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Japanese Artist Brings Stones To Life By Turning Them Into Animals That Fit In The Palm Of Your Hand (30 New Pics)
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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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."
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.
#12
Miraculous Ladybug Fan Ladyblog lover 6 years ago
This is so adorable! This artist is amazing.
#14
Autumn Walton 6 years ago
That's gorgeous but ...uhh... i don't think their necks bend that way. >_< (sry. it 's rlly pretty tho)
#15
Gale Langseth Vester 6 years ago
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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Spikey Bunny 6 years ago
Badgers? We don't need no stinking badgers!!! Oh, wait! Yes, yes we do! Fantastic work!
#25
bdunbar@kcls.org 6 years ago
These are so very lovely. They eyes have it........and you found a way to express them. THank you
#26
Maggie Dougherty 6 years ago
An Afghan, if that's how you spell it? They are so pretty, when all brushed out.
#28
Elizabeth Oh 6 years ago
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!
#29
Mark Serbian 6 years ago
Great ... now I'm gonna be singing "Baby Shark" for the rest of the day!
#30
Gale Langseth Vester 6 years ago
Slow loris! Okay, it would be slow even if it weren't painted on stone, as that's the name of the animal. Lovely!
#33
Maggie Dougherty 6 years ago
Calico perhaps? I wish you would put the correct name on them, like the last bunch you made.
#38
Diane Jacobson 6 years ago
All these creations are amazing so beautiful and lifelike. The artist is a genius.all the animal look like they are alive. ❤️
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Maggie Dougherty 6 years ago
Do you look at the stone, and just know ,that this one is so perfect, for a tiger family?
#46
Maggie Dougherty 6 years ago
He looks afraid, and waiting for someone, to adopt him.. Please take me home, and love me to bits...
#54
Gale Langseth Vester 6 years ago
The smaller stones don't need to be smaller animals. This one is still a full-sized cat, just further away!
#60
Meridith Mayou-Isome 6 years ago
I so wished the would have said if he has an online store. This pug looks like mine that passed, it is like he carved her likeness because we would leave for an afternoon and she couldn't come. I 'd buy this from him just so I could look into those eyes.
#66
Faith Nicole 6 years ago
These fish are terrifyinf in pictures I've seen online, this artist has captured that scariness and put it onto a rock.. truly amazing
#69
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FurryManiac 6 years ago
Hey Foxxy, is it just me or do you seem to have a lot of enemies all of a sudden? Not me , but just curious.
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Rose the Cook 6 years ago
Who is the clown downvoting innocent comments? What is your problem? These are all adorable.
FurryManiac 6 years ago
Hey Foxxy, is it just me or do you seem to have a lot of enemies all of a sudden? Not me , but just curious.
Load More Replies... Rose the Cook 6 years ago
Who is the clown downvoting innocent comments? What is your problem? These are all adorable.
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