The Sketching Calm By: Aditi Anumolu

 The Sketching Calm

By: Aditi Anumolu

Growing up, art was always like my therapy. It made me feel safe and relaxed and gave me the perfect outlet for creativity. I never painted or colored, I always sketched and shaded. In my mind that was the only way I could bring my drawings to life and give them realistic characteristics. I drew throughout my childhood and into my middle-school experience.

However, the passion quickly began to fade as I got to high school. As I grew up I soon realized that I stopped drawing for myself. I stopped drawing for the sense of calm the art gave me. I instead sketched and drew for the final end product and the reaction on my parents' faces when I showed them another piece of artwork I finished. When I started to realize this change, I became sad. I felt like I lost a source of calmness in my life and I did not know how to change that. 

I gave up art for a long time. It took me months for me to even look at my sketch pad again, but finally after one particularly stressful week I felt that I needed to pick my book up again. As soon as I did, everything came rushing back. I was drawing and was not worrying about anything. I felt that rush of calmness and was instantly happy. 

It felt like my spark was back. I still don’t draw as much as I used to but I now know that even if I am apart from my sketch pad and feel stressed, I can always go back to that safe space I created between the pages.