By Alesha Capone
Friends Ayesha Dharmabandu and Maree Gatt have collaborated on a book that aims to help people navigate through life’s struggles.
Gatt, of Yarraville, and Dharmabandu, from Hoppers Crossing, said it felt “absolutely amazing” to see Shades of Being published.
Dharmabandu, who is a visual arts, photography and English teacher at Baden Powell College in Tarneit, created 50 illustrations for the book.
Gatt, a psychologist, said Shades of Being initially began as a collection of thoughts she wrote down across the years to potentially give her own children as “a handbook on several issues they may face in life”.
She said $2 from the sale of every book would be donated to The Australian Childhood Foundation.
“Supporting this charity was also a huge motivation when publishing my book,” she said.
Shades of Being is the first book for both Gatt and Dharmabandu.
Dharmabandu said it was “very surreal” to see her name on the book’s cover.
“Never, would I have thought in my artist career to have illustrated a book,” she said.
Dharmabandu, who is also president of the RedWest Creative Co-op for artists and creatives in Melbourne’s west, said she dedicated “many, many hours of work” to illustrating the book in between teaching and her volunteer work.
“It came as a blessing for me, as it showed me to slow down in the busy life I live,” she said.
“Illustrating the book has given me passion and drive to want to illustrate more, and now I am expanding my artist career and have since illustrated labels for wellbeing merchandise,.”
Shades of Being will be launched at C&H Gallery in Hoppers Crossing at 6.30pm on Friday, July 9. Details: bit.ly/3zDKQq2
