hello a very good morning to everyone I am Subhadra and I’m here to talk about
am Subhadra and I’m here to talk about
am Subhadra and I’m here to talk about how a little color n play can make
how a little color n play can make
how a little color n play can make change to our adult lives yeah adult
change to our adult lives yeah adult
change to our adult lives yeah adult life like super caught up with work with
life like super caught up with work with
life like super caught up with work with studies with our businesses right and
studies with our businesses right and
studies with our businesses right and increasingly what are we doing when we
increasingly what are we doing when we
increasingly what are we doing when we are not so caught up with all of this
are not so caught up with all of this
are not so caught up with all of this social media like log on to Facebook you
social media like log on to Facebook you
social media like log on to Facebook you know watch two people fight about Karva
know watch two people fight about Karva
know watch two people fight about Karva Chauth
Chauth
Chauth close a home of like watch two people
close a home of like watch two people
close a home of like watch two people argue about who’s the greatest of all
argue about who’s the greatest of all
argue about who’s the greatest of all time
time
time ar Rahman or Ilayaraja so this person
ar Rahman or Ilayaraja so this person
ar Rahman or Ilayaraja so this person whom I just described that was me until
whom I just described that was me until
whom I just described that was me until a couple of years ago so I will come
a couple of years ago so I will come
a couple of years ago so I will come back from like a 10-hour workday and I
back from like a 10-hour workday and I
back from like a 10-hour workday and I would log on to Facebook and obsess over
would log on to Facebook and obsess over
would log on to Facebook and obsess over where people are holidaying or what
where people are holidaying or what
where people are holidaying or what they’re cooking for dinner or what
they’re cooking for dinner or what
they’re cooking for dinner or what people are fighting about on Twitter my
people are fighting about on Twitter my
people are fighting about on Twitter my evenings would be just that and then
evenings would be just that and then
evenings would be just that and then very suddenly
very suddenly
very suddenly in 2014 I discovered this artist side to
in 2014 I discovered this artist side to
in 2014 I discovered this artist side to myself I started painting so initially
myself I started painting so initially
myself I started painting so initially it was at a very basic level you know I
it was at a very basic level you know I
it was at a very basic level you know I would paint a pen stand I would paint a
would paint a pen stand I would paint a
would paint a pen stand I would paint a job okay to gift it to close friends
job okay to gift it to close friends
job okay to gift it to close friends family members you know it was just
family members you know it was just
family members you know it was just putting a bunch of colors together some
putting a bunch of colors together some
putting a bunch of colors together some patterns together it was at that level
patterns together it was at that level
patterns together it was at that level and then as I was painting you know
and then as I was painting you know
and then as I was painting you know there was something else that really
there was something else that really
there was something else that really drew me and fascinated me it was about
drew me and fascinated me it was about
drew me and fascinated me it was about how uplifting it can be when a set of
how uplifting it can be when a set of
how uplifting it can be when a set of colors come together and I say kept
colors come together and I say kept
colors come together and I say kept painting over these years of you know it
painting over these years of you know it
painting over these years of you know it really brought a different meaning to my
really brought a different meaning to my
really brought a different meaning to my hobby it was not just a time pass
hobby it was not just a time pass
hobby it was not just a time pass anymore and I started you know learning
anymore and I started you know learning
anymore and I started you know learning of you Indian art forms mother Whitney
of you Indian art forms mother Whitney
of you Indian art forms mother Whitney go and participate joy and in these art
go and participate joy and in these art
go and participate joy and in these art forms I then started experimenting you
forms I then started experimenting you
forms I then started experimenting you know
know
know how can I maintain the essence of this
how can I maintain the essence of this
how can I maintain the essence of this artform and yet give it a contemporary
artform and yet give it a contemporary
artform and yet give it a contemporary touch for example this is just a set of
touch for example this is just a set of
touch for example this is just a set of coasters that I painted which I called
coasters that I painted which I called
coasters that I painted which I called it the XI series about this set of women
it the XI series about this set of women
it the XI series about this set of women there’s a working woman there’s a
there’s a working woman there’s a
there’s a working woman there’s a student there is an artist or rock band
student there is an artist or rock band
student there is an artist or rock band so I try to maintain the essence of
so I try to maintain the essence of
so I try to maintain the essence of Madhubani but yet give it a different
Madhubani but yet give it a different
Madhubani but yet give it a different feel to it or this sketch for example
feel to it or this sketch for example
feel to it or this sketch for example which I did when I traveled to Paris you
which I did when I traveled to Paris you
which I did when I traveled to Paris you know just this girl watching the Eiffel
know just this girl watching the Eiffel
know just this girl watching the Eiffel Tower so I would so I would explore more
Tower so I would so I would explore more
Tower so I would so I would explore more and more and a lot of feedback that I
and more and a lot of feedback that I
and more and a lot of feedback that I got from people actually urge me to
got from people actually urge me to
