Inspired by the natural curves and crevices of each pebble she finds, Japanese artist Akie Nakata draws out their character further with her paintbrush. Stones are transformed into adorable critters that can be held in the palm of a hand. A self-taught artist and rock collector since childhood, Akie has been turning stones into palm-sized pets since 2010. She believes that each one has its own predestined character, and a story to tell. Akie’s project began when, while walking along a riverbank, she stumbled across a stone she thought resembled a rabbit. “Stones have their own intentions,” she told Bored Panda, “and I consider my encounters with them as cues to go ahead and paint what I see on them.” Here are a few of Akie’s miniature masterpieces: Describing the painting process as a “dialogue,” the artist adjusts the viscosity of the acrylic paint for each stone, considering every contour and …