my sketches

cat feeding...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:43:00 +0000

Shaqil used to be afraid of cat, until there comes one school assignment about taking care of animals around the neigborhood...

Scared, but he pushed himself to feed his friend's cat. At least, he has dared himself to learn to overcome his fears...

three sisters...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:44:00 +0000

I just want to share the making of this 'three sisters' sketch, as a part of my practicing routine. Taken from the photograph oh my daughter Keisha with her cousins. I will not take you to details, just want to keep it simple.

Starting with a simple outline sketch, and then I do the light shading using sharp 2B pencil to show the characters of each object.

The following is considered to be the final sketch. Well, comments from readers are much appreciated. Thank you...

my campus...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:01:00 +0000

"So, it turns out that we are from the same university, Pak?" The voice from the telephone was later softened. It was from one troubled director of the company under my coordination in one major construction project.

It is funny, how people sometime treasure us from what university we're from, and not from our habitual lives. I like it being ordinary. I know people may underestimated us because of our appearance, but then I know what kind of people they are, and what to do with them... The same experience, anyone?

P.S. Don't get me wrong with the above sketch. I just miss those crazy-messy times when I was studying there...

my gloomy Sunday...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 03:06:00 +0000

In the cold raining season, darkened cloud -raining all the time, and away from my family. What a perfect gloomy Sunday for me...

missing him so much...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:34:00 +0000

Love is missing someone whenever you're apart, but somehow feeling warm inside because you're close in heart.

(Kay Knudsen)

Water colour sketch of Pasha. He's been away for almost a week from his 3 weeks out of town school study program in Pare, Kediri-East Java. Call me sentimental, but yes, I miss him so much already...

on a haircut...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:22:00 +0000

Beauty isn't worth thinking about; what's important is your mind. You don't want a fifty-dollar haircut on a fifty-cent head.

(Garrison Keillor)

The sketch of my son Shaqil, on his haircut. Actually, it was three of us having our haircut that day, including myself and Shaqil's big brother, Pasha. It's been our ritual. And, Mr. Garrison, I do believe in the beauty of the mind. But here in Indonesia we learn to value our head. They are respected, priceless, and need a haircut...

another sketch of Shaqil & Keisha..

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:21:00 +0000

Yes, just another water colour sketching practice of Shaqil & Keisha. And that's it. Period.

our memorable homecoming...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 13:04:00 +0000

Homecoming means coming home to what is in your heart.

(Author Unknown)

Watercolor sketch of my son Pasha, playing in the paddy field near his grandfather's home, Karanganyar, Solo. It was during the Eid Mubarak 1432H holidays, our yearly mudik lebaran (homecoming) event. One great memorable holidays, as always...

in a hunting season...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:54:00 +0000

We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.
(George Bernard Shaw)

A marker sketch of my son Shaqil, hunting grasshopper in his holiday in Salatiga. Reminds me years back then when I was at his age, skipping school -hunting this and that, almost everyday...

Keisha, years ago...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:23:00 +0000

To a father growing old nothing is dearer than a daughter.

(Euripides)

Found one old sketch of my daughter Keisha, who was getting ready for her kindergarten sessions. She is in her 3rd grade right now. Time flies so fast...

sleepy Shaqil...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:45:00 +0000

5:30 AM, and still very sleepy. He goes to sleep -again, on the couch in the living room. Too tired at school, or of much playing around after school? It is another father-son time...

story of worn-out sandals...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:21:00 +0000

Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.
(Albert Camus)

Found interesting object for a sketch practice, a pair of old worn-out sandals. Reminds me of anything ordinary-not so special things-used as what we want to, but when the time comes for a replacement we sometimes feel so close to the heart-precious-cannot let go-sorry feeling...

like father, like son...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 03:01:00 +0000

By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong.
(Charles Wadsworth)

Another pencil sketch of my son, Pasha, seriously watching his favourite anime series. Just like me, he loves cartoon movies, comics, and computer games. I suddenly remember my father. To name some of his interests are also in movies and comics. Is it true then, the idiom of 'Like father, like son'? Surely I wish for him to be a better one than I do...

with her mouth full of peanut sauce...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:46:00 +0000

While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
(Angela Schwindt)

I'm not in a very good shape today, because of my bad influenza. While resting in my whole day after the Eid al-Adha prayer, I try to fill my spare time with sketching practices, imagining sate kambing, and trying to capture the meaning of this Eid al-Adha epic in the human history: my mind tied to the lesson a child could bring to us, parents. Isn't that what prophet Ishmael (p.b.u.h) shown to his beloved father, prophet Abraham (p.b.u.h)?