got from people actually urge me to experiment with you know different ideas
experiment with you know different ideas
experiment with you know different ideas so then sometime last year towards the
so then sometime last year towards the
so then sometime last year towards the end of last year my husband Balaji who
end of last year my husband Balaji who
end of last year my husband Balaji who is also here in the audience so the both
is also here in the audience so the both
is also here in the audience so the both of us went abroad and we visited this
of us went abroad and we visited this
of us went abroad and we visited this bookstore and we came across this really
bookstore and we came across this really
bookstore and we came across this really huge section on adult coloring books now
huge section on adult coloring books now
huge section on adult coloring books now we knew other coloring books existed in
we knew other coloring books existed in
we knew other coloring books existed in India a couple of them but until we went
India a couple of them but until we went
India a couple of them but until we went there we had we had no clue you know
there we had we had no clue you know
there we had we had no clue you know what a huge phenomenon it had become so
what a huge phenomenon it had become so
what a huge phenomenon it had become so we spend some time observing this
we spend some time observing this
we spend some time observing this section the really popular ones like
section the really popular ones like
section the really popular ones like Secret Garden by Johanna Basford if some
Secret Garden by Johanna Basford if some
Secret Garden by Johanna Basford if some of you color here or some of the less
of you color here or some of the less
of you color here or some of the less known books but you know there was that
known books but you know there was that
known books but you know there was that were equally so fascinating and as we
were equally so fascinating and as we
were equally so fascinating and as we started observing these books I really
started observing these books I really
started observing these books I really got the answer to my question like
got the answer to my question like
got the answer to my question like Stewart actually what makes an adult
Stewart actually what makes an adult
Stewart actually what makes an adult pick up a book like that in color you
pick up a book like that in color you
pick up a book like that in color you know last we all colored was way back in
know last we all colored was way back in
know last we all colored was way back in our primary school or something right so
our primary school or something right so
our primary school or something right so I will be coming to that in a bit but
I will be coming to that in a bit but
I will be coming to that in a bit but but that’s when we said okay I think we
but that’s when we said okay I think we
but that’s when we said okay I think we should definitely work on a book
should definitely work on a book
should definitely work on a book ourselves and work one like create one
ourselves and work one like create one
ourselves and work one like create one especially for the Indian audience now
especially for the Indian audience now
especially for the Indian audience now as I mentioned before Indian art forms
as I mentioned before Indian art forms
as I mentioned before Indian art forms or something that really fascinated me
or something that really fascinated me
or something that really fascinated me their history the intricacy their
their history the intricacy their
their history the intricacy their vibrance everything about it and an art
vibrance everything about it and an art
vibrance everything about it and an art form like mother bunny especially I
form like mother bunny especially I
form like mother bunny especially I thought you don’t take all the boxes for
thought you don’t take all the boxes for
thought you don’t take all the boxes for color
color
color book so there we we had more or less
book so there we we had more or less
book so there we we had more or less decided on the style of art and then
decided on the style of art and then
decided on the style of art and then biology suggested you know why don’t we
biology suggested you know why don’t we
biology suggested you know why don’t we give this book a narrative instead of
give this book a narrative instead of
give this book a narrative instead of just putting a few patterns together why
just putting a few patterns together why
just putting a few patterns together why don’t we give this book a narrative just
don’t we give this book a narrative just
don’t we give this book a narrative just like the coasters you previously saw we
like the coasters you previously saw we
like the coasters you previously saw we thought it will it will be nice if the
thought it will it will be nice if the
thought it will it will be nice if the book also something where each person
book also something where each person
book also something where each person picks it up and is able to you know
picks it up and is able to you know
picks it up and is able to you know interpret it their own way imagine what
interpret it their own way imagine what
interpret it their own way imagine what they want out of it
they want out of it
they want out of it so with that idea biology wrote the
so with that idea biology wrote the
so with that idea biology wrote the narrative for Shakuntala and her magic
narrative for Shakuntala and her magic
narrative for Shakuntala and her magic box which is about this girl who who
box which is about this girl who who
box which is about this girl who who loves music because music is a theme
loves music because music is a theme
loves music because music is a theme that I loves people to interpret things
that I loves people to interpret things
that I loves people to interpret things out of it every time they listen to it
out of it every time they listen to it
out of it every time they listen to it you know a different thing or what you
you know a different thing or what you
you know a different thing or what you may take out out of it will be different
may take out out of it will be different
may take out out of it will be different from what another person takes out of it
from what another person takes out of it
from what another person takes out of it so he you know he wrote the narrative
so he you know he wrote the narrative
so he you know he wrote the narrative and then I went about creating the
