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Anushka in Kolkata commissioned a hand-tray for her family's Saraswati Puja in February. She wanted the marigold gold of the deity's robe in resin. Three drafts, six WhatsApp voice notes, and a tray that travelled 1,400km. Here is what we learned.
Anushka sent a single photo from her family's puja room. The Saraswati idol in the centre, marigold petals scattered on a brass tray that was, she said, "too brass — it fights the gold of the robe instead of carrying it."
She wanted a tray that the marigold colour would belong to. Not compete with.
Draft one: I went pure saffron. Too warm. She replied "this is mango lassi, not Saraswati."
Draft two: I went lighter, more wheat-coloured. Too pale. "Looks like a banquet plate."
Draft three I went back to the photo. The marigold petals had a darker thread of orange under the yellow edge. I matched that thread, not the yellow. She approved within four minutes.
The customer rarely wants what they say they want. They want what the photo they sent IS, not what they describe. Three drafts is a feature, not a bug — it gets to the actual answer.
Anushka's tray shipped on a Wednesday, arrived in Kolkata on Saturday, and was on the puja table by Sunday morning. She sent a photo of it under the marigold petals. The colours did belong to each other.
That is what the work is for.