Three by Three: Guest Artists in Focus
QUESTION 2. How do you balance preserving the rock’s natural beauty with adding your own voice to it?
ANSWER 2. Some stones are so beautifully shaped that I don’t feel the need to cover the entire surface. In such cases, I paint only a part of the stone and let the rest remain untouched. For example, I once painted a white tiger on the top portion of a stone and left the bottom half in its natural form, making it look as if the tiger was gracefully resting on the rock itself. This way, my artistic voice and the stone’s natural beauty complement each other.
Mrinalini Shingal
Painter (Mixed-Media Stone Painting Artist)
BIO: My passion for painting was reignited in 2017 during a time of personal loss. Art became my refuge and renewed my sense of purpose. As I painted daily, I discovered that nature and wildlife inspired me the most. I am a self-taught mixed media artist based in Bangalore, India.
My early work leaned toward realism, but over time I began exploring abstract realism, blending expressive elements with detailed, lifelike subjects. During the pandemic, I discovered my love for stone painting- bringing animals to life on found stones. Today, my painted stones are collected by people around the world.
Nature remains my greatest muse, and I often incorporate found leaves, twigs, stones, and other natural elements into my art.
Through my brand, Art Hues By Mrinalini, I share my creations with a global audience. Creating something new each day continues to fuel my artistic journey.
LINK: Art Hues By Mrinalini
QUESTION 3. If your rocks could travel and tell stories, what kind of tales do you imagine they’d carry?
ANSWER 3. My stones often find homes in faraway countries, and I love imagining the stories they would share from their journeys. Some stones are perfectly smooth, shaped over time
by the gentle movement of river currents — they might speak of gratitude for the energy of the rivers and earth, and how being painted transforms them into the spirit of an animal.
Others are imperfect: cracked, uneven, or marked with natural indentations. While many might overlook them, I see possibilities in those flaws. I use their unique contours to guide me naturally— to be a bison’s hump, a leopard’s rosettes, a snake’s scales.
If these stones could speak, I imagine they’d tell stories of resilience, acceptance, and becoming. From simple, blank, rocks to transforming into a little spirit of the wild, they travel the world sharing a quiet magic wherever they go.
QUESTION 1. What’s the most unexpected thing a rock’s shape or pattern has inspired you to paint?
ANSWER 1. I was once gifted a stone with an unusual shape and a rough, uneven texture. It sat on my desk for weeks because I couldn’t immediately see what it wanted to become. Then one day, its contours reminded me of a coiled ball python. I used the natural texture of the stone to create the snake’s scales, allowing the surface itself to guide the details. It turned out to be one of my most challenging yet satisfying pieces.
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All copyright and reproduction rights are reserved by Mrinalini Shingal.
Artwork may not be reproduced in any form without the artist's express written permission.
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