Imagine scrolling previous a pen-and-ink sketch of Nagarjuna in Coolie, a seven-spotted ladybug, a 3D reproductive system, or perhaps a quilted butterfly — all crafted inside the house of an inch. That is the premise of the continuing #AnInchAugust challenge on Instagram. Now in its eighth 12 months, the initiative by Hyderabad-based architects Meghalika Panduru and Neha Sharma has turn into a pocket-sized stage for boundless creativity.
Creative challenge
Meghalika Panduru and Neha Sharma
| Photo Credit:
Special association
The duo first met as colleagues at Shankar Narayan Architects in Secunderabad, the place a shared love for artwork drew them collectively. “Architecture is a creative field, but it can slip into monotony with deadlines and client briefs — play was missing in our work-life balance,” recollects Meghalika. Neha provides, “We were designing for others but never making time for ourselves. We wanted to return to the simple joy of sketching, scribbling, or colouring for no reason at all.”
Art quickly turned a mode of self-expression. But the thought was not simply to maintain their creativity alive. It was additionally about pushing themselves, and like-minded fans, to make artwork inside a single inch. Why an inch? Meghalika explains, “A big canvas can feel overwhelming. You’re faced with so much empty space to fill that it kills motivation. Working in an inch keeps it playful and doable.”
Love for Nature
The group collaborates this 12 months with Soul Forest India on the theme of ‘biodiversity’. While artists have been exhibiting their love for Nature and biodiversity in an inch, macrophotographers have a good time with monsoon species exercise.
With an inch as a canvas, the challenge — put up an artwork work on Instagram on a regular basis with the hashtag #AnInchAugust was open to everybody — those that have an curiosity in artwork however don’t discover the time to pursue it, or folks on the lookout for artistic hobbies and people who have by no means tried artwork of their lives. The alternative of August occurred organically.
Steady rise
Dragon fly captured by Sarath Chandra Mouli
| Photo Credit:
Special association
Since its first 12 months in August 2018, the group grew making house for macro images the next 12 months, (notably bugs and small life on earth). “Photographers Peteri Prashant and Durga Shankar have been among the first ones to participate in macro photography and encourage others as well. People have also tried their hands at digital painting,” says Neha, who’s now a marketing consultant with Soul Forest India and drew Madhubani artwork, components of Nature and her favorite emojis.
With round 8,000 posts to this point, individuals have tried various themes, mediums, and kinds resembling pencil sketching, color pencil sketching, portray (water colors, acrylic, oil paints, and extra), sculpting — clay, paper mache, quilling and paper lower artwork, and even pottery. Micro artworks (engraved in pencil lead) together with crochet in an inch even have been explored.
New initiative
Tirupati’s artwork and images group too has taken up this challenge. Art lovers of the city and members of Urban Sketchers Tirupati host ‘Aninchaugust Tirupati Edition’ and rejoice the sacred city’s tradition.
Meghalika, who is nice at recreating artworks by different artists, says, “Even though I was copying others’works, the perspective was different and it was exciting to do it within an inch.”
Collaborations
art work by Priyanka Reddy
| Photo Credit:
Special association
From introducing Sunday’s themes and artwork prompts (“Your favourite childhood memory, movie and food.”) and collaborating with teams like Beyond Hyderabad to organising meet-ups, the challenge experimented with concepts to maintain the curiosity. The group shows works of the individuals at a venue (it was held at a restaurant and T-Works because the group grew) on the final Sunday of August. To be held on August 31 this 12 months, the venue is to be determined.
Finally, Meghalika says, the thought of posting a piece on a regular basis is to keep motivated and constant. “If you are unable to post it everyday, there is nothing to lose. It’s only about being motivated and open to creative challenges. One can board this train at any point in August.”
