Areca nut and Betel leaves

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Areca nut and Betel leaves are used in northeast region of india in all sort of formal occasions and rituals, apart from chewing for their mild stimulant effect. Known as 'Tamul' [areca nut] and 'Paan' [betel leaf] in Assamese, not long ago, they were used to offer in pairs as a formal wedding invitation to guests [ along with verbally explaining the whole schedule of the event!] and other formal of occasions. The Areca nut tree may grow approx. 30 feet in height and the betel leaf plants are grown on the trunk of these trees. The husk of areca nut is green while it is fresh and the nut inside is soft, as it ripens the husk turns orange and the nut hardens like wood.

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook
Size: 10" H x 6 1/2" W
Source: live

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Thank you very much!!

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*****Muchas gracias, merci beaucoup, multumesc frumos, grazie mille, danke schon, dank je wel, thank you very much, dhanyabaad, tumbā dhan'yavādagaḷu!*****

My heartfelt thanks to you all for your lovely birthday wishes which filled my day with joy! I am overwhelmed to get your wishes as well as encouraging words from all parts of the globe and I am thankful for them. I really appreciate this from the bottom of my heart!

Thank you very much, my sweet wifey for your love and encouragement and making my day special.

Here's a sketch of a pair of colorful string dolls/puppets from the state of Rajasthan, dedicated to you all! Thank you very much again!

Medium: watercolor and opaque colors on sketchbook
Size: 10" H x 6 1/2" W
Time: 60 min.
Source: live.

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Sketching with Graphite.

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I think it will be a nice idea to share with you all one of the many graphite sketches that I keep doing constantly for studying composition, shapes, values, edges etc. This one was done way back in February this year.

Medium: Graphite on photocopy paper.
Size: A4
Source: Own photo reference

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Ordinary subjects, interesting shapes of different tonal values. Another quick studies to study composition.

Medium: Graphite on photocopy paper.
Size: A4
time: 20 min.

Source: live  

 

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Sketching at Kids' Carnival

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Yesterday I had the chance to attend a Kids' Carnival in the city organized by one of the internet service provider for their employees' kids. It's an annual day event and I accompanied Toon Master Dinesh who was invited to do live caricatures of the children! I took the opportunity to do few sketches as well in midst of loud music, running children and busy parents!

Medium: Ink and watercolor wash on sketchbook.
Size: 10" H x 13" W
Time: 60 min.
Source: live.

 

 

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The 2nd sketched that I did at the kid's carnival on Saturday afternoon. It was great to see the exciting kids, their parents, balloons, the colorful environment all around!

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook.
Size: 10" H x 13" W
Time: 30 min.
Source: live.

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Experimental Skecth

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Something experimental today at Dinesh's weekend toon class. He conducts toon classes to kids on weekends and it's fun to be there. We experimented with Ink & wash as well mixed media techniques. this one is done with using random watercolor wash and brush strokes. After they have dried, used ink to sketch the character, added more colors and opaque white to finish it off. You can find more about his works in his FB page DINTOONS.

Medium: mixed media on photocopy paper.
time: 10 min.
source: random fun!

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Concrete Jungle

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Constructions everywhere, it's a concrete jungle. This is a very common site now in every small or big cities. Concrete structures are growing taller than the tress around.

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook.
Size: 10" H x 6 1/2"
time: 90 min.
Source: Live

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 © Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Sky Studies in Watercolor

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Couple of quick sketches that I did earlier this year which I missed to share. One thing I like about Bangalore is it's beautiful clear sky almost all through the year.

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook.
Size: 6 1/2" H x 10" W.
Time: 20 min approx for each.
Source: live.

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Importance of Observation Skills for Artists

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For artists improving observation skill is as much important as the painting process itself. Looking for interesting view is also a part of art. They are everywhere, needs to keep our eyes open. Missing any one means missing an opportunity. This was sketched from my recent trip to Guwahati at my brother's place while seating at the balcony.

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook
Size: 10" H x 6 1/2" W
Time: 45 min.
Source: Live

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 © Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Sketching on a Long Distance Train

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Few of my recent sketches done on board while traveling by a long distance train. Traveling by train in India is a unique experience, specially if it's a long distance route passing through different states with their own uniqueness and to be able to see the beautiful rural landscape and their settings. Every states has their unique lifestyle with different vegetation, houses, people, landscapes. You wake up every morning to see something different and interesting. My decision to travel recently by train after many years turned up to be a nice one as I was excited to see the beautiful landscapes every single day.

Medium: ink on recycled paper journal
Size: 4" H x 6" W
Time: very quick ones
Source: live

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Gratitude

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At times we often ignore the simplest of things in life. Grateful to be blessed for everything.

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook.
Size: 10" H x 6 1/2" W.
Time: 45 min.
Source: live.

