My artistic inspiration

Rucha Rathod was born and brought up in Ahmedabad. She attended Firdaus Amrut School. In 2019 she graduated from Silver Oak College of Engineering and Technology as a civil engineer.

Rucha has many and varied interests. She’s a top class table tennis player. She has participated in many school and college level co-curricular and extracurricular activities like debates, swimming, skating etc. She is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer.

Rucha loves to be close to nature and often accompanies her father to observe flora and fauna in their natural pristine beauty.

Rucha also loves to draw paint and sketch. Her skills at sketching are being showcased in this story.

Everyone has a passion for something in their life that motivates or inspires them in some way.

Since I was a little girl I always liked to make drawings, sketching, paintings, and reading books. Apart from this I was passionate about Sport as well. My dad used to bring the best of the books for my summer vacations, in order to sharpen my skills and invest my time in some productive things, rather than just playing video-games.

I did my schooling all through Firdaus Amrut School, right from kindergarten to class 12. Being part of a Cantonment campus I experienced disciplined environment. During summer break I learnt Skating, Swimming, and Bharatnatyam. Later on I started playing Table-Tennis. My parents always encouraged me and provided me that push whenever I faced any unpleasant situation or obstacles.

My talent got enlighten when I received my first prize in 4th grade for securing Grade “A” in a drawing-painting contest subject to “Be Literate and Save Environment” organised by National Institute of Kalabharti Child Art Development. In the course of that year, my dance was broadcasted on national television programme M.A.D. (Music, Art & Dance) aired on Pogo TV.

Performing Bharatnatyam dance on stage for the Music, Art & Dance, aired on Pogo TV channel.

The succeeding year I played my first State Level Inter-School Table Tennis Tournament held in Adipur (Kutch) . Being a beginner player it was extremely challenging although I learnt a lot from the experience.

Newspaper article covering my achievements in the Under-9 State Level Inter-School Table Tennis Tournament

Later, I made a decision to stop practicing for Bharatnatyam at Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, as I could not sync my extracurricular activities schedule along with studies, which turned to be immensely upsetting for my Mom as I was already in 4th year of Course, as she dreamt of molding me as dancer.

Thereafter, I carried on with my TT’s practice along with studies, also kept enrolling myself playing Open State Tournaments. From time to time, my achievements were noted by local newspapers.

Newspaper article covering my achievements in the Under-14 State Level Inter-School Table Tennis Tournament

Newspaper article covering my achievements in the Under-19 State Level Inter-School Table Tennis Tournament

In the meantime, after honing my artistic skills, I appeared for my Elementary Drawing exam where I managed to pass with flying colours by obtaining Grade “A”.

In the ensuing year I was able to participate in Drawing Competition organised by Customs & Central Excise Department, themed on “Global Warming”, in which I received a Prize on the occasion of Republic Day. It made me so blissful that was indeed a proud moment for my Dad too.

Receiving a Consolation Prize in the Drawing Competition organised by Customs & Central Excise Department.

I was focused about my academics as well. Just when in 2012, I had my 10th grades board exams; I had to halt my TT’s practice. The upcoming year too, I could not go in for training as I chose the Science stream. I had two years of Board exams as per new norms of the time.

As I was zealous about drawings, I opted to pursue Civil Engineering. I signed in at Silver Oak College of Engineering and Technology in year 2014. The same year I met with a serious accident, injuring my leg. Due to a ligament injury I was neither able rejoin my coaching nor attend my college lectures.

For me, drawing and sketching is a stress-buster, something to freshen up my mood, owing to the fact that during that period of time, I forget about all my tensions and the state of ennui being at home. This played a vital role in my recovery, being stuck in bed after surgery, drowned in boredom, as it charges me with urge to carry out innovative experiments.

With my doctor’s permission, I gave Table-Tennis a restart in 2016.

Table tennis - preparing to serve.

I participated in my college events of sports and acquiring 1st position consistently. I represented my College in National West Zone Inter-University Table-Tennis Women Tournament 2017-18 held at Bhopal, selection for All India Universities (AIU).

At the National West Zone Inter-University Table-Tennis Women Tournament 2017-18.

The following year I was the Winner of Inter-College Tournament Table-Tennis Women. At the end of the Term my achievements were duly acknowledged by my College, which indeed was a matter of honour for me.

Winner of Inter-College Tournament Table-Tennis Women 2019, representing Silver Oak College of Engineering and Technology.

Throughout my journey my parents have been a substantial support system. I could achieve all this because of my Dad, as he’s an all-rounder; I look up to him as my role model.

My parents always took my losses and wins equally, saying I always added one more Golden Feather to my hat. Besides this, it helps me to elevate my artistry; moreover it makes me feel if I’m on cloud nine.

Nevertheless, currently I appeared for entrance tests for further courses abroad. I hope lady luck smiles on me. Simultaneously doing my internship in AutoCAD/ Revit, a Mumbai-based multinational company.

Artistic Inspiration

I started engaging in creative art when I was a kid. Apart from sketching, I have made Glass-painting, Fabric-painting, Oil-pastel drawings, fancy greeting cards, many other items.

My inspiration to draw sketches of wild animals and birds comes from my father, who is a fine artist and also a passionate wildlife photographer.

Accompanying my father on a wildlife photography trip.

As we wander in forests and stay close to nature often, away from the bustling city square and places, exploring Mother Nature, we get enmeshed with beauty and serenity of jungles and nature.

Hiking in the Himalayas.

Moreover, to be upfront, I find it quite challenging to sketch each animal as each animal’s skin texture differs. Some have spots, some have furs while others have wrinkled skin.

Leopard with prey (Pencil sketch by Rucha Rathod.)

Unequivocally, birds have attractive patterns on their feathers. To exemplify, Elephants, Rhinos have wrinkled skin; Tigers and Jaguars on the other hand have fur with stripes or spots on them.

Flamingo in water with baby (Pencil sketch by Rucha Rathod.)

A bird of prey stealing an egg from a nest (Pencil sketch by Rucha Rathod.)

Shading methods vary according to the animal’s skin texture; to understand it and complete it thoroughly and suitably. There are many things to take care of which include applying varying pressure on the pencil, choosing the grade of pencil to be used , smudging in proper manner, repetition of short strokes and cross hatching. In addition to this I work on light tone, direct light or highlights, shades, reflected line, sharp cut plus cast shadow.

But I enjoy it all.

A curious cat investigates (Pencil sketch by Rucha Rathod.)

A proud tiger (Pencil sketch by Rucha Rathod.)