"Expression for me does not reside in passions glowing on a human face... composition is the art of arranging in a decorative manner the diverse elements at the painter's command to express his feelings”

An entirely self-taught artist, Ara's work was rooted in the joy of creativity, focusing on nudes, still life and human figure studies. He was a founder member of the Progressive Artists Group and had several shows with them. He was the first contemporary Indian painter to methodically use the female nude as a subject, staying within the limits of naturalism. His work was appreciated, encouraged and supported by the then art critic for the 'Times of India', Rudy von Leyden. He was much influenced by the genres of European modernism.