Urban Sketching at Kumartuli, Kolkata

An Unexpected Ping and a Splash of Reality

This morning started with a surprise—a message from one of my previous clients, popping up out of the blue. A small ping, but it felt good. I replied with a simple “hi,” curious to see where it might lead. 

I had to head to my swimming session alone today. At first, the solitude felt a bit odd, but once I slipped into the water, the rhythm of the strokes took over. It turned out to be a pretty satisfying session, the kind where you come out feeling like you've earned your breath. 

Later, the client replied with a script, asking if I’d be interested in working on it. I read it, and my response was immediate—yes. I sent my budget too, a reasonable $225. A bit higher than usual, sure, but fair. I’ve worked with them before, I know the drill—they usually negotiate. 

But then came their counteroffer: $100. 

Seriously? 

For a moment, I just stared at the screen. I wasn’t expecting a red carpet, but $100 for something I quoted at $225? That’s less than half. Are they kidding, or is this just how the creative world operates—trying to squeeze value out of familiarity? 

Either way, I’m taking a breath, the same way I do in the pool—steady, intentional, and with control. Let's see how this unfolds.

Sketch a Market Scene

Sketch and painting demo

 

Another demo; this time, I tried to show a wider angle and the sketching process as well.

Ink and Watercolor loose style sketching demo

A Pause at the Shore

Today marks 30 days since I started this swimming journey — and with it, I’ve decided this will be my final daily post, at least for now. 

Right now, I’m at a stage where I can swim, though not perfectly. I can breathe, but still need to work on making it smoother. My strokes need refining too. But I’ve reached a point that feels settled — not stuck, just steady. 

It reminds me of the time I was struggling with breathing and then, one day, it just clicked. I believe this phase is similar — I may not be moving forward in big leaps, but I am still progressing quietly, trying out new things, and finding joy in the process. 

When I started this blog, I wanted to track how far I could go in a month. And now that the month is complete, I feel proud. This log helped me stay committed, reflective, and honest with myself. 

From here on, I’ll keep swimming — but I won’t write every day. I’ll return to update when there’s a big leap, a notable breakthrough, or maybe when I can finally say: 

“Yes, I can swim perfectly.” 

 Until then, this is where I pause.

Back After the Rain

After a two-day break, I was back at the pool today, and I picked up right where I left off. There’s still progress happening, slowly but surely — especially in how I’m understanding the timing of my strokes and breathing. I’m trying to move smoothly and freely, and while I’m not quite there yet, I can feel the rhythm starting to settle in.

A few more ink and watercolour

Rainy and low on energy

The rain returned today — and with it, a sense of sluggishness. I wasn’t feeling very energetic, just like yesterday. But I still showed up and got in the water. 

I'm still working on my strokes and especially the breathing — trying to time it right, trying to make it feel natural. It’s not there yet, and I know it won’t happen overnight. This journey is longer than I imagined. But then again, I’ve only just begun.