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Happy Thanksgiving

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Happy Thanksgiving to everybody who celebrate this day of gratefulness.

My sincere gratitude to you all for your blessings, kindness and encouragement which keeps me going. My thankfulness to my dear wifey for your constant support, for walking beside me, for showing your trust in me and for motivating me to keep my focus centered. I am thankful to God for showing me the correct path.

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook.
Size: 10" H x 13" W.
Source: all live except the flower on bottom right which is from a reference pic by dear wifey .

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Banana Flower or Banana Heart

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Banana flower is a large, red-purplish blossom that is at the end of a stem growing out of the banana tree. When the protective covers are peeled off it, the small bunches of flowers are revealed which grow into bananas. This flower is eaten with meal in South Asian and Southeast Asian countries. The slight bitternes of its taste may vary between different varieties. Btw, it's also known as 'banana heart'!

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook.
Size: 10" H x 13" W.
Time: 120 min.
Source: live.

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Some Inspiration to Sketch

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Some sun, some shade and every thing looks interesting and inspiring to sketch, draw, paint. One requires to develop the observation skill for it. What is your inspiration story!?

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook.
Size: 10" H x 6 1/2" W
Time: 120 min.
Source: live.

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 © Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Greater Adjutant Stork

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Sketch of a Greater Adjutant Stork. Saw this big bird at the Guwahati zoo. It has a white collar ruff at the base of its bare neck and a pendent like inflatable air pouch which connects to the air passage. The life span of this bird is 35 years.

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook.
Size: 10" H x 6 1/2" W
Time: 60 min.
Source: from own reference picture.

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Deers at Guwahati zoo

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Did these deer sketches at the Assam State Zoo, in Guwahati, few days back. In my growing up days, visiting this zoo was one of my favorite activity whenever we used to travel to Guwahati. I think, this time I went there after more than couple of decades.

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook.
Size 10" H x 13" W
Time: 60 min.
Source: live

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Sketch of a Fishermen boat

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Quick sketch of a simple fishermen boat on river Brahmaputra. The water is so shallow at some places, they were fishing with nets in less than knee length water . Hope they had a good catch.

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook.
Size 5" H x 61/2" W
Time: 20 min.
Source: live

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Sketching by Brahamaputra river at Guwahati

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Went again today to the jetty by the river Brahmaputra in Guwahati and glad to do couple of plein air sketches, specially this beautiful view towards west. On farthest distance is the glimpse of the Saraighat bridge which connects both north and south banks of the grand Brahmaputra river. This is the first bridge constructed over river Brahmaputra which was opened in 1962 and has a motor road on top and railroad underneath. The closest hill on left is the Nilachal hill and on top of it is situated the famous Kamakhya Temple, towards the west of Guawahati. As winter is approaching, the water level of the river has gone down revealing the beautiful sand. It's pleasing to sit down by the river, feeling the fresh wind and looking at the busy boats crossing every now and then.

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook.
Size: 10" H x 13" W.
Time: 60 min.
Source: live.

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Gheela Peetha and a cup of Tea

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Being a rice growing region, a lot of the local and traditional snacks, cereal and sweets are made using rice as it's main ingredient in Assam. Peetha is one of the most popular snacks/sweet and it is made in various shapes and sizes during the festive time of Bihu. The one in this sketch along with the cup of tea is called Gheela Peetha and is made from a mixture of rice, jaggery and condiments and deep fried. Interestingly many things which are kind of a disc shape but solid and smaller in size may be referred as 'gheela' in Assamese language. In fact, the knee cap is also referred as 'gheela' in this language! Btw, this one is sketched after a piece is bitten off :).

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook.
Size: 10" H x 6 1/2" W.
Time: 60 min. Approx.
Source: from own reference picture.

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Sketching a Teddy in Graphite

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As on the page says, sketched my niece's teddy bear . In spite of going out yesterday and today, I couldn't do any sketching. I prefer to use colors only at daytime, hence decided to do a graphite one instead. This was fun to sketch using graphite after a long time ! I think I'll do couple of more teddy sketches in different mediums including watercolor.

Medium: graphite on sketchbook
Size: 10" H x 6 1/2" W
Time: 45 min.
Source: live

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© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.

Sketchin at Deeghali Pukhuri, Guwahati

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I don't know what this old structure is but this is a beautifully decayed one situated just off the water level on the north side bank of 'Deeghali Pukhuri' in the heart of Guwahati. In Assamese language 'Deeghali' means long and 'Pukhuri' means pond. This is a naturally developed pond from a discarded portion of the river Brahmaputra, it's very long and hence the name!

Medium: watercolor on sketchbook. (Touches of opaque white for the cranes)
Size: 10" H x 13" W
Time: 100 min. Approx.
Source: live

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 © Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.