Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Finding inspiration in the simple things

"Dot" by Kayla LaBeau


Sometimes even the simple everyday things are where we find the most inspiration. The minds eye often wants to find images in things. The creative mind can see not just the nooks and crannies made by winds and sand sweeping away bits of it, but instead find castles, and, insects, people, animals and many other whimsical creatures. 


Painted rocks have been found all over the world and are thousands of years old. Ancient artists painted the people and animals they saw. While it may be difficult for us to know why aboriginal people painted what they did, some archaeologists think perhaps the paintings were created to bring good fortune to a hunt or in a spiritual ritual of some sort. I think they painted them because it was enjoyable! When my children were young, they spent hours finding interesting rocks to bring home and paint into colorful critters.
 
Petroglyphs along Lake Superior, Canada


It doesn’t take a great artist to create a painted rock, just some various-sized decent brushes and either acrylic or enamel paint, and maybe a fixative to preserve them.  Some tools such as palette knives, or other interesting tools would work to give different effects. 


Even if you don’t wish to make painted rocks, you can probably appreciate the wonderful creativity of some modern artists. Catherine Chappell of  WildArtTreasures has some phenomenally detailed and breath-taking animals.  

Delores Malcomson of IshiGallery
creates beautiful artifacts from River Beach stones and paints them with acrylic paints with a fixative over them. 

So next time you see what you think is a plain, lifeless rock just lying there, know that within it lies the potential to be something amazingly artful! - Mariehelena

"Trevor" by Kayla LaBeau



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