As the artist draws the features of the face, he explores and refines the idea of the portrait and finds the hues that would best reflect his idea and render it substance and meaning. The image gains the unique features of the model and the same time serves to implicitly affirm the author's aesthetic, moral and civil stance. Only such portrait is valuable and important for the artist. Melkonian uses the same approach when working on his thematic paintings and landscapes. A finished work is preceded by numerous sketches used to bring the perfection what is in the artist's eye. The vibrant layer of hues and meticulous attention to detail charged the painting with depth, emotion and wistful substance. Parallel to his painting, Melkonian also created beautiful murals in Yerevan, Echmiadzin and Gyumri. The motive and rationale are the same, a man and his inner world. In 1969, on the occasion of Komitas' 100th anniversary, the dome of Echmiadzin seminary (then Museum) was painted with murals, a series of scenes depicting the themes of Komitas' songs. The idea belonged to Ashot Melkonian. His co-workers were Hakob Hakobian, Henrik Siravian and Rafayel Sargsyan. Melkonian's art is pure, lucid and lyrical. The large mural still captures with its simplicity, purity, loftiness and harmony of hues and lines. The permanent exposition of the Armenian National Gallery has Ashot Melkonian's two paintings – "Family" and "Spring". Another painting – "Rest -Mother with child" is kept in The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.