THE ODDITIES IN MARCH
- nessart16
- Mar 22
- 3 min read
For as long as I can remember, I have felt an weird and inherent need for symmetry & balance. Whether it’s the subtle requirement for a tap on my left shoulder when someone taps my right, or the instinct to dip both hands into a pool of water simultaneously, I have come to realize that my body craves this balance. If I stretch my right ankle, my left follows suit, as if each half of me insists on mirroring the other.
This drive for equilibrium is not just physical for me - it mirrors my perception of the world, where symmetry often symbolizes order and calm amidst the chaos - something I find myself in the middle of quite often. Yet, I have come to slowly understand that this yearning for balance is as much a part of me as my quirks. It makes me wonder how I view the world and whether this preference for symmetry shapes my interpretation of beauty in the external world.
But perhaps this quest for symmetry, a beautifully unpolished and unexpected act in itself - is a reminder that true “perfection” often hides in the imperfections, quirks and randomness of life.
Welcome to The Oddities in March, the third blog post in my 2025 Calendar Blog Series. Over the rest of this year, I’ll be taking you behind the scenes of each month’s illustration, sharing stories, memories, and reflections that continue to shape my creative journey.
For 2025, I created a collection that bridges my childhood art with my current skill level - I’ve revisited some of my old oil pastel drawings and watercolour paintings, recreated them digitally, and added reflective thoughts, messages, and affirmations that connect what they meant to me then with what they mean to me now. Each month is crafted with care, representing both the season and a personal story.
And a quick plug: my 2025 calendar collection is available at a lovely discounted price till I run out! From tabletop and wall calendars to mini calendars, calendar cards, wallpapers, and bookmarks, there’s something for everyone in my shop.
Reflecting on my childhood, I remember there being a time when I was utterly fascinated by root vegetables - carrots, radishes, turnips - each one with its own unique shape and character. In little ness' eyes, everything that grew underground was part of one big, mysterious family because they all lived in the same hidden world beneath the earth. I was captivated by their incredible variety of forms and colours. Even the dirt, peeling skins, and tiny scars didn't take away from their charm; instead, they made these vegetables feel even more magical and full of wonder. Honest confession, I enjoyed my time looking at and admiring them than actually eating them.
This early curiosity about the imperfect and the unexpected has reemerged in my art and even my daily life today. My recent discovery of the need for internal symmetry and the quest to find balance in an often chaotic external world have reminded me of this wonder I felt as a child.
The imperfect beauty of a dirt-covered radish, with its tiny tear on the skin, now serves as a metaphor for the beauty in all our idiosyncrasies.
The March illustration is one that employs delicate washes of light watercolour and subtle outlines. I recall creating this piece during a drawing class, where the assignment was to choose from a reference book filled with images of vegetables, fruits, animals, and toys. While the reference image of a radish lacked any visible “flaws”, I was compelled to include a tiny tear on its skin. To me, that imperfection was a celebration of the radish’s true character - much like the way life’s little quirks add depth to our experiences.
Ultimately, “The Oddities in March” is a reminder to embrace the odd, the imperfect, and the unexpected in our lives. In a world that often values symmetry and perfection, I invite you to celebrate the quirks that set you apart. Whether it’s the unique characteristics of your body or the distinct traits of those around you, there is magic in the unpolished and the imperfect.
Be proud of your “oddities.” Let them remind you that beauty often lies not in flawless symmetry, but in the very things that make us unique, raw, and undeniably human.
Stay tuned for April's story, and if you haven’t yet, check out my
2025 calendar collection to bring these illustrations into your home!
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