Want to learn calligraphy or cooking from Michelin star chef, without leaving home? Here's how to do it

When India went on a nationwide lockdown mid-May, our workstations became stacks of pillows on the bed as we attended morning huddles on Zoom calls, birthday dinners turned into birthday bingos online, and the summer holiday abroad became an unrealistic dream. To make up for what was lost, most people took this time to learn a new skill and revisit old hobbies, myself included. As a teenager, I used to spend my entire summer break painting and sketching portraits, and I found peace going back to it after a long day at my makeshift work-from-home station. Recently, in an attempt to learn a new skill, I attended an At Home With Airbnb session with Sanjana Chatlani, founder of The Bombay Lettering Company, to master the art of faux calligraphy.

An evening with nothing but stationery supply 

For this 90-minute session, I found myself back to school with my pen, notebook and workbook ready (the team shared a work book detailing all the concepts I would learn during the class and practice sheets). During the session, we went through multiple concepts—understanding the roots of calligraphy, the different types of calligraphy (traditional and modern), the tools required, and of course, how to create the perfect strokes. 

Chatlani took us through the basic strokes that everyone needs to master, to help you tackle every letter and word in faux calligraphy. “Literally imagine every upward stroke as an inhale and downward stroke as an exhale,” shared Chatlani as she explained the differences between the strokes. After understanding the guidelines and basic strokes, the class moved onto lowercase for each letter. Post the session, I could write my name and my sister's name in faux calligraphy, which was a fun thing to have learnt. 

The different classes you can take to learn a new skill 

With At Home With Airbnb, the platform has collaborated with multiple artists across the globe to share their expertise in their fields. Fashion designers, Shivan and Naresh will be hosting a fashion illustration class that will allow people to experiment with design and gain a better understanding. While staying at home, many people have started taking environmentally-conscious decisions. If you're one of them, chef Sandeep Sreedharan will help you switch to sustainable cooking in his workshop. And if you're looking to stay fit and want to try something new, Sarvesh Shashi, the youngest CEO in the yoga and wellness world, will be sharing his knowledge of ancient Indian martial arts, modern functional training and traditional yoga techniques. 

Missing the occasional cocktail hour after work? Try the ‘Make The Perfect Kitchen Cocktail’ session curated by Pankaj Balachandran, brand ambassador, Monkey Shoulder, as he teaches you how to make a delicious cocktails with ingredients available at home. Pair them with the learnings from your new culinary skills, thanks to the classes with Michelin star chefs from around the world. And if you're planning to give the same old family dinner a lovely twist over the weekend, don't miss out on Devika Narain's ‘Art Of Table Settings’ session. 

Book your experience on Airbnb.co.in

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