and then I went about creating the
and then I went about creating the artworks based on the narrative so
artworks based on the narrative so
artworks based on the narrative so here’s Shakuntala hope you know her
here’s Shakuntala hope you know her
here’s Shakuntala hope you know her house is filled with the sound of music
house is filled with the sound of music
house is filled with the sound of music she’s you know she’s dreaming of music
she’s you know she’s dreaming of music
she’s you know she’s dreaming of music all the time and you know when she
all the time and you know when she
all the time and you know when she dreams of music she dances with the
dreams of music she dances with the
dreams of music she dances with the stars so this very dreamy surreal story
stars so this very dreamy surreal story
stars so this very dreamy surreal story based on which I created the artworks
based on which I created the artworks
based on which I created the artworks over the next 4 5 months
over the next 4 5 months
over the next 4 5 months and earlier this year we self-published
and earlier this year we self-published
and earlier this year we self-published the book and then when we released the
the book and then when we released the
the book and then when we released the book and there’s more and more people
book and there’s more and more people
book and there’s more and more people bought the book a lot of people they
bought the book a lot of people they
bought the book a lot of people they started sharing their stories stories
started sharing their stories stories
started sharing their stories stories with me you know not just pictures of
with me you know not just pictures of
with me you know not just pictures of pages from the book that they colored
pages from the book that they colored
pages from the book that they colored but actually what they went through what
but actually what they went through what
but actually what they went through what they experienced as they colored the
they experienced as they colored the
they experienced as they colored the book so I just I mean and these stories
book so I just I mean and these stories
book so I just I mean and these stories they taught me how art means something
they taught me how art means something
they taught me how art means something else too you know every other person
else too you know every other person
else too you know every other person it’s not the same so I will be sharing a
it’s not the same so I will be sharing a
it’s not the same so I will be sharing a couple of such experiences so this is
couple of such experiences so this is
couple of such experiences so this is Pavitra
Pavitra
Pavitra so Pavitra is in in her early thirties
so Pavitra is in in her early thirties
so Pavitra is in in her early thirties she’s a working woman who has a Haiti
she’s a working woman who has a Haiti
she’s a working woman who has a Haiti job and she discovered coloring she got
job and she discovered coloring she got
job and she discovered coloring she got into it through you know when she first
into it through you know when she first
into it through you know when she first bought a conga line
bought a conga line
bought a conga line books but after that she really got
books but after that she really got
books but after that she really got drawn into the activity so she will come
drawn into the activity so she will come
drawn into the activity so she will come home in the evenings after work she’ll
home in the evenings after work she’ll
home in the evenings after work she’ll spend about 2-3 hours coloring and what
spend about 2-3 hours coloring and what
spend about 2-3 hours coloring and what really kept her engaged was just just
really kept her engaged was just just
really kept her engaged was just just simply the fun she was having with it
simply the fun she was having with it
simply the fun she was having with it you know she will spend those two three
you know she will spend those two three
you know she will spend those two three I was watching TV or doing something
I was watching TV or doing something
I was watching TV or doing something else coloring and it just kept her away
else coloring and it just kept her away
else coloring and it just kept her away kept her thoughts away from other things
kept her thoughts away from other things
kept her thoughts away from other things that were happening and she was she
that were happening and she was she
that were happening and she was she tells me how you know she is creatively
tells me how you know she is creatively
tells me how you know she is creatively she considers herself a creatively
she considers herself a creatively
she considers herself a creatively challenged person she cannot draw she
challenged person she cannot draw she
challenged person she cannot draw she cannot paint and this is the closest she
cannot paint and this is the closest she
cannot paint and this is the closest she can get to feeling creative by coloring
can get to feeling creative by coloring
can get to feeling creative by coloring so this is a page from the book that she
so this is a page from the book that she
so this is a page from the book that she colored and she sent it to me and I’m
colored and she sent it to me and I’m
colored and she sent it to me and I’m like what is this what you call
like what is this what you call
like what is this what you call creatively challenged like just look at
creatively challenged like just look at
creatively challenged like just look at the way she’s done it now like Pavitra
the way she’s done it now like Pavitra
the way she’s done it now like Pavitra there are others who color because who
there are others who color because who
there are others who color because who tell me they color because it’s either
tell me they color because it’s either
tell me they color because it’s either meditative or therapeutic it helps them
meditative or therapeutic it helps them
meditative or therapeutic it helps them relieve themselves of that de-stress so
relieve themselves of that de-stress so
relieve themselves of that de-stress so that’s you know one set of people this
that’s you know one set of people this
that’s you know one set of people this other story that I want to share with
other story that I want to share with
other story that I want to share with you is something that’s you know
you is something that’s you know
