GALLERY WALL EXHIBIT

Your Spirit Rocks™ by Christopher Sullivan
Wednesday, February 1st, 5:30–7:30: Reception to Open Exhibit
St. Helena Public Library • 1492 Library Lane, St. Helena

Christopher Sullivan uses acrylic to paint rocks and then embellishes them with glitter and mylar stickers. Rocks are scanned using a flatbed scanner, and the images are compiled and modified in various ways using Adobe Photoshop CS. Some of the completed works have been enlarged to make posters for this exhibit. Sullivan, who was formerly the concierge at CIA Greystone, is now a full-time artist living in Calistoga.

Silky Background

Today I scanned five more rocks into different backdrops. This one is of one of my favorite rocks in a background that is silky and duotoned. I have enlarged the rock to make for a great poster shot. Pictures should look good from a distance of twelve feet. When I hang this poster next week I am hoping that it will stand out.

Eye Candy

I have just added this poster to my collection to be displayed at the Library show on February 1st. It is a composition that was created by layering different digital photos and scans I took of my collection of rocks showing them in their raw state up to how they look when completed. The colored rocks in the silver dish show an assortment of blue, red and green rocks and what they look like during the middle phase of preparation.Notice the “eye” rock in the lower right of the picture. This particular painted rock gave me the impetus for the name of this piece.

Upcoming Show

This is a mirrored blog post for the most part. I am so excited about the “ Your Spirit Rocks” show that is coming to the St. Helena Library Feb. 1st, that I keep thinking of ways I want to present it. I will be hanging it on January 31st, and the reception will take place on the First. I will be showing fifteen posters of my work, these