So, why the sketch of my niece enjoying sate kelinci with her mouth full of peanut sauce? What is the meaning of it? I do not know, yet. It may be one result of random thoughts. May be beause it reminds me on sate kambing? Or may be I can learn something from the moment I've been trying to capture in the sketch? Sounds unrelated and not so focus? Indeed I am. I am sick, and it is holiday anyway. Happy Eid al-Adha everyone, God bless us all...

lessons from the past...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:39:00 +0000

We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.
(George Bernard Shaw)

Borobudur. One distinct monument from the past, about the life and the future of human being. Lessons from the ancestors. Monument of achievement, and wisdom. Question is, whether we can really learn from it, or not?

beyond daydreaming...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:28:00 +0000

Reverie is not a mind vacuum. It is rather the gift of an hour which knows the plenitude of the soul...

(Gaston Bachelard)

Is daydreaming wrong? I do it alot. In fact, inspiration may come to me, from it. You are free to disagree; that it is not the one. Whatever. For me, daydreaming is good...

to learn from those perfect teachers...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:52:00 +0000

God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest...

(J.G. Holland)

There are times we found ourself feel so low. That's allright, I think. But, let us try to see things around. I'm astonihed by those who let their spirit and love guide them. It is allright for them not to think what will happen in a year to come. Instead, they fill their time with hard working -and a hope for a better tomorrow, day by day.

Now, I look at myself. What am I -compared to them...

that naughty smile...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 09:46:00 +0000

My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.

(Mark Twain)

Ever been naughty? I bet we all do. Like this one, seeing myself years back, then. You know, when I saw my son, Pasha, with his suspicious kind of smile. There must be something... What now?

to never lose hope...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:06:00 +0000

Never deprive someone of hope -- it may be all they have...
(Anonymous)

I found interesting picture on the net yesterday, the one that is perfect for my pencil drawing exercise. With his deep expression, this old tukang becak (pedicab driver) reminds me on hope, and not the fear in facing this life. Well, yes, we can learn about hope from everyone -especially from this man. Thank you, Pak. Whoever -and wherever you are. God bless...

our 12th wedding anniversary...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:22:00 +0000

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore...
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
and let the winds of heaven dance between you...
(Kahlil Gibran)

Today, we celebate our 12 years of marriage. With all the joys and sorrows -we learn from each other about this life and which way we choose to go... If I'm here now, thanks to my wife who is willing to stay by my side. Happy 12th wedding anniversary, my beloved wife. May God bless us, our family. I love you...

An anniversary is a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday, and the hopes of tomorrow.
(author unknown)

this feeling of being old...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:28:00 +0000

It takes a long time to become young...
(Pablo Picasso)

God, I'm old! This feeling suddenly came when I was practicing -sketching from the photo of my cousin who was playing with his uncle's beard, my brother-in-law. And I, I have no more to say. Simply speechless...

friendship...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 07:58:00 +0000

Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.

(Aristotle)

I have one interesting fact about my youngest son, Shaqil. The above sketch tells his story with his big brother's friend, Hasbi. He is the opposite with me in how to make friends. He is so widely open to new friends all the time, he is taking his initiative, he is so warm. He seems to know exactly what to do with his friends. Me? I am passively waiting with my smile, so cold -compared to this little monster of mine. Yes, I learn from him on what to do with that thing called friendship...

not that strong...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:32:00 +0000

The body is a house of many windows: there we all sit, showing ourselves and crying on the passers-by to come and love us...
(Robert Louis Stevenson)

Sometimes I had the negative feeling that won't easily go like being so scared -and so empty. I know it hurts and need to get out of it. It is true, then, it is a matter of time that we need someone else to help, we are not that strong...

my boys...

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 16:38:00 +0000

You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
(Kahlil Gibran)

The sketch of Shaqil and his big brother, Pasha, during Ied Mubarak prayer, August 30, 2011. They were reading the speech material.

Keisha

noreply@blogger.com (Gatot Nugroho) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:14:00 +0000

Okay, this is new for me, in bogging. This is my first post, the sketch of my daughter, Keisha. The moment was prior to the Ied Mubarak prayer, in Salatiga, August 30, 2011.

We are among the first to attend the prayer. In fact, we are unsure there will be a prayer in this place (Ramayana Salatiga parking lot), because this year in Indonesia we have -again- different Ied Mubarak date. There is the prayer, even the lot is not enough to accommodate the visitors! Maybe it is late already, but I'd like to say Happy Ied Mubarak, wish you all the best!