you is something that’s you know extremely close to me this is Lakshmi
extremely close to me this is Lakshmi
extremely close to me this is Lakshmi party who is my friend’s grandmom she’s
party who is my friend’s grandmom she’s
party who is my friend’s grandmom she’s 86 years old so my friend gifted her a
86 years old so my friend gifted her a
86 years old so my friend gifted her a copy of the book and initially she you
copy of the book and initially she you
copy of the book and initially she you know he would send me up one page or two
know he would send me up one page or two
know he would send me up one page or two pages of what she has colored and at 86
pages of what she has colored and at 86
pages of what she has colored and at 86 years old I did not I mean I was really
years old I did not I mean I was really
years old I did not I mean I was really you know fascinated by even just that
you know fascinated by even just that
you know fascinated by even just that and then she actually went on to color
and then she actually went on to color
and then she actually went on to color the whole book and at the end of it she
the whole book and at the end of it she
the whole book and at the end of it she sent me this laminated card which is
sent me this laminated card which is
sent me this laminated card which is from a page it’s a page from the book
from a page it’s a page from the book
from a page it’s a page from the book that she colored with his very touching
that she colored with his very touching
that she colored with his very touching note it says you know this is a page
note it says you know this is a page
note it says you know this is a page from subhadra’s book that I have colored
from subhadra’s book that I have colored
from subhadra’s book that I have colored I hope I’ve colored it satisfactorily
I hope I’ve colored it satisfactorily
I hope I’ve colored it satisfactorily and it helped me overcome my loneliness
and it helped me overcome my loneliness
and it helped me overcome my loneliness and thanks a lot for that now so when I
and thanks a lot for that now so when I
and thanks a lot for that now so when I created the book I didn’t even remotely
created the book I didn’t even remotely
created the book I didn’t even remotely that it had the potential to influence
that it had the potential to influence
that it had the potential to influence someone positively like that and let me
someone positively like that and let me
someone positively like that and let me tell you watch me but it didn’t stop
tell you watch me but it didn’t stop
tell you watch me but it didn’t stop with this book
with this book
with this book she’s now bought herself two three more
she’s now bought herself two three more
she’s now bought herself two three more adult coloring books she you know she
adult coloring books she you know she
adult coloring books she you know she tries to color at least like once in
tries to color at least like once in
tries to color at least like once in every two three days and at her age she
every two three days and at her age she
every two three days and at her age she doesn’t color because you know it’s fun
doesn’t color because you know it’s fun
doesn’t color because you know it’s fun or something
or something
or something her priorities are very different for
her priorities are very different for
her priorities are very different for her you know it’s the challenge whether
her you know it’s the challenge whether
her you know it’s the challenge whether she can actually you know color within
she can actually you know color within
she can actually you know color within the boundaries of the little flower or
the boundaries of the little flower or
the boundaries of the little flower or she wants to challenge her motor skills
she wants to challenge her motor skills
she wants to challenge her motor skills to see if she’s able to stick within
to see if she’s able to stick within
to see if she’s able to stick within those two lines and when she does that
those two lines and when she does that
those two lines and when she does that there is a sense of accomplishment that
there is a sense of accomplishment that
there is a sense of accomplishment that she feels so it’s this story and so many
she feels so it’s this story and so many
she feels so it’s this story and so many stories like this that actually made me
stories like this that actually made me
stories like this that actually made me come here and you know voice out as to
come here and you know voice out as to
come here and you know voice out as to how art can have multiple
how art can have multiple
how art can have multiple interpretations to me it’s something
interpretations to me it’s something
interpretations to me it’s something else – Pavitra – Lakshmi party it’s all
else – Pavitra – Lakshmi party it’s all
else – Pavitra – Lakshmi party it’s all something else and you needn’t be you
something else and you needn’t be you
something else and you needn’t be you know an artist – you know this like if I
know an artist – you know this like if I
know an artist – you know this like if I didn’t work on the book I definitely
didn’t work on the book I definitely
didn’t work on the book I definitely would not have you know discovered
would not have you know discovered
would not have you know discovered something like this or if I didn’t begin
something like this or if I didn’t begin
something like this or if I didn’t begin painting a couple of years ago I most
painting a couple of years ago I most
painting a couple of years ago I most definitely would not have had this kind
definitely would not have had this kind
definitely would not have had this kind of a perspective on things
of a perspective on things
of a perspective on things so I really hope you all – you know
so I really hope you all – you know
so I really hope you all – you know you’re able to interpret at the way you
you’re able to interpret at the way you
you’re able to interpret at the way you want and you’re able to you know
want and you’re able to you know
want and you’re able to you know discover color your own play in the
discover color your own play in the
discover color your own play in the things that you do in you know in your
things that you do in you know in your
things that you do in you know in your respective other’s lives thank you so
respective other’s lives thank you so
respective other’s lives thank you so much
”
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