A Sketch of Love 💕

A Sketch of Love 💕

In the year 2012, after arriving at KISS in Bhubaneswar, I enrolled in the vocational training classes- not just to learn, but to nourish the artist within me. Though I already had some experience in drawing and calligraphy, I longed to master the craft at a deeper level. It was here that I met Mr. Subrat Mahala, a gifted art teacher whose gentle guidance and unwavering encouragement changed my life. He told me, “Practice every day after class, no matter how tired you are.” I took that to heart. Every afternoon, I would head straight to the art room, where I met many other young artists. Some of them were so skilled, having practiced since childhood. I quietly observed, admired and learned from them.

We had our classes in Campus 13 of the KIIT campus. It was about a kilometers away, so we used to walk every day. One such day, something unexpected happened- something beautiful. While walking to class, I noticed a group of girls sitting together under the shade of a tree. They were laughing, their faces glowing in the sunlight. They spoke fluently in English and had a charm that caught everyone's attention. Among them, one face stood out. Her smile… so gentle, yet so captivating. Her skin glowed like moonlight and her presence stirred something inside me that words failed to describe.

Sketch by Jyotiranjan Gudia in 2012

Without thinking much, I took out my pencil and sketchbook. While they were eating their lunch, I began to draw her face. In just five minutes, guided by a strange mix of inspiration and emotion, I captured her expression- calm, graceful and radiant. As they finished their lunch, I gently walked over and handed her the sketch. She looked at it and her eyes lit up with surprise and joy. The group asked me who I was and what class I studied in. I replied shyly and in return, I asked her name too. I learned that she and her friends were first-year students in the "Yukti-3" program and had come all the way from Manipur.

That moment, though simple, meant the world to me. It wasn’t just a drawing- it was a connection, a memory etched forever in graphite and heart. I still remember the happiness on her face and the way her friends admired the sketch. It was the first time I felt that my art had the power to touch someone’s heart so instantly. The experience deepened not only my passion for drawing but also stirred something delicate inside me- something like love.

That sketch, the one I drew in just five minutes, remains close to my heart. It wasn’t perfect in technique, but it was honest. It spoke of admiration, curiosity and silent affection. I titled it “A Sketch of Love”- for in that fleeting moment, with pencil in hand and a heart full of wonder, I had drawn more than a face- I had drawn a feeling.