SK Easel N Arts - Art Classes

When I was in India, I was teaching art and design courses at higher education institutes. After I came to US, I had been receiving suggestions from friends and family to provide art and painting lessons. With COVID-19 keeping people indoors and classes being conducted online, I have been interacting online with students and friends who needed some art sessions. Eventually, I started SK Easel N Arts ( FB Page, Instagram Page ) with the aim to provide art and design lessons (currently online), support with portfolio development and custom art. Working on it one step at a time. Here is an update about the most recent sessions that are currently ongoing.

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Spring is beautiful. When fresh buds bloom, nature comes to life and earth is alive with greenery and beautiful flowers, it is joy and beauty all around.

Spring is an apt time for new beginnings full of color, art and fun. Let us get inspired by the spring season and bring out the artist within us.

"SK Easel N Arts" presents online “Scenic Spring” Art Sessions. Choose your sessions and decide your own fees. Click the link below or scan the barcode in the image to register for the online art sessions and get more details:

Scenic Spring Art Sessions by SK Easel N Arts - Signup Form 

Date and time has been provided in EST (Eastern Standard Time) but sessions are open for anyone globally; please do check your local time. For questions, or for custom art sessions, please feel free to email:

SK.easelNarts@outlook.com      |     SK.ArtClass@outlook.com

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Please do like, follow and share:

https://www.instagram.com/SKeaselNarts     

https://facebook.com/SKeaselNarts

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"Design, Creative Expression and Covid-19" Webinar

I was invited as the resource person and speaker for the webinar on “Design, Creative Expression and Covid-19” organized by The Department of Fashion Design, The School of Science and Humanities at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai. E-Certificates were issued to the participants.

Date: 4th July -2020
Time: 10:00 A.M – 11.00 A.M

As the title mentions, this talk was about Design, Creative Expression and COVID-19, discussion about these aspects and how they culminate. 

My areas of research have been Design, Creativity and Creative Expression in relation to the psychology of creativity, fashion design and the digital versus manual mediums of design. The talk touched upon art while discussing creative expression, however, this talk was more on the creative aspects for designers and the challenges as well as opportunities, specifically in the context of fashion industry. 

I will not go into the details but with the participation in hundreds, question-answer session, response and feedback was great and it was a great experience for me as a speaker. There was a lot of curiosity around the concepts and discussed. The organizing team was very cordial and I am very thankful to them for organizing it and bringing together so many participants during such challenging times. I am thankful to all the participants and for their questions, participation as well as the great feedback they provided. Thank you. 

My Hindi Poetry Collection "Parag Aur Pankhudiyan"- Book Release at NIFT, Chennai

Book cover of "Parag Aur Pankhudiyan"- Hindi Poetry Collection by Seema Kumar

As this book, and this post, is about my collection of Hindi poems Parag Aur Pankhudiyan, it was posted on my Hindi blog earlier. This post comes in late on my English Blog (has been in my "draft" for quite some time now). The related links on my Hindi blog have been given at the bottom of this post.

"Parag Aur Pankhudiyan" book released at NIFT, Chennai, during Hindi Pakhwada 2015

This book was released during the Valedictory function of Hindi Pakhwada (Hindi Fortnight), at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai. This book was released by Dr. Anitha Manohar, Director, NIFT, Chennai, jointly with my parents, who happened be in Chennai during that time. The book is dedicated to my husband, who was also present there, along with Mr. Shailesh Bharatwasi of Hindi Yugm Publication and the faculty, staff and students of NIFT, Chennai. 

