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Stones are everywhere—the Earth itself is a giant rock. This is probably why they don't get much attention and they're outright ignored, or thought of as dull. Akie Nakata, also known as the Stone Artist, sees an exception to this rule. She has been drawing adorable animals on natural stones since 2010 and over time, she has built quite a solid collection and some of her unique artworks have already been featured on Bored Panda.

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We got an extensive and exclusive interview from the Stone Artist and we have to tell you⁠—she views her beautiful drawings in a very unique way. For her, stones are not just art mediums that she just draws on. First, on her usual walk along the riverbank, she finds a stone that catches her eye:

"When I find a stone, I feel that stone, too, has found me. Stones have their own intentions and I consider my encounters with them as cues they give me that it’s OK to go ahead and paint what I see on them. So the stones I decide to paint on are not arbitrary, but my significant opposites with whom I have established a connection, who inspire me to work with them."

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This Japanese Artist Turns Stones Into Art And The Result Is Incredible (New Pics)

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This Japanese Artist Turns Stones Into Art And The Result Is Incredible (New Pics)

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Kanga9ine
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those eyes are mesmerizing. Must take hours to do these animals.

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Some things may be as insensitive as a rock, but Akie Nakata is sensitive to rocks in particular. The artist leaves the shape of the stone untouched. She neither grinds nor smooths them, as she likes to stay true to the stone that inspired her. "In my encounters with the stones and in my animal drawings, I respect my opposites in toto, so I never process stones and would never cut off an edge to alter the shape. The art I want to create is a life newly born in my hands through my dialogue with the stone. I want to paint the life I feel inside the stone. I consider my work completed only when I see that the eyes are now alive and looking back straight at me. To me, completing a unique artwork is not about how much detail I draw, but whether I feel the life in the stone."

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This Japanese Artist Turns Stones Into Art And The Result Is Incredible (New Pics)

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Caroline
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love that she really use the form of the stone so perfectly!

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When encountering a unique perspective like this, one naturally wonders how this stone started rolling. She has liked collecting rocks and drawing cute animals since she was a child. But these interests stayed separate, like two pebbles, for a while. One day, it all clicked when she was taking a walk along a river bank and saw a stone that looked "like a rabbit and nothing else."

The artist stressed that the stone art pieces in these images have already been adopted, and thus are not available for sale, but that she would be delighted if the viewers could simply enjoy the images themselves. You can do that by following her on her social media. And for now, here it is: a pile of seemingly dull rocks that were turned into something quite remarkable and super cute. Goes to show that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and in Akie's case, hands of the craftsman. Enjoy this refreshing cocktail of adorable animals on the rocks. Cheers.

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Kanga9ine
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this. She captures the soul that speaks to her in every pair of eyes. I fall right into them.

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Autumn Walton
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's gorgeous but ...uhh... i don't think their necks bend that way. >_< (sry. it 's rlly pretty tho)

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Gale Langseth Vester
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The eyes and expression are lovely! I think its especially great how the artist could paint the stone in just the way of showing the cheetah raising its head to look at us, using the form of the stone itself as the contours to the cat's body. This one makes me wonder at whether the back is also painted, as its not leaning up against anything.

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This Japanese Artist Turns Stones Into Art And The Result Is Incredible (New Pics)

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Max Han
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like how the rock is not entirely painted and instead part of the overall art!

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Spikey Bunny
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a way to capture this sweet expression! So much talent!!!

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This Japanese Artist Turns Stones Into Art And The Result Is Incredible (New Pics)

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Spikey Bunny
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Badgers? We don't need no stinking badgers!!! Oh, wait! Yes, yes we do! Fantastic work!

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This Japanese Artist Turns Stones Into Art And The Result Is Incredible (New Pics)

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bdunbar@kcls.org
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are so very lovely. They eyes have it........and you found a way to express them. THank you

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Maggie Dougherty
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An Afghan, if that's how you spell it? They are so pretty, when all brushed out.

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Elizabeth Oh
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Akie's work is stunning! She has the uncanny gift to see the life of what is hidden in the stone. Her attention to details, texture and expression makes her subjects appear to be natural, and obvious in the stone. Inspirational!

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This Japanese Artist Turns Stones Into Art And The Result Is Incredible (New Pics)

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Gale Langseth Vester
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Slow loris! Okay, it would be slow even if it weren't painted on stone, as that's the name of the animal. Lovely!

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Note: this post originally had 92 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.