This was a thing a few years ago, painting rocks and leaving them in public places for people to find little works of art. I did a little of it in 2020-2021. It is simple, the raw materials are rocks, paint, or paint markers and a little imagination. Painted rocks are fun to find in random places, these were on a picnic table near the local hospital. A little something to brighten a stressful day.
When we think about art and creativity, brightening someone's day is a worthy goal. It may be someone you know, or it maybe someone you will never meet. If your art can lift their spirits for a moment, you have made the world a better place.
A high school friend of mine in Florida was into rock painting. But Florida has very few rocks. She was buying bags of landscape rocks at the local builders supply. I mailed her a box of rocks, I tagged a few of them with where they came from, the shore of the Potomac River, along a trail at Mt Vernon, the shore of the Pacific Ocean in Washington State. The rocks made her day. I had fun collecting them, and sharing them. Connecting our art. I have one of hers, painted as a sheep. She died a couple of years ago.
The rocks connected us, brightened our days, allowed us to be creative. Go be creative this week. Leave some rocks out to brighten a stranger's day.
I will paint a rock to put on our local war memorial on Wednesday - the eleventh of the eleventh - to remember all the boys who fell in wartime and give thanks.
ReplyDeleteA nice rememberance.
DeleteI remember the rock painting craze. And it was pre Covid.
ReplyDeleteI think it was
DeleteRock painting is fun and creative! Anyone and everyone can do it!
ReplyDeleteYes, fun, simple, low cost, and the hidden gems brighten someone's day.
DeleteBack in the '70s rock painting was popular. My friend's sister painted a cute owl on a rock and gave it to me. I still have it. During COVID painted rocks showed up in so many places - the parks, on street corners, the gardens at my mom's assisted care facility, by the police and fire stations, and so many unexpected places. They brought joy and hope.
ReplyDeleteI painted a bunch for the 2020 election.
DeleteIt's always a nice surprise to find a painted rock just out there. Always brings a smile.
ReplyDeleteThe world always needs more smiles.
DeleteI see painted rocks sometimes when I am out and about on my walks but I never thought of making some myself. Now maybe I will. Thanks for the idea, David!
ReplyDeleteGo for it.
DeleteSome 35 years ago, I had a neighbor who painted rocks with all kinds of lovely scenes. She would leave them around the neighborhood for people to find. I wonder if I still have one of her rocks. I'll have to look around and see if I can find it.
ReplyDeleteI have one from Gilda.
DeleteIt's true that Florida is not a great place for paintable pebbles. I never stopped to think about where rock painters there might get their rocks! I have one I found on a picnic table at my mom's retirement home. I wonder if the person who painted it is still alive. (My mom isn't.)
ReplyDeleteFlorida is an easy place to garden, no rocks to hit when planting.
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