Ashma
Ashma begins with a simple observation: stone is rarely just grey.
When I look closely, I find that stone reveals an extraordinary range of colour. Subtle variations are visible across its surface, while intricate mineral colours lie within it. From the broad shifts of colour seen across rocks and landscapes to the minute variations revealed in their mineral structures, I find a richness that deserves closer attention.
Stone is both the subject of and the material I use in these works. Drawing from its colours, textures and variations, I work with limestone, natural mineral pigments and acrylics to explore the visual richness found in stone itself.
Through these paintings, I translate my observations into abstract compositions, drawing attention to the colour, variation, texture and beauty that stone holds.
With Ashma, I invite viewers to look again. To see stone not as grey and static, but as a world of colour waiting to be noticed.
90 x 120cm
Mineral pigment on stretched linen
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
Ashma begins with a simple observation: stone is rarely just grey.
When I look closely at rocks and stones, I find an extraordinary range of colours, textures and patterns that often go unnoticed. From subtle variations across their surfaces to the intricate colours within their mineral structures, I am drawn to the visual richness of these seemingly ordinary materials.
In Ashma 1, stone becomes both my subject and my medium. Using limestone and natural mineral pigments, I explore the colours, textures and variations found within stone, translating these characteristics into an abstract composition.
Through this work, I hope to encourage a closer appreciation of stone, not as something uniform and static, but as a material with its own remarkable diversity and beauty.
Back to Ashma | Ashma 2 »
100 × 80cm
Acrylic colour, limestone, mineral pigment on stretched linen
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
In Ashma 2, I explore the diversity of colour, texture and pattern found within rocks and stones, challenging the common perception of stone as a predominantly grey and uniform material.
Drawing inspiration from the natural variations found across rock surfaces and within mineral formations, I examine the subtle shifts in colour, intricate patterns and textures that characterise these geological materials.
Using limestone, natural mineral pigments and acrylic colours, I investigate the relationship between material and abstraction. Through the interaction of these elements, I aim to capture the visual complexity of stone without directly representing a particular rock or landscape.
As part of my Ashma series, this work reflects my ongoing exploration of the overlooked beauty of the natural world, encouraging a closer appreciation of the colours, textures and mineral characteristics that make each stone unique.
Back to Ashma | « Ashma 1 | Ashma 3 »
100 × 80cm
Acrylic colour on stretched linen
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
Ashma 3 examines the diversity of colour, pattern and texture found within rocks and stones, challenging the conventional perception of stone as a predominantly grey and uniform material.
Drawing inspiration from the natural variations visible across rock surfaces and within mineral formations, the work explores the subtle shifts in colour and intricate patterns that characterise these geological materials.
Working with acrylic colours, I investigate the relationship between colour and abstraction, translating the visual complexity of stone into a composition that moves beyond direct representation of a particular rock or landscape.
As part of my Ashma series, Ashma 3 reflects my ongoing exploration of the overlooked beauty of the natural world, drawing attention to the distinctive colours, textures and patterns found within stone.
Back to Ashma | « Ashma 2 | Ashma 4 »
54 x 43.5cm (framed)
Natural minerals and limestone on 400 gsm acid free paper
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
Ashma 4 explores the often-overlooked diversity of colour, texture and pattern found within rocks and stones, moving beyond the conventional perception of stone as a predominantly grey and uniform material.
The work draws inspiration from the subtle variations visible across rock surfaces and the intricate colours and patterns formed by their mineral composition. These natural characteristics provide the starting point for an exploration of stone through abstraction.
Using limestone and natural mineral pigments, I examine the relationship between material, colour and form. Stone becomes both the subject and the medium, allowing its physical properties and visual characteristics to contribute directly to the composition.
As part of my Ashma series, Ashma 4 reflects my interest in revealing the inherent visual richness of stone, encouraging a closer appreciation of the colours, textures and patterns that often remain unnoticed.
Back to Ashma | « Ashma 3 | Ashma 5 »
Ashma 5 - Lapis Lazuli 1 & 2 (diptych)
120 × 90cm (each)
Acrylic inks, mixed media on linen
Please email artstudio.aparna@gmail.com for enquiries.
Ashma explores the overlooked beauty of stone, revealing the remarkable diversity of colours, textures and mineral patterns concealed within a material often perceived as uniformly grey.
Drawing inspiration from the natural variations found across rock surfaces and within their mineral structures, I work with limestone, natural mineral pigments and acrylics to translate these observations into abstract compositions. Stone becomes both the subject and the material through which I explore its visual richness.
Lapis lazuli, a deep blue stone historically used to produce the precious pigment ultramarine, exemplifies this relationship between geology and art. Originating primarily from the mountains of Afghanistan, it travelled along ancient trade routes and became one of the most valued pigments of the Renaissance. Its history reflects how stone carries not only colour, but also cultural and artistic significance.
Through Ashma, I seek to draw attention to the extraordinary qualities of stone, inviting a closer appreciation of its natural beauty, material complexity and enduring relationship with art.
Back to Ashma | « Ashma 4