Dr. Anitha Manohar, Director, NIFT, Chennai welcomes
Mr. Shailesh Bharatwasi, Hind Yugm Publication

Dr. Anitha Manohar, Director, NIFT, Chennai welcomes
parents of Ms. Seema Kumar for book release

Seema Kumar's book "Parag Aur Pankhudiyan" released 

Hindi Poetry Collection "Parag Aur Pankhudiyan" by Seema Kumar released

Hindi Pakhwada at NIFT Chennai from 10-23 September 2015

Invitation for Valedictory Function of Hindi Pakhwada 2015, NIFT, Chennai

Hindi Poetry Collection "Parag Aur Pankhudiyan" - Book by Seema Kumar

Valedictory Function of Hindi Pakhwada, NIFT, Chennai, on 23rd September 2015

Valedictory Function and Book release at Thiruvalluvar Auditorium, NIFT, Chennai

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About the Book

This book is about many unspoken words, questions and conflicts about values, tradition, modernity, love, sacrifice, rebellion, patience, ambition, etc., that she had in her mind being the eldest daughter of a middle-class family. She expresses these complex emotions and questions in simple words through her poems. She also takes up simple, seemingly mudane events and emotions and expresses them in depth in her poetry. Selections from a range of emotions expressed by her from her early ages have been compiled as Parag aur Pankhudiyaan, which the readers often feel as an expression of their own.

About the Author

Seema Kumar is professionally a designer and design faculty, with a passion for art and writing. She is a graduate (B.A.) with Drawing and Painting (Honours), Master of Design (M.Des.) with Knitwear Design, and pursuing Ph.D. (Design). Her poems have been published in poetry collections, magazines, and blogs.

According to Leonardo da Vinci, 'Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.' Art, in different forms, is her passion since childhood. She likes to draw and paint, design, juggle with words and write, giving shape to imagination in different forms and cannot imagine her existence without being a part of all these, actively or passively.

SpecificationTitle        : Parag Aur Pankhudiyan (Hindi)
Publisher: Hind Yugm
Author    : Seema Kumar
Edition    : 1
Edition Number: 1
Language: Hindi
ISBN      : 9384419168
EAN       : 9789384419165
No. of Pages: 96
Publication year : 2015
Binding        : Hardcover 

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The book can be purchased from the following links: 

"Parag aur Pankhudiyan" on Infibeam : http://www.infibeam.com/Books/parag-aur-pankhudiyan-hindi-seema-kumar/9789384419165.html 

"Parag Aur pankhudiyan" on Flipkart : http://www.flipkart.com/item/9789384419165

Parag Aur Pankhudiyan on Amazon (India): http://www.amazon.in/Parag-Aur-Pankhudiyan-Seema-Kumar/dp/9384419168

Though my poems have earlier been published as group collection and websites, this book Parag Aur Pankhudiyan is my first book as single author. For those who read the book and gave me the feedback, I am very thankful. For those who are yet to read, do let me know your feedback after you read the book :).


Related Links:
http://lalpili.blogspot.com/2015/10/blog-post.html
http://lalpili.blogspot.com/2015/09/blog-post_23.html
http://lalpili.blogspot.com/2015/09/blog-post.html

www.seemakumar.in

Another Series of Wall Paintings at Chennai Central Railway Station by NIFT, Chennai, 2016

One year after I completed the wall paintings at Chennai central Railway Station in February 2015, it is good to see another series of wall paintings done by the students and faculty of National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai done in February 2016. 

When I was contacted for the painting this time by Chennai Central authorities, I was out of India. While next series of more art work and murals were being planned at different railway stations within Chennai along with other faculty and students of NIFT, Chennai, I had to go out of India. Though I missed to be physically present this year, it is really good to see that my effort was recognised and Faculty and students of NIFT, Chennai, were again given this opportunity for creating art in the public spaces of one of Chennai's prime locations. 

Am very happy to see that the first year (Foundation Programme) students and team NIFT, under the guidance of their faculty Mr. V.R. Karthikeyarayan and Mr. Thomas Samuel did this wonderful, colourful series of paintings at Chennai Central Railway Station. And it is always good to see something good that you started, continues to grow and spread. I am sure that more good work is about to follow. Hope it becomes a legacy :)

Kudos to the creative and hard-working team of NIFT, Chennai.

