Maharashtra Artist uses lockdown to put 'life' into stones

    Mumbai, Feb 4 (PTI) An artist from Maharashtra has
utilised the coronavirus-induced lockdown to hone his creative
skills by getting closer to nature and paint images of some
prominent personalities on river stones.
    Suman Dabholkar, a drawing teacher at a Thane school,
used his brush strokes and colours to paint images of Lord
Vitthal, scientist Albert Einstein, former president A P J
Abdul Kalam, cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and M S Dhoni, actors
Sonu Sood, Naseeruddin Shah and poet Narayan Surve.
    Sood, who was in the spotlight for helping migrants
reach their homes during the lockdown last year, had also
acknowledged Dabholkar's work in his social media handles.
    On the Constitution Day in November last year,
Dabholkar painted the face of Dr B R Ambedkar on a large rock.
    "I used the COVID-19 lockdown to rediscover the artist
in me and acquire a new skill. I always wanted to pursue an
art which is closer to nature and create awareness about it
among those who do not visit art galleries," he told PTI.
    During the lockdown, he went back to his parents'
place at Kankavli in Sindhudurg district, which comprises a
number of picturesque lakes and rivers.
    Dabholkar then started going on foot to a river,
located at some distance from his home, where he got enchanted
by the beauty of the flowing water and stones.
    "I could visualise various shapes and forms in the
stones. An idea occurred to me of giving these stones a new
life," he said.
    Dabholkar said without make any changes in the natural
shape of stones, he drew on them faces of various people,
animals and cartoons using acrylic colours.
    "The natural beauty of Sindhudurg has always attracted
me. When I got the opportunity to stay in my hometown during
the lockdown, I could observe the nature carefully," he said.
    Dabholkar said being an artist, various elements of
nature always make an impression on his mind and soul.
    "Nature is a huge canvas. It gives a lot of lessons
and teachings," said the artist, who was selected from India
for the International Art Exhibition in Vietnam in 2019. PTI
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)