Month: March 2018

Rootsandleisure_erika_italy

“My Art Is My Way To Connect With The World” – Meet Erika Bonezzi, a Concept Artist from Italy

A highly passionate and an immensely motivated Freelance Artist and Architecture Postgraduate, Erika got herself hooked on to Concept Art – a form of illustration used to convey an idea for films, video games, animation, comic books, or other media before it is put into the final outcome. Here we have a conversation with Erika Bonezzi who squeezed in sometime from her busy schedule for Roots and Leisure Share a little detail about yourself and what you have been up to? Hi! My name is Erika Bonezzi and I’m Italian. I graduated in Architecture in 2017 however, during the last years of studies I got more and more passionate about art, character design and concept art. After graduation, I chose to take a concept art course in my city and now I’m about to finish my studies and hopefully become a Professional Concept Artist. What initially sparked your interest in this field? I’ve always loved art since I was small; creating something from zero. Being able to communicate and share emotions with the world is something that …

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“Travel Taught Me that We are all Explorers – Looking for our Life’s Purpose” Deepika from Mumbai Shares Her Travelling Stories

They say our real test comes when we’re exposed to new places, people, experiences and how we deal with it. Traveling is no cakewalk, and it does get overwhelming at times, but for an explorer, this challenge is an appetizer and some of the best moments are created when you travel. Today, we take you on a virtual journey of a travel fanatic Deepika Gumaste – a traveller, a Communications Consultant, and a Homemaker. She has voyaged over the globe, whilst juggling in between her home in Mumbai and weaving out stories of experiences. How has your roots/upbringing brought you to where you are today I am a trained classical dancer in Bharatanatyam and was also a part of my school singing group. I belong to a family of nerds, who in all capacity treasure activities such as traveling. I got my itchy feet from my mother. As a kid, I traveled high and low, visiting resorts and family destinations. It’s just now that I have taken to a different sort of lifestyle – one that …

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#Recipe | Boroila Fish Cooked With Khutora Xaak And Cherry Tomatoes

Today we have a refreshing and light fish curry from one of our favorite Recipe Contributors Geeta. The small fresh water Boroila fish when cooked with khutora xaak, a variety of Amaranthus and tangy cherry tomatoes, tastes the best when the weather becomes all dry. Cooking time: 20-25 minutes Ingredients: 250 grams of Boroila fish 250 grams of khutora xaak or green amaranthus 1 cup of cherry tomatoes 1/2 tsp of fenugreek seeds 6 garlic pods 1 tsp of mustard oil 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder 2 cups of water Salt to taste Method: Roughly chop the khutora leaves and keep it aside Heat a tsp of mustard oil in a wok, add half tsp of fenugreek seeds or methi seeds to it and let it splutter Add a few pods of garlic, add the khutora leaves and sauté it Add turmeric and salt to taste Add the cherry tomatoes and sauté for around 5 minutes. Smash the tomatoes with a spatula during this process Now add 2 cups of water and let it boil Lastly, add Boroila fish to the …

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I Love Clicking Moments When People Live And Laugh – Meet Siddharth Sharma From Bangalore

They say if you really want something in your life, you should work hard for it and earn it; not just think about it. Today we have Siddharth Sharma – A Software Engineer by profession and a Photographer by passion from Bangalore. He believes that life is a race and you should give your best and try to reach a level where you can stand on your own with pride. Here’s an honest conversation with the man behind the lens who loves capturing people’s memories and present them. Share a little detail about yourself and what you have been up to? I’m Siddharth Sharma – a Software Professional working in Bangalore and originally from Bhilwara, Rajasthan. With 4 siblings in house and my father being the only source of income, we never had a thought of having a hobby to pursue. I was inclined towards photography since childhood but could not afford it; even after my job. It was my wife Swati Sharma who realized my love for photography and gifted me a smartphone. That’s when …

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Learn The Art Of Sketching Faces From Daksha Salam

A journey of art to profession. A journey of realization of how art has transformed him to be passionate about sketching faces of people. Today we present to you a soft conversation with Daksha Salam (@dksha__) – a Textile Student from National Institute of Design who believes change is natural. Share a little detail about yourself and what you have been up to? My name is Daksha Salam and I’m 22 years old – a student of Textiles from the National Institute of Design. I am a Meitei, born in Imphal and grew up in Assam and I love cats. What initially sparked your interest in this field? I’ve always loved to create, since I was a child. I remember when I would get bored of using fabrics, I would use scraps like old tires and balloons and make dresses and garments for the Barbie dolls. This helped me to extend my imagination of playing with dolls to another new level. I slowly branched out into other forms of creating art as I grew older – …

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Recipe | Naga Style Ilish Maach (Hilsa Fish) Cooked with Bamboo Shoot

