Sketchbook 8: Journey Through Goa

Link to sketchbook seven here.
As a motion graphics artist, our relationship with the static image is complex. We're constantly translating still moments into fluid motion, finding the spaces between frames where magic happens. My recent journey through Goa with my trusty sketchbook revealed new dimensions to this relationship.

Breaking Free: The Chiseled Series

My first exploration began with "Chiseled" - a series of six sketches where human figures emerge from concrete blocks, some breaking free from their stone prisons. As a motion artist, I found myself mentally animating these transitions: the crumbling concrete, the emergence of human form, the dance between stillness and movement.

Interior Landscapes

Reading A.K. Ramanujan's "Where Mirrors are Windows" introduced me to the concepts of akam (interiors) and puram (exterior) - a duality that resonates deeply with our work in motion graphics, where we constantly navigate between surface aesthetics and deeper meanings. This inspired a series of experimental sketches I call "FACELESS" - where written thoughts remain deliberately unexplained behind abstracted forms, much like the layers we work with in our animations.

there has never been an answer that I was looking for, I've never been upside-down like this. there is a faint picture of your face, So been looking for that face. if I only knew your name, I would knock every door.

These words accompanied sketches that explore the concept of seeking - a theme familiar to every artist pushing the boundaries of their medium.

Panjim Through a Soft Lens

Without access to a scanner, I photographed my sketches with what I affectionately call my "beauti-camera" - creating naturally softened edges that add an unexpected dimension to the work. These happy accidents often lead to the most interesting texture experiments in motion design.

The Mario Miranda Effect

Goa's true religiosity, I discovered, lies not in its churches but in the omnipresence of Mario Miranda's art style. As motion artists, we often discuss style frames and design influences, but here was something different: a whole visual language that had transcended its creator. Miranda's work adorns the Madgaon railway station, and countless artists have adopted his distinctive style, often without knowing its origin. It's a fascinating study in how visual languages evolve and spread.

Collecting Moments

My sketchbook became a collector's album of sorts. Butterfly wings were carefully preserved alongside facial sketches, creating unexpected juxtapositions where natural patterns met human expression. Similarly, I documented the peculiar helicopter insects that seemed to dance chaotically through the air - their random flight patterns suggesting new ways to think about motion and trajectory in animation.

   

The Artist's Warmup

Following the age-old advice that "hands and toes are the most difficult things to draw for beginners," I filled pages with hand studies. As motion artists, we often focus on the grand movements, but these exercises reminded me that mastering the subtle articulations is equally crucial.

Paradise Found

There's a peculiar irony in desire - the things we chase often lose their allure once caught. But Goa defies this pattern. Here, surrounded by the rhythmic percussion of waves against rocks, punctuated only by the distant hum of planes crossing the sky, I've found a different kind of contentment.

My watercolors tell this story of peace: a simple still life of everyday objects - rolling paper, hash, a lighter - rendered in gentle washes that mirror the laid-back spirit of this place. The paper's soft edges blend like the boundary between sea and shore, while the lighter catches light like the evening sun on water. It's not about the objects themselves, but about capturing a moment of perfect contentment.

Living here with my brother, I've discovered that Goa's beauty lies not just in its postcard-perfect scenes, but in its people - both the natives who carry its history in their stories and the wanderers who've made it their home. Each face I sketch tells a different story of how this place transforms those who encounter it.

Notes from the Field

• My "beauti-camera's" limitations became its strength - the soft edges and gentle blur reminded me that imperfection often carries its own beauty. Sometimes, the way light plays with paper creates magic that no scanner could capture.
• The Chiseled series taught me patience. Each figure emerging from concrete blocks started as rough outlines, gradually gaining definition through careful shading. It's fascinating how negative space can be as powerful as the marks we make.
• Mario Miranda's influence showed me how a personal style isn't just about technique - it's about developing a visual language that speaks to people so deeply that it becomes part of a place's identity. His simple, confident lines carried stories that went beyond mere illustration.
• Those helicopter insects became unlikely teachers. Watching them made me rethink how I observe movement - sometimes the most interesting patterns emerge from what initially looks like chaos. Their erratic flights taught me to loosen my hand, to let some lines find their own way.

Remember, every static sketch is just a keyframe waiting to come alive. Until next time, keep your pencils sharp and your plates ready for seconds!Lets get in touch on Insta and X