Photo and Video Courtesy: Students of NIFT, Chennai

Update: https://swachhbharat.mygov.in/activities/wall-painting-chennai-central-station-niftchennai-1

www.seemakumar.in

Felicitation by Chennai Division of Southern Railway for Wall Art at Chennai Central

Felicitation of NIFT Chennai faculty and Director by Chennai Division
of Southern Railway for Wall Art at Chennai Central

Continuing from my previous post Wall Art at Chennai Central Railway Station in News, here is an update. On 9th July 2015, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) organised a felicitation ceremony for the painting. Felicitation by DRM, Chennai Division, Southern Railway, for mural painting at Chennai Central Railway Station covering a total wall area of about 900 sq. ft., as three parts of the wall, with three different subject matter, started 31st Jan and completed 23 Feb 2015. The DRM felicitated the Artist (me) and the Director of NIFT, Chennai, Dr. Anitha Mabel Manohar for supporting this voluntary initiative of mural painting at Chennai Central Railway Station.

As mentioned in my last post, I was invited by Southern Railway, Chennai Division “to create art work at Chennai Central Railway Station to improve the aesthetics and visual appeal of the heritage structure”. This was under shramdaan for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Given below are some more visuals of the painting.

The first day - blank wall before stating the mural painting.

Part 1 of Wall Painting at Chennai Central -
inspired by Banana plantations of rural India

Part 2 of Wall Painting at Chennai Central -
inspired by geometric non-objective art

Part 3 of Wall Painting at Chennai Central
- inspired by lines

Wall Art at Chennai Central Railway Station in News

Wall painting at Chennai Central Railway station had kept me so busy, along with office work and other things, that this post has been long overdue. Well, just wanted to share regarding this recent wall painting project which I was working on. I was Invited by Southern Railway​ (India)​, Chennai Division, “to create art work at Chennai Central Railway Station to improve the aesthetics and visual appeal of the heritage structure”. This was ​to be done as a voluntary service (shramdaan​)​ for Swachh Bharat ​(Clean India) ​Mission​ that has been launched by Indian Prime Minister​.

I started painting on a blank wall on 31st January 2015. Many people passing by stopped to talk and ask about the painting. The News 7 (Tamil​​) TV Channel approached me for an interview when I was painting the first part of the wall at the station on 4th Feb 2015 and featured about the painting in their 7 pm prime time news on the same day. This news clip Swachh Bharat Mission: Woman artist beautifies Chennai Central Station available online on this link and you can see below as well.

The New Indian Express, in it's supplement 'City Express', Chennai, Saturday, 7 February 2015 published about the wall painting that I was doing at Chennai Central railway station in their article NIFT Professor Paints a 'Clean Picture' at Central. Even though they got my designation wrong (should be Associate Professor, NIFT), thanks to the newspaper for recognising the effort. 

News about wall painting in the New Indian Express' 
supplement 'City Express', Chennai, 7th Feb. 2015

New Indian Express' supplement 'City Express', Chennai, 7th Feb. 2015, writes
about Chennai Central wall painting by Seema Kumar, Associate Professor, NIFT

The mural painting was done as three parts of the wall, as three different compositions from 31st Jan to 23rd Feb 2015, not each day during this period as I also had classes and office work to take care of. Although it has been physically very tiring but mentally a very fulfilling activity. Here are some photographs showing the entire stretch of the wall, the three parts, and each of the parts separately, as well.

Overall view of the painted wall at Chennai Central Railway Station
Artist: Seema Kumar, Associate Professor, NIFT

Painted stretch of the wall at Chennai Central Railway Station

The wall painting and NIFT was mentioned again in another article Railways Opens up New Platform for Artistic Palettes, published by The New Indian Express, in it's supplement 'City Express', Chennai,19th February 2015, where the focus was on the effort taken by Railways. During the same time when I was invited from NIFT, Chennai, for working on the Chennai Central wall painting, other initiatives like the Chennai Street Art Festival was going on supported by Southern Railways' Chennai Division, about which this article mentions, though both were different initiatives.

