INSTAGRAM: The Best Accounts of Artists Who Paint Gemstones

April 9, 2016

By Katerina Perez

5 min read

Precious stones have long been ascribed various magical properties, but for me their magic is first and foremost the ability to fascinate with their beauty. The effect is quite obvious when it comes to jewellers and gemstone dealers, collectors and aficionados. However, artists have also been known to fall, periodically, under this same spell, from painters from the past to illustrators and street-artists of modern day alike.

They laud their love of gems: on canvases, on paper, even on city walls. I have “met” many of them accidentally on Instagram, and their inexorable, bold and in some cases even audacious work has simply fascinated me. Here, I am bringing to your attention the accounts of my favourite artists who paint gemstones.

Reena Ahluwalia

An artist from Toronto, Reena Ahluwalia is also a jewellery designer who has received several awards for her work. Her paintings are as extravagant as the jewels she creates. Using oil on canvas, Reena does not always make gems the centrepiece of her paintings. Most often she depicts them in a futuristic context, divided into two areas: Diamond Portal (The Diamond Portal Series) and Portrait with Diamonds (The Diamond Portrait Series).

Instagram - Reena Ahluwalia

Instagram - Reena Ahluwalia

Angie Crabtree

Angie from California reflects in a realist style the inner world of diamonds. She paints faceted diamonds increased one thousand times, showing the way light plays inside of the colourless stones. She paints with oil on what appears to be canvas, and the facets inside the stones are depicted with incredibly precise, iridescent tones, varying from black to blue and royal blue, lending a sort of hypnotic effect to the paintings. Her prints make you want to hand them straight on your walls – immediately, and lots of them at that.

Instagram - Angie Crabtree

Instagram - Angie Crabtree

Kurt Pio

The artist from Cape Town, Kurt Pio, loves painting diamonds of all colours, shapes and sizes. And his stones, painted with oil on canvas, end up being huge: very often half the size of their maker to be precise. Any of his complete, sharp, linear paintings will generally have the same shape as the cut of the depicted stone, be that round, pear or emerald… whatever shape of a gemstone Kurt finds attractive!

Instagram - Kurt Pio

Instagram - Kurt Pio

Hannah Becker

Wouldn’t it be interesting to find out what would happen if gems were mixed with humour? The answer: jewelled cartoons of sorts. A gemmologist Hannah Becker from Philadelphia creates them on paper by blending drawings by hand with compositions made up of gemstones. The theme of each image depends on her mood, producing tongue-in-cheek drawings of a hotdog with ruby and citrine to bouquets of flowers consisting of sapphires, amethysts and tourmalines.

Instagram - Hannah Becker

Instagram - Hannah Becker

Nima Behnoud

This interesting project was organised by the New York jeweller Jacob&Co in collaborations with artist Nima Behnoud, who depicts precious stones with oils and aerosols on canvas. Together they form a great jewellery/art duo as Jacob Arabo’s collection is full of magnificent stones: diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds of extraordinary beauty. They could inspire any artist to make a picturesque masterpiece.

Instagram - Nima Behnoud

Instagram - Nima Behnoud

Jessie Kuruc Nuñez

This 22-year-old graduate of the University of North Text studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts. She paints in watercolour, focusing mainly on diamond engagement rings or diamonds on their own, which appear to attract the artists with their  varied sparkling facets and endless play of light.

Instagram - Jessie Kuruc Nuñez

Instagram - Jessie Kuruc Nuñez

Katie Marks

Despite the fact that Katie Marks paints on ceramics and not on paper, I couldn’t exclude her from this list. She is fascinated by minerals of varying shape and embodies them in drawings on ceramic as well as made out of ceramic embellishing a mug, a plate or a bowl.

Instagram - Katie Marks

Instagram - Katie Marks

Diamantaire

I’m sure you’ve already heard of this street artist. He does not hold a brush in his hand, but instead cuts diamonds out of glass and mirrors. His work can be found not only on the streets of Paris, where Diamantaire lives, but also in many more of the world’s capitals. And by the by, the unformatted works of the young artist have been accepted by the art world, meaning he has already exhibited in several galleries.

