A Full Time Employee

Time really does fly! It has been a full month since I started working 8 hours a day, every day, every week plus an hour’s commute to and from work each way. That’s 10 hours of my day, 7am to 6pm – add another hour or so for miscellaneous stuff that comes along with the whole ordeal. So now I have 5 or so hours remaining after getting home. Two of which is usually spent cooking, eating and hanging with housemates. With the final three hours, I waste half of it watching TV shows. Such a routine life, after having almost no regular (almost over the place) schedule for the past five years!

Do I like it? – Well I guess its better in some ways than college; advantages and disadvantages as always. I do earn – which is awesome!

Do I hate it? – Not so far! (Fingers crossed for future)

Do I want to do this my entire life? – HELL NO!

What do I really want to do with my life? – No real idea, just imagination running wild for now.

How do I spend my weekends? – Ideally, by immersing myself in drawing/painting.

What’s stopping me from doing that? – No idea!

Oh! Almost forgot – I need to buy a car soon. Technically, I should be excited about this. But it just seems like a lot of burden/responsibility/liability to own a car. On top of that, I would like to buy a car of my choice – Mini Cooper!! To this end, I must save for a few months for it to materialize. Maybe I should just do that and stop complaining about it all the time. Or I could just buy a regular old sedan and voila!

Anyway, it’s amazing how things change right after graduation and then soon after a full time job. All the things listed above were least of my worries (for the most part) during college years. Sigh, I guess I am a grown up ‘young’ adult after all… 

Life as a Post Grad

A lot has happened in the last few weeks since my graduation on June 15th 2012. My mom was here for my graduation. One of the proudest day of my life and am sure for my family as well. We all had waited so long for this day and worked so hard to earn it. Too many sacrifices and compromises were made for me to able to reach this milestone. That aside I was filled with gratitude the entire time. The fact that I was able to come to the US, study and live here, accomplish things my parents wished for - means a lot in itself.

Then there was a whole lot of traveling around the US with my mom and cousins. Such fun! But more than that, the time my mom spent along with my friends was the most precious. She blend in so well with us! None of us felt like there was a generation gap as such. She was willing to listen and accept our so called modern ideas and give us her input/wisdom regarding many such matters. Frankly, she is more of a youngster than I am...

Now comes the real world, grown up stuff! 'Oh you graduated! Congrats! So what are you doing now?' - Its a dreadful question till you actually know what is it that you want to do. And then figure out how to do it? And whether you are actually able to do it. The few weeks I spent right after graduation till I got a job, were one of the most stressful times of my life so far. I never imagined it would be this difficult to grow up and take up real life responsibilities. Of course, I had a decent idea about it, but when one actually dives into it and has to experience it, that is when realization hits! And it hits hard!

I know my parents are there to support me always, but its my turn to take some burden off their shoulders and help in anyway I can. I am just starting my career, yet so much rides on me now. It feels good to stand on my feet at the same time, it needs a lot of courage, patience and perseverance. Oh well, all I really have to do is, believe in my self and continue what I am doing - keeping doing my best. That shouldn't be all that hard... should it? :) 

Graduating Fine Art Minor Exhibit 2012

In just a few weeks, I will graduate with BS/MS in biology and a minor in FINE ART!! Sooo excited! I DID IT! I finished (well almost) all three things that I set out to do five years back! Just a couple of days back my work, along with other graduating fine art minors was displayed. It was such a thrill to have my work up there; my friends and professors all came out to support me. It was an epic evening!

More than the show itself, I am glad I was able to make some personal connections with my faculty. They are sincerely supportive and proud of my work, which includes both my major and minor. I couldn't have asked for more. Thank you all!! :)

Smile

For my painting class we finally explored translating a picture reference to a painting. We had to select an Iconic Figure and interpret it in our own way. I choose Mother Teresa as my iconic reference. As a part of interpretation, I selected a monochromatic photograph and decided to add my own colors to it. While browsing various pictures of her, one thing became certain: I wanted to preserve her positive energy and vibe she exudes. The depth in her eyes and long life evident by her wrinkled face were other things that captured my attention. But her brilliant and infectious smile is what I wanted to translate the most! I hope I have done some justice in doing so...

Mother Teresa, 18" x 24", Oil on Canvas

"Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love"

-Mother Teresa

...so here's to spreading smile and love!

Cheers!  

Human Form

I see a human figure

Full of vigor 

She stands proud 

Between the crowd

She is being observed

Every inch covered

We steal a glance

During the artful dance

To do her justice

I must practice

Right proportion and angle

Are the key to untangle

Her body's mystery

Hiding, layers of history

Connection

There are so many forms of connection
Physical, emotional, verbal, or just one's presence
Our cells, even at nanoscale level, know this phenomenon.
Without a connection, there is no communication
Without communication, there is no action
Without an action, there is no moving forward.

An abstract version of nanotubes connecting human B cells (Inspired from an actual EM image) - Acrylics on paper - 9" x 12"

On this sacred day, we are all connected by faith and festivity. Just by being, wherever we are in this big wide world, we are connected. I hope each one of us has had a wonderful day with friends, family and loved ones. May all your days be filled with much joy and happiness. Merry Christmas!

Light and Night

All alone, in this dark night

O lord! Shine some light!

Let an angel come to me,

Like my mom, who will hug me.

Today is bright and light,

But who do I share with, this sight?

Let me meet a companion, a friend

Journey then we shall, till the end!