News about wall painting in the New Indian Express'
supplement 'City Express', Chennai, 19th Feb. 2015,

There is a lot more if I start writing about my experience at the station while doing the painting, or sharing the photographs of different phases, but maybe in later posts. Do share your views and feedback about this wall. Hope it helps to motivate people and travellers crossing the Chennai Central Railway Station to keep the surrounding areas clean and beautiful :)

Completed wall painting at Chennai Central Railway Station
Artist: Seema Kumar, Associate Professor, NIFT 

Update: 

http://seemakumar.blogspot.com/2015/07/felicitation-by-chennai-division-of.html

http://seemakumar.blogspot.com/2016/02/another-series-of-wall-paintings-at.html 

Research Paper: Colour and Clothing for Patients and Well-Being

One of my previous posts was about “Reflections 2014”, International Conference on Fashion, Retail and Management (ICFRM) at NIFT, Hyderabad. I had mentioned about my visit to NIFT, Hyderabad to present my research paper titled “Colour and Clothing for Patients and Well-Being" at “Reflections 2014”, International Conference on Fashion, Retail and Management (ICFRM) which was organised by National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Hyderabad, from 9th to 11th January 2014 at Hyderabad. The paper was published in Conference Proceedings, ISBN 978-81-7800-297-2. Given below is an abstract of the research paper:

Colour and Clothing for Patients and Well-Being

Abstract: All objects around us have colour and all colours are associated with different vibrations that impact us in one way or the other. Whether we know it or not, colours seem to have a psychological and physiological impact on us and our preference of colours reveal a lot about our psychological make-up. The unconscious psychological and physiological impact of colours on mood, behaviour and well-being is still being researched upon. However, from time immemorial, not only artists and designers, ancient cultures, psychologists and colour therapists acknowledge the impact of colours surrounding us on our mood and well-being.
Clothing is universal, though the type, style, colours and design of clothing may vary depending on different cultures, societies, needs and occasions. Clothing is an object that covers human body at all times. As all clothing has colour, it may affect our mood and well-being in some way or the other. Taking a multi-disciplinary approach, this paper explores psychological and physiological impact of colours on patients, and the relationship between colour, clothing and their well being.

Reflections 2014 - Conference Proceedings Publication

Colour and Clothing for Patients and Well Being presented and published in "Reflections 2014" - Conference Proceedings Publication

Keywords:
Clothing and health, Colour and moods, Colour and well-being, Patients and Clothing, Colour psychology.

For more details on this research paper, you may contact me.

www.seemakumar.in  

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"Reflections 2014" - Conference Proceedings Publication

Pongal Celebrations at NIFT Chennai

Decoration in progress for Pongal celebrations at NIFT, Chennai

It is good to see students of NIFT, Chennai, actively participating in all kind of functions and cultural activities being organised in the campus. Pongal was one such celebration where the students, faculty and staff participated in Indian ethnic attire, mostly is traditional south Indian ethnic attire. The dress code for the occasion was South Indian Traditional Clothes – Veshti and Shirt / Kurta for men; Paavadai and Daavani/ Saree for women.

Pongal celebrations at NIFT, Chennai

Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by Tamil people in the month of January. Magh Bihu, Pongal, Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Uttarayana, Khichdi are some of the other festivals that celebrated across India at the same time, either on 14th January or one one of more days between 13th to 16th January.

Bharat Natyam performance by Fashion Design student

The programme included performance of Bharat Natyam, Group Dance, Folk Dance, Design Competition, and Debate. Everyone was served Pongal for eating.

Folk Dance performance

Group Dance performance by the winners of Zonal Indiafest

Lighting the Diyas

Students in Indian Ethnicwear

Happy Pongal

A lot of efforts from the side of the coordinators for student development activities and the support of the management and staff. 

Republic Day 2014 Celebrations at NIFT, Chennai

Indian Republic Day is a special day for me, not only because it is the Republic Day but also because it my daughter's birthday. She is always excited about her birthday, like all children are. So when I have to go to the institute to be a part of the flag hoisting and also prepare for her birthday celebration the same day, it becomes hectic. However, I actively participate in both.

This year I went to attend the flag hoisting function at 8:00am at NIFT, Chennai. I was glad I went as I was was mesmerised by the musical performances of the students. It is always good to see talented youngsters perform.

Flag hoisting at NIFT, Chennai

Flag hoisting at NIFT, Chennai

Address by Director, NIFT, Chennai

Song by a Design student of NIFT

Vande Mataram song by students