Instagram - Diamantaire

Instagram - Diamantaire

Baselworld 2016 Artfully Crafted Dials: The Focus of Watchmakers – Part II

continue reading

Exceptional Splendour: Jaipur Gems Celebrates 50 Years with Abu Dhabi Opening and New High Jewels 

Let me take you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Abu Dhabi boutique and share some of my sparkling highlights

by Katerina Perez

Radiating Confidence: The Mother-Daughter Energy Behind Growing Brand Aponine

As one of this year’s Couture show debutants, Turkish brand Aponine impressed me with its blend of colourful creativity, timeless elegance, and stylish femininity. Let’s take a closer look…

by Katerina Perez

Sensual Silhouettes: Jewels with Curves in All the Right Places

Is it getting hot in here, or is it just us? As jewellers swap sharp lines for shapely swirls, we look at new collections that are embracing the raw power of sensuality inspired by the female form

by Rachael Taylor

Artistic Realms: The Enchanting Natural World of Histoire D’Elle

I had the pleasure of speaking with Pascale Van Maele, the Brand Manager of Histoire d'Elle, which celebrates the deep-rooted connection between quiet femininity, elegance and natural forms. Let's explore together…

by Sarah Jordan

Spinel Stories: Celebrating the Special Allure of Spinels with the House of Gübelin 

I visited the Geneva boutique of the family-owned business to indulge my passion for this overlooked gemstone and explore some of its beautiful creations…

by Katerina Perez

Golden Hour: Cosmic Creations in the Chanel Reach for the Stars High Jewellery Collection

The Reach for the Stars collection bounces between cosmic constellations of diamonds, elaborate, almost mythological neckwear, and starbursts of coloured stones, all with the Maison’s Parisian flair

by Sarah Jordan

Ultimate Guide to Promise Rings: What They Mean, How to Wear One and Where to Buy

While the promise ring's meaning has evolved, its emotional weight remains, making it especially popular among Gen Z and millennial couples seeking the perfect, personal pre-engagement jewel

by Claire Roberts

Exquisite Escapes: The Idyllic Inspirations Behind the Diorexquis High Jewellery Collection

In early May 2025, Dior Joaillerie's Artistic Director Victoire de Castellane showcased an unprecedented high jewellery collection, Diorexquis, to more than 300 VIPs at the Château de la Colle Noire in the heart of Provence. Let's take a closer look…

by Katerina Perez

Millionaire Products: Celebrating the No-Expense-Spared Bvlgari Polychroma High Jewellery Collection

Bvlgari is opening a magnificent new chapter in the world of high jewellery, and high jewellery watches with the Polychroma collection. Here's what I have discovered so far…

by Katerina Perez

Sea of Wonder: Celebrating the Ocean’s Endless Bounty with the Tiffany & Co. Blue Book 2025

Here are some of the creations that became an integral part of the Tiffany & Co. underwater world, including starfish, crashing waves and sea turtles…

by Katerina Perez

The Psychology of Jewellery: Why We Adorn Ourselves

From the earliest civilisations to contemporary fashion catwalks, humans have consistently sought ways to embellish themselves. Transcending mere decoration, jewellery acts as a powerful expression of identity, status and emotion. Whether it's the intricate beadwork of ancient societies or the minimalist designs of modern artisans, our choices in adornment reveal layers of personal and cultural narratives. 

by Claire Roberts

Gem Renaissance: Insights from GemGenève Talk on Coloured Gemstones

One of the most exciting shifts in the world of fine jewellery today is the growing appreciation for coloured gemstones, especially those beyond the traditional “Big Three” of rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. So, when the organisers of GemGenève invited me to do a talk, I instantly knew what subject I was going to touch upon - the rise of colour.

by Katerina Perez

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Legacy of Love:The Dreamlike Jewels of Emirati Designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani

During our meeting in Dubai, we spoke about the importance of family, the sweetness of finding joy through creativity, and the ability to translate dreamy visions and deep feelings into wearable pieces…

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

Writing Adventures:Co-Authoring the Book

Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.