Today we present to you your weekend recipe Traditionally Cooked Naga Styled Ilish Maas prepared by one of our favorite Recipe contributors, Kristi Kikon. Its one of the famous recipes that comes with flavors of bamboo shoot and Ilish fish and is the most simple way of enjoying your weekend dinner or lunch. Cooking Time: 30-35 minutes Ingredients: 1 kilo Ilish fish Fresh bamboo shoot 2 large tomatoes 8-10 green chillies 7-8 cloves of Garlic 800ml of water (you can add more if you want to have gravy) 3-4 tablespoon Refined Oil Salt to taste Medium size Kadai pan Directions to Cook: Roughly chop the fresh tomatoes and the green chillies. Also peel the garlic and keep aside In the open kadai pan, lay out the fish nicely and spread the tomatoes, green chillies and the bamboo shoot evenly. Add Refined Oil and salt to taste and pour about 850ml of water Cook the fish in medium flame until dry for about 30-35 minutes Evenly spread chopped coriander leaves and smashed garlic across the fish …

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I’m Trying To Create Something Beautiful Out Of Charcoal – Mohit Negi From Bangalore

When the same routine of going to office and then back home makes you feel bored, do something creative. A software professional during the day and an artist by the evening, Mohit Negi from Bangalore shares his story with Roots & Leisure about his love for Charcoal Sketching. Here’s a crisp conversation with the man behind the charcoal sketches. Share a little details about yourself and what you have been up to? My name is Mohit Negi and I am from Dehradun, presently working in an IT company here in Bangalore. For the past two years, I have engaged myself in charcoal sketching, painting and have also provided workshops on it. Apart from that, I travel a lot; go for treks, road trips and I’m also into adventure sports. So how did you get started? Well, boredom from a monotonous IT job was good enough to spark my interest in this. Being colorblind, I was always interested in black and white images and drawings. This and my love for sketching inspired me to learn more about Charcoal …

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A Vehement Lady Biker For Life – Sneha Suresh

How often do you see a biker lady? We can’t help but crush over women who break the norms of being confined to certain limitations but instead, aspire their dreams – The Pursuit Of Happiness! Meet Sneha Suresh (@motorider_sk) who hails from Navi Mumbai. A Freelance Makeup Artist, and an HR Professional, Sneha is dead passionate about traveling and bikes.  Tell us for how long have you been riding? I’ve been riding for 5 Years and whenever I want to have my “me time” I go for a bike ride. My husband is also a biker so usually it’s the two of us who would take our bikes and go for rides. And how often do you guys travel? Any memorable rides? It depends on our mood. And we have actually covered quite a few places. We go off the road sometimes. If we don’t have time, then we go for a breakfast ride. The best ride till now has been our ride from Mumbai to Goa. Since it was our anniversary we decided to do an …

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A Beady Conversation With Uma – The Creator of Hol-O-Beads

Ever thought how the jewelry made of beads are created? Ever thought of making them? Today, we introduce Uma Vaijnath – the Creator and Founder of Hol-O-Beads (@holo.bead) who shares her story on how she got hooked onto making wired jewelry. Her creative jewelry work on beads, threads and wires are something to look at. Here’s a quick conversation with Uma on how one trip inspired her to get into beading. Share a little details about yourself and what you have been up to? I’m Uma Vaijnath, Ex-Software Professional. Now I have turned to a Happy Homemaker since 2005 after my daughter Abha’s birth. What initially sparked your interest in this field? A visit to Dakshinachitra in May 2012. The trip literally sparked the interest in trying magazine paper jewelry and thread jewelry. At one of their stalls, a shop keeper showed how to do a thread jewelry, which I could easily do and the same person backed off to show a macrame based bracelet. “I bought that bracelet for Rs 40/- and took up …

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Malinggo Homestay – A Home Away From Home in Sikkim

We have become much dependent on our environment but we have turned ignorant to them. Paul helps in bringing awareness and closeness to the nature with the concept of homestay. Here’s a quick conversation with the Founder of Malinggo Homestay in Sikkim who is in love with nature and its beauty of Gangtok. Tell us something about yourself My name is Paul Karna Rai and I live in the valley of Pastanga (East Sikkim). I used to be a Government Contractor and also worked with Voluntary Health Association of Sikkim (VHAS). Perhaps because I live in this valley, I have always felt close to nature, to the environment – the sound of the running river, the chirping of the birds, the cry of the crickets, the flowers of spring, the dew of the winter morning and mostly the first fall of sun’s rays on the mighty Mt. Kanchenjunga. Home is right here in the mountains amidst nature. How did you come up with an idea of a homestay? The concept of homestay first started in …