The Curious Case of Art, Likes, and the Mysteries of the Beholder

Gather round, my fellow creatives, for today’s story is all about the rollercoaster ride that is the art world and, more importantly, how what we think is magic might not always translate to others... or does it?

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So, a couple of years ago, I decided to take my love for crafting, creativity, and those endless afternoons spent with acrylic paints, medium, crystals and glitter to the next level—I jumped into the art scene and started my very own Instagram journey!! (Visit me at https://www.instagram.com/artsbybhumi/)

Here’s the thing: I’ve always been creative. Growing up, I loved everything crafty and my craft teachers, but if we’re talking about actual drawing skills, well… let’s just say that wasn’t my strong suit. I owe a huge thank you to one of my close friends (Shloka, and to this day, she does gently remind me of that 😜) who saved me during biology classes and more when we had to draw all those detailed diagrams of the respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems. (Honestly, I’m still convinced my circulatory system sketch looked like a confused noodle and thats why I am an mechanical engineer (not civil engineer) and definitely not a doctor).

But art and crafting—that’s different. It’s like bringing your vision to life, shaping something out of nothing. Craft lets your ideas leap off the page and into the world. And like Craftfulness:Mend Yourself by Making Things by Rosemary Davidson and Arzu Tahsin’s book says, it brings out your strengths and your energy.

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The Happy (Accidental) Dive Into Resin Art

Let me tell you about how I fell into resin art. One fine day, while casually scrolling through Amazon (don’t we all?), I saw this resin kit on sale. It was discounted, looked interesting, and, well, I clicked "add to cart." I had no idea what I was getting into.

That first resin project? Total disaster. I’m talking epic-level failure. You see, the instructions said, "Mix A & B, let it sit for a bit to remove bubbles." Simple, right? Except my version of "a bit" involved taking a one-hour TV break. When I came back, the resin had hardened inside the beaker. Not only had I failed at my first project, but I also managed to capture the beaker’s measurement marks inside the resin. Perfect.

But hey, at least I knew to wait the full 24 hours to unmold it. I kept that failed piece as a reminder of where I started.

From there, things got better—a lot better. I dove into paint pouring (the wonderfully messy kind), alcohol inks, and eventually found my groove in mixed media art (I am guessing that is what it is called, who knows? whats in the name anyways?), where I mix different techniques, mediums and materials to bring my visions to life. It’s been quite the ride, and I’ve never looked back.

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The Instagram Puzzle: What People Love vs. What I Love

So fast forward to today. I’ve been growing my Instagram channel and followers steadily (Definitely a Dopamine boost!). And here’s where it gets really interesting—and let’s be honest, a little confusing. The artworks that I pour my heart and soul into, the ones I am certain are my masterpieces—well, they get a few likes, a couple of comments. I mean, they are appreciated, but not as much as I expected.

Then there are the pieces I consider, well, meh. Maybe I wasn’t feeling it that day, or the colors didn’t pop the way I wanted. To me, these were the “failures.” But guess what? Those are the ones that skyrocket in likes and comments! People go wild for them! It is the ultimate case of: Wait… you like that?

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And this got me thinking. Beauty really does lie in the eyes of the beholder. Each person sees something different in the same piece of art. It’s subjective, personal, and unpredictable. But what I find most fascinating—did this happen to the greats?

Did Van Gogh think his Starry Night was just another painting? Did he look at it and think, “Meh, it’s okay, but I’ve done better”? Was Leonardo da Vinci’s true favorite some other work that didn’t make it big, while Mona Lisa became the most famous smile in the world?

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What’s the lesson here, you ask?

It’s that sometimes, what we think is ordinary might just be someone else’s extraordinary. Our “meh” could be someone’s “wow.” And that’s the beauty of art—it’s not about perfection or what we think is a masterpiece. It’s about how it connects with people, even in ways we don’t expect.

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So the next time you’re creating, whether it’s resin art, a mixed media masterpiece, or your favorite noodle-like circulatory system diagram, remember that art speaks—and sometimes, its voice isn’t always what we anticipate. But that’s what makes it all the more magical.

What do you think? Do you have a favorite that no one else seems to love? Or a piece that surprised you with how much people adored it? Let me know in the comments—I’m curious to hear your story!

Keep Creating, keep mending!!

Today’s Kitchen Adventure: Dosa vs. The Pan That Stopped Giving

Gather around, my curious readers, for today’s story isn’t just about dosa—no, it’s about life, change, and yes, crispy surprises that show up when you least expect them. So grab your tea, coffee, or masala chai, and let’s dive in!

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It was a regular evening in my kitchen (recently I have been spending more time in my kitchen again and enjoying being creative and trying new things or  combining different things for a unique spin for myself), and I decided to make dosa. Now, I have done this before. Heck, I am no newbie. I had this trusty old nonstick pan—a pan that has seen its fair share of golden, crispy dosas. You know, the kind of dosa that gives you that satisfying crunch when you fold it over. Yeah, that pan!!!!

The batter was store-bought, but I knew it worked because I had used it before and got dosa perfection. Today, I was confident. So, I heated up the pan, poured the batter, and...

Well, the first dosa turned out like a sad crumbling pancake. But hey, the first dosa always has some issues, right? It’s like the test run. I wasn’t too worried. I got back at it, but—oh no, the second one? That didn’t just fail. It stuck. It curled up like mini dumplings, taunting me as I stood there, spatula in hand with all the force and pressure I could gather, wondering what cosmic force had betrayed my perfect dosa dreams.

Now, here is where my inner innovator kicked in. I thought, “It can’t be me, right? Must be the batter. It’s always the batter.” So, I pulled out a trick from my old playbook and added some rava. If you have ever cooked Indian food, you know that rava (semolina) is the magic dust that fixes all. Crispy dosas? No problem! I was certain it would work now. I stood there, smug as a dosa pro, ready for redemption.

And what did I get?

More mini dumplings. ;)

I was frustrated. My dosa dreams were crumbling faster than I could fix them.

Then it hit me—maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t the batter. Maybe the old nonstick pan had finally given up on me. I looked around the kitchen and spotted this shiny new pancake pan that I had bought a while back, inspired by my mom's collection in India, but not used much. It had these cute little four slots, usually used for—well, pancakes. But hey, desperate times call for desperate measures. Plus, I had already given up on dosas and figured I could at least make uttapam (the chunky cousin of dosa) by adding some onions, tomatoes, and green chilies to the batter. What did I have to lose?

So, I poured the batter into those slots and braced myself for more failure.

But then, as if the universe finally decided to stop messing with me, out came four perfectly golden, crispy uttapams. Voila! I was back in business.

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Now, what’s the lesson in this crispy catastrophe?

1. Just because something worked well before doesn’t mean it will work forever.
My old pan had served me well in the past, but today? Not so much. Things, tools, and even people sometimes stop working the way they used to. And that’s okay. It’s a sign to move and change things up.

2. Don’t bang your head against the wall (or pan) when things aren’t working.
I was convinced the batter was the problem, but it wasn’t. Sometimes, you’re focusing on the wrong issue. A change in tool—or even environment—can be the breakthrough you need.

3. When life gives you dosa batter, but no dosa, make uttapam.
Or at least try. Don’t be afraid to adapt when things don’t go as planned. You might just end up with something even better than you expected.

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So, the next time you’re frustrated that something isn’t working—whether it’s a work project, a relationship, or your beloved dosa recipe—take a moment to pause. Maybe it’s time to change the tool. Or maybe it’s time to change you.

After all, life’s big lessons come in small crispy packages—even if they sometimes look like mini dumplings at first. 😜

Stay curious, stay crispy, and keep innovating!