Something To Smile About

Cat playing lute sketch by Soma Acharya @ InkTorrents.com

 

Hello!  It is time I made my way back here with something that I hope will put a smile on your face.  More on that in a bit.  First of all, I want to thank every one of you for staying here with me through thick and thin, as well as everyone who joined the mailing list despite my long absence.  It means the world to me. 

 

 

Woman running watercolor sketch by Soma Acharya @ InkTorrents.com

 

When I left in June, I was not in a good place.  Unfortunately life continued to set up hurdles. 

I ran.  A LOT.   Running takes the edge off, helps me sleep.  I handmade a tiny book where I paint little “things I did”.  I made this quick watercolor sketch yesterday of  “me” running…finally managed an 8K/5mi run after a bad foot injury last year.

 

 

Lute lino block print by Soma Acharya @ InkTorrents.com

 

After a severe breakdown followed by 14 hours of straight, deep sleep a couple of weeks ago, I am finally starting to get myself back together.  I couldn’t bring myself to do much artwork in the last few months even though I knew that was the one thing that would have helped. 

Last week I posted this photo on my Instagram account.  Writing this out is my attempt at easing myself back into the land of the living.

 

 

Lute lino block print by Soma Acharya @ InkTorrents.com

 

I started a new project of carving and printing small blocks.   Lute had to be the first one.    Here is why –

 

 

Cat playing lute sketch by Soma Acharya @ InkTorrents.com

 

Very few things in my life have made me happier than our kitty Charlie.  He has always been just a very happy boy with a penchant for “singing”. 

On this day, he sat under a tree in his best clothes and sang his heart out while playing a lute.  It had to be a lute that he played, didn’t matter if he was good at it or not.  That is why I started my carving project with a lute.

 

He gave me permission to share his song as long as I added the correct inflections.  He is very particular about them!

 

I wrote a new ballaaaaaad

But now I am so saaaaad

She won’t hear my new song

Where did I go wrooooong.

 

Even the thought of this makes me smile and sometimes laugh out loud.    I hope it does the same for you too! 

 

 

Yosemite National Park handmade book by Soma Acharya @ InkTorrents.com

 

Apart from carving, I have once again started making different kinds of books.  I love the tactile feel I get from book making.   I didn’t get to mention it earlier, but my shop has new books and I have also added an extra colour.

If you purchase books from my shop for gifts, please make sure to place the order early.  The books are made to order personally by me and they take a few days to dry properly before I can mail them.

 

 

Cat on a pumpkin lino block print by Soma Acharya @ InkTorrents.com

 

I want to finish this post today with another block print I made of Charlie.  He also gets into sticky situations, but they are always quite innocent and comical.   I hope you get a smile out of this one too.

 

Once again, I can’t thank you enough for being here with me.   Next week is Thanksgiving here in the US, which starts the holiday season here.  Just in case I don’t make it back here in December, I wish you a season full of happiness and laughter.   I will certainly see you early next year around February with armloads of quilting, art projects and The Girl And Her Cat stories.  There will be travel photos as well.

 

Until next time,
-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please consider paying a visit to some of them.

 

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Reticence

 

Storm At the High Sierra mountains

 

This is going to be a short one.  I have so much to share, but it is hard to write coherent posts when I am struggling to put two words together.  This year has been great at setting up hurdles for us.  Just as I thought they were over and I could focus on writing again, we were dealt a heavy blow.

 

 

 

A new book I had recently made…now to fill it with little cherry blossom thoughts

 

I created this website as an escape via creative works.  I love to share those ideas and works here in the hope of spreading that joy and inspiration.  At this moment however, I find myself incapable of finding that happiness and expressing myself in words.  I need to retract into the safe worlds that reside in my head and between pages.

 

 

 

One of my favourite the Girl and Her Cat paintings.  I love the comfort and warmth they provide each other.

 

For those of you who have recently subscribed to the posts,  my sincerest thanks.  This is not normal for me; I apologize for taking off like this.  My heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been here with me for many years, through thick and thin!

 

 

 

Waiting for magic to happen in the forest amongst the old trees

 

 I will see all of you in a few months.

Until then,
-Soma

 

P.S.  The Ink Torrents Graphics shop remains open.  I will continue to fulfill orders, as always.  I will also be available via email.  Thank you for continuing to shop from my store, enabling me to donate to rescue organizations.

 

 

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