From her studio in Toronto, Reena Ahluwalia does what nature did millions of years ago and scientists have been doing for the last several decades – creating gemstones. But she uses paints and architectural drafting tools to transform canvases into gemstone art.
A creative prodigy in her own right, Reena demonstrated innate talents at an early age. Best known for her award-winning jewelry designs and record-breaking watches, many in the gem and jewelry industry may not have known she is also a painter and sculptor as well as a professor and speaker. It was through social media that Reena started sharing her gemstone art with the industry and her many followers.
“Like diamonds and gemstones – we are diverse, we come in all colors, we are brilliant, resilient and full of potential,” says Reena. “This is the idea my paintings convey. My unique style comes from my own life experiences, memories, things I want to figure out or express, or topics I want to have a conversation about. My style of paintings has more to it than first meets the eye. There are hidden messages and symbolism that I hope reveal themselves the more you look into my art.”
For years Reena’s gemstone paintings were more of a private creative endeavor, something she did for her own professional and personal satisfaction and edification. Her original works of art were sold to a small group of enthusiastic collectors.
Throughout most of her career Reena has established an inherent connection to all of her creative outlets, with gemstone paintings created in tandem with jewelry designs and even watches. But in 2015 she decided to make her gemstone paintings more public.
“My jewelry designs and painting are intrinsically related, both artistic, creative and a unique expression of who I am and what I have to say,” says Reena. “It wasn’t that I first did jewelry design and then started painting. Both jewelry and my painting grew alongside each other. Early on in my jewelry career, when I was establishing my brand and business, I shared only about jewelry. All the while painting diamonds and gemstones, a passion I kept private, mostly for myself and a selected few collectors of my art.”
In addition to her innate creative abilities, Reena is also a bit of a perfectionist. In short, she didn’t just wake up one day and start painting brilliant paintings of gemstones. The process of creating an original work was years in the making.
“I have a tendency to keep playing with ideas in my mind, sometimes for years, till they manifest into something tangible,” says Reena. “I keep working, reworking, tweaking my jewelry design or painting explorations, till they feel just right. A lot of experimentation, trials and errors, before the final outcome. This helps me create memorable and meaningful art.”
Gemstone enthusiasts have a rough idea how gemstones were created in nature and, in more modern history, in a lab. When Reena begins a gemstone painting with a blank white canvas she looks more like an architect. But the creative process has to start somewhere.
First comes her many sketches and idea explorations on paper or drawing note pads. Once her sketch compositions can convey the idea and message behind her painting, she finalizes her concept.
Next, using tools such as T-squares, rulers, compasses, protractors, dividers and set-squares, Reena meticulously plots out and hand sketches an “under-drawing” which becomes a precise guide for her creative decisions on facets (play of light, shading and highlighting facets) and colors (for color saturation to convey nature’s and man’s handiwork in the context of a gemstone, such as natural inclusions and windows from cutting).
“I love this poetry of geometry,” says Reena.
When the painting starts, Reena jumps right into the table view, establishing the “window to the gemstone’s soul.” After the table, she works outward toward the star, kite and upper girdle facets. As the creative process unfolds, she draws on her many memories of gemstones, as well as reference materials and actual gemstones. Completing a painted gemstone has its tests.
“The most challenging part is to be able to capture the nuanced and extraordinary play of light within facets,” says Reena. “Each gemstone has its unique characteristics that distinguish its type. Other than that, it’s how I can put soul in the stone that I am painting, and that’s my big win – always!”
Given her creative abilities, energies and imagination, Reena took her gemstone paintings in various directions, most notable and well-known to the gem and jewelry industry is her “Coronet By Reena,” “Alyssum” and “Diamond Watch” Collection, which she calls a “celebration of our inner brilliance.”
“The Swiss-made timepieces are gender-neutral, elegant, with modern sensibility and a luxurious finish,” says Reena. “The watch bezel is reminiscent of the crown facets of a diamond. At BaselWorld 2019, Aaron Shum and I earned a Guinness World Record for the Mudan watch, with most diamonds set on a timepiece. The show-stopper in the Mudan watch is my hand painted diamond on the dial. My diamond watch collection builds on the success of that record and took three years to develop.”
Through her art, Reena celebrates nature, human spirit and each one of us. Further variations on the gemstone paintings incorporate human and nature elements to her works. “Third Eye Diamond Painting” is an ethereal painting using marquee-shaped diamonds to portray wisdom, higher possibilities and clarity of vision.
While the “Human Spirit” painting portrays human forms in fancy color diamonds – celebrating diversity, power of humanity and resilience. And, “Power of Unity” Miss Universe Crown painting portrays a diamond woman form full of limitless light and represents empowered women. The painting was commissioned by fifth generation jeweler Fred Mouawad.
In the spirit of giving back, in October 2021 Reena raised $10,500 when she donated an original tanzanite painting to Gem Legacy, a non-profit dedicated to initiatives benefiting East African colored gemstone mining communities, founded by gem-cutter Roger Dery. All the proceeds from Reena’s Tanzanite painting went directly to artisanal miners in East Africa.
In total 84 miners’ toolkits were funded, going directly to 84 individual miners, with a remarkable impact not only to miners’ lives and livelihood, but to their families and community as well. Over the years, Reena’s paintings have raised more than $100,000 for various charities, including one of her favorites, Jewelers for Children (JFC).
For more information about Reena Ahluwalia and to view more of her art, visit ReenaAhluwalia.com.
