Kumarakom

I love this sketch. Not just because I got the colour of the water and floating vegetation bang-on but I was standing at the entrance to a school gate which featured two human-size sculptures of guards. Gold painted, life-size characters don't usually appear in my sketches. This character definitely adds an unexpected dramatic effect to the sketch and sets the tone for India – the unexpected will often appear.

Kumarakom sits on the edge of Lake Verkala and is surrounded by waterways and canals that are fascinating to wander along. Everyone lives near a canal, giving them access to the lake.

‘Kumarakom is the Venice of the East’ You hear these sort of comparisons in travel marketing a lot, so naturally I cynically thought ‘yeah right’. Until I actually went there and discovered the comment is bang on the money. 

There are rice paddies, duck and prawn farms and fisherman motoring past in canoes with their morning catch. Later, once the tourists have had a good sleep-in they board one of these bigger vessels (see main picture above) for tours on the lake. I didn't have enough time for that with just a day and a half to try to grab a feeling of the area in a few sketches.


These enthusiastic schoolboys in the sketch above were on their way home from school when they stripped down and swam over to see what I was doing.

Every single sketch drawn on this trip, without fail, was created with a crowd of new acquaintances. People would appear out of nowhere and check out what I was up to. Most would strike up a conversation, the odd guy would stand silently, hands behind his back, carefully studying the sketch while looking up from time to time to look into my face as if I was the most interesting thing on the planet. I found myself chuckling on one occasion because it’s the complete opposite of New Zealanders who go out of their way to look like they’re ignoring you – then sneak furtively up behind you and peek over your shoulder – while thinking you haven't seen them!

A long skinny snake of some sort writhed it's way across the surface of the water a few moments after the boys got out.

This sketch is a good example. I thought I’d draw this quiet side street with a colourful house and a super lush tropical garden. The owners came to check me out, then some workers had to get past for access to the property behind, then someone walked past carrying so much vegetation you could only see their legs, the younger generation came out too for a chat and the whole time people were pootling past very slowly on motorbikes - turns out a riding school is just down the street. 

I’ve added a couple of the friendly guys who came along to say hello but really to be an accurate sketch of the street it should be full of people! Sadly I didn't have any football cards to swap with my new friends, but came away with a Lionel Messi card to decorate the sketchbook...

 More sketches coming from the trip to Kerala soon!