guess the longer you sketch them, the more they grow on you! Its like rereading a favourite novel. The Japanese dolls had the same effect :-) Below are my various sketches of the dolls. The exhibition is on till 4th November.  Please do visit it when you can!

Venue: Japan Foundation, Opposite Moolchand Metro station, Delhi

Date : 14th October- 4th November 2016

The Dolls of Japan sketches

#ThedollsofJapan #JapanFoundation #exhibitions #Sketches #Dolls

Cafe Series 1- Mamagoto Cafe at CP -28th May 2016

Shantala Palat

The Delhi Sketchers are indebted to the Mamagoto team and staff for allowing us to sketch at their  newly opened Connaught Place branch . The experience was a wonderful one in many ways- food, drinks and the bright colours of the paintings and the interiors. Everything from how the food was served artistically to the drinks that delighted us with cute animated figures and the warm hospitality by their staff is something we will always remember the cafe for.We spent several hours sketching the cafe, later adding our own inventions and colours  to them while chatting over food and mocktails. Pens indeed do not do justice to the colourful menus, cushions and coasters! Check out our sketches :-) :-)

Geetanjali Saini

Shantala Palat

Shantala Palat

Shantala Palat

Shantala Palat-Food, drinks and sketching!

Shantala Palat

Geetanjali Saini at work

Preetika Vasudev and Rajiv Semwal engrossed in their world

Preetika's embellishments sourced from the paintings and decor

Rajiv's sketches

Group selfie as we leave!

How to reach there

Nearest Metro Station- Rajiv Chowk, Gate 2
Address- Plot no 5, B -Block, Connaught Place

#Mamagoto #sketches #foodanddrinks #fun #colouralltheway

Dilli Haat at Janakpuri- 24th Feb 2016

Delhi Sketchers

  It was a hot day in Janakpuri, West Delhi. We came with great expectations to Dilli Haat, a recent outlet at Janakpuri. The layout was beautiful and the buildings lovely. However, it wore a forlorn look for there were a few stalls and even fewer people there. We had been to the original Dilli Haat,South Delhi and had expected the same lively and vibrant atmosphere at the West Delhi outlet. Sadly, it lacked the usual Dilli Haat qualities. Yet, we decided to sketch the things that appealed to us and our sketches, I am happy to say, made up for the flaws! Travel with us as you glance at the sketches, dear reader! :-)

Nikita Chhabra- Dolphins, dolphins twinkling like stars

Shantala Palat- The strange mannequin

Nikita Chhabra- Eiffel , Eiffel, I admire thee!

Anjali Mittal- The bored shopkeeper

Anjali Mittal- Adding colour to this lifeless world

Shantala Palat- The empty stalls

Shantala Palat- "Who goes there? Bow bow!"

Shantala Palat- Bags, bags everywhere

19th February 2016- Qutub Minar sketches

Visiting Qutub Minar area is a visual experience. You need to go there as many times as possible.

Sketching onsite is an indescribable experience, especially when you are surrounded by beauty all around. I yearned to sketch every little detail, every pillar, columns, arches et al. But one day is not enough for all of them. More trips to look forward to. Stay tuned for more sketches! :-)

‪#‎qutubminar‬ ‪#‎sketching‬

Noida Series 1- Mayawati Park

Access to Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal and green garden or popularly known as Mayawati Park is possible only by car and even the metro station is far away from this gorgeous park of elephant statues and elephant fountains. Sector 16 Metro station is perhaps the nearest one to the park and even then the car is the best form of transport. Nevertheless, the park built in the Buddhist style is beautiful in every way and so vast and spacious. In the centre lies a huge building devoted to the Dalit leaders - Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram and Mayawati with her famous bag. On each wall of the monument, are stories of the leaders and of the movement itself.
Nevertheless, the visual experiences are so immense that methinks I should make several trips to this place again. Here are a few sketches from the outing!

Shantala Palat

Shantala Palat

Shantala Palat

Shantala Palat

4th February 2016- Nizamuddin Dargah and Humanyun's tomb and later visits

The trip to the dargah and Humayun's tomb was an overwhelming one as we were dazzled by the colours, the vendors, the alleys and the Mughal architecture. Nevertheless we had a jolly time as it was a beautiful and sunny day too.
The Aga Khan Foundation have done a wonderful job with the ongoing conservation work at Humayun's tomb and indeed the whole place glowed in the dappled sunlight. We also bumped into Architecture students from Mumbai who were there for their sketching assignments. The Delhi Sketchers and the Mumbai students admired each others' work and even discussed a possible collaboration for the future!
Here are the sketches and yes, a selfie of us too at the end of the page :-)

L-R- Anjali Mittal, Shantala Palat, Jitesh Beriwal, Jitesh Beriwal

Left- Vikram Kumar(above), Nikita Chhabra(below); Right-Jitesh Beriwal (top and below)

                    

Humayun's tomb (inside)

Humayun's tomb at a glance

Vikram Kumar

Anjali Mittal

Nikita Chhabra

Vikram Kumar

Shantala Palat

Shantala Palat

Urs Mahal at Nizamuddin Dargah

Shantala Palat

Patterns of lattices at Urs Mahal-Shantala Palat

The Delhi Sketchers