Art Star of the Month: Ashwin Kumar — The Hyperrealist’s Mind: Where Logic Meets Creativity
At Arts to Hearts Project, we believe art can emerge from any life path, transforming skills honed in one world into beauty in another. Some creative journeys begin in the quiet of a studio; others are born in the hum of entirely different industries.
This month, we turn our spotlight to Ashwin, the artist behind Art by Ashwin. For 17 years, his professional life revolved around running a digital agency in Mumbai—building websites, applications, and brands with the precision of a designer and the curiosity of a developer. His career was fueled by a love for creation in its purest form: the magic of making something from nothing.
But there came a time when Ashwin sought to create beyond the glow of a screen. In a chapter of life when he needed it most, he turned to paint and canvas, founding Art by Ashwin as a way to craft with his own hands. The name is simple, but behind it lies a profound shift a move toward art as both expression and refuge.
In this interview, Ashwin shares his journey from the world of code to the world of colour, and how each brushstroke has become a quiet rebellion, a meditation, and a return to himself.
Ashwin Kumar
They say every artist has a turning point mine just happened to start in front of a computer screen. My name is Ashwin Kumar, and my journey into art didn’t begin in a studio, it began in Mumbai, in the fast-paced world of tech where my days were spent designing, developing, and building ideas from the ground up. For 17 years, I ran my own digital agency, working as a designer and developer. My days were filled with building websites, crafting applications, and bringing brands to life. I’ve always been fascinated by creation—the thrill of making something from nothing, whether it was a sleek interface or a functional tool.
But as the years went by, I realized I was craving something different. Away from deadlines, screens, and client briefs, I wanted to create with my own handsto feel the texture, the imperfections, the slowness of the process. That moment came during a chapter of my life when I needed it most. I picked up a paintbrush, unsure of what I was searching for, and began to experiment.
What started as a quiet exploration quickly became something profound. Each stroke of paint felt like a release, a reconnection with a part of myself I didn’t know I was missing. Art by Ashwin was born from that space a simple name, but one that holds the story of transformation, healing, and a new way of seeing the world.
1. You’ve described yourself as a self‑taught realist painter who rekindled his love for art during the pandemic lockdown in Mumbai. Can you share what inspired that turning point and what it felt like to return to painting?
The pandemic was a very difficult and depressing time for many of us. For me, it was also a turning point. As I sought an escape from the digital world I inhabit professionally, I was drawn to the grand, peaceful landscapes I’d long admired from artists like Albert Bierstadt. I started watching painting tutorials from Bob Ross and Kevin Hill, and something just clicked. It felt like I was returning to a part of myself that I had put away long ago. As a child, my red-green color blindness made art a source of frustration, but as an adult, I was determined to find a way. Picking up that brush again felt like coming home, and it brought a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Q2. Realist landscape painting feels quite intentional and immersive. What draws you to this genre and how do nature and memory play a role in your choice of scenes or palettes?
Realist landscape painting is intentional and deeply immersive for me. I believe it’s one of the most challenging forms of art, and I’m drawn to that challenge. I also live in a bustling city, and I feel we are constantly losing our connection to nature.
My paintings are my attempt to bring a “window to a beautiful, nature-rich world” into my home and the homes of others.
I deliberately omit human elements from my work because I want to capture nature’s pristine, untouched beauty. I’m not a frequent traveler, but when I do visit nature-rich places, I’m reminded of the divine beauty of creation. This is where memory and emotion play a significant role—I paint scenes that evoke a sense of peace and awe.
Q3. Your work has earned a following of over 120,000 on Instagram. How has sharing on social media shaped your practice both in how you work and how you connect with an audience?
I was never a social media person, but my journey on Instagram has been an incredible surprise. My wife created an account for me to share my work with a few people in our community. I was completely unaware of it for nearly a year. When she finally showed me, I was amazed to see I had 300 followers. That was the beginning of my journey on the platform. My followers, now over 126,000 strong, are the ones who truly motivate me. Their feedback and critiques have pushed me to become a better artist, and I’m incredibly grateful for their support. They are my community, and they have shaped my practice in the best way possible.
Q4. As someone balancing design/development work with art now, how do these creative and technical disciplines influence each other in your process or mindset?
Balancing these two creative fields has been incredibly rewarding. My work in design and development, which involves coding and animation, is also about meticulous detailing and careful planning. This mindset translates directly to my painting process. The discipline of creating well-crafted code is no different from building up layers of paint to achieve a hyper realistic effect. I’ve found that shifting between these creative domains actually prevents burnout. Whenever I hit a creative block in one field, moving to the other one always helps me find new perspectives and energy. They truly complement each other.
Q5. Being self-taught means forging your own path. What resources books, videos, experiments helped build your skills and confidence, and what was the hardest challenge to overcome alone?
As a self-taught artist, my path has been one of continuous trial and error. My initial resources were simple: YouTube videos from artists like Bob Ross and Kevin Hill, along with a lot of hands-on experimentation. The hardest challenge was undoubtedly my colour blindness. Initially, my wife helped me with mixing colours, and today, my daughter Aaradhya has taken on that role, which has become a beautiful part of our bond. Over time, through countless mistakes and iterations, I’ve developed confidence in selecting the right materials and techniques. I’ve learned that patience is key—my paintings take months to finish because I don’t set a deadline; I simply keep detailing until I can no longer improve it.
Q6. Looking ahead, what creative horizons excite you? Are there new themes, styles, collaborations, or even exhibitions you’re dreaming of exploring next?
Looking forward, I’m excited to explore new horizons. I’ve been dreaming of painting wildlife and capturing the character of different street scenes. I have a lot of ideas and a backlog of work to get through. I’m not driven by monetization—my agency provides me the freedom to pursue art for art’s sake. I hope to continue holding exhibitions, connecting with new people, and building my collection. My daughter is growing up, and I dream that one day she will understand the complexities of Portraits and help me with that too. Her support is everything to me, and I couldn’t do any of this without her.
Q7. Congratulations on being featured as an Art Star by The Arts to Hearts Project! What does a recognition like this mean to you personally, and how do you feel it supports or impacts your growth as an artist?
Being featured as an Art Star by The Arts to Hearts Project is a profound honor. This is the first time I’ve ever applied for a competition of this kind, and to be recognized is incredibly validating. This recognition will undoubtedly give me more confidence and valuable exposure to the art world, helping me grow and connect with an even broader audience. I am truly grateful for this opportunity.
Ashwin Kumar’s story is a powerful reminder that creativity can take root anywhere even in the glow of a computer screen and grow into something extraordinary. His landscapes are more than paintings; they are windows to untouched worlds, crafted with a patience and precision that mirror his journey from code to canvas. Each brushstroke carries the quiet determination of someone who turned a challenge like colour blindness into a strength, and in doing so, created a practice that is deeply personal and profoundly moving.
Through his art, Ashwin offers more than beauty; he offers a moment of stillness, a reconnection to nature’s grace, and a reminder that it’s never too late to begin again. With the unwavering support of his wife and daughter, his work is both a personal triumph and a gift to those who experience it.
As he looks to the future dreaming of painting wildlife, street scenes, and new creative horizons Ashwin continues to prove that art doesn’t just reflect life, it transforms it. His canvases speak not with volume, but with depth, heart, and an enduring love for creation.
Follow Ashwin’s journey and explore more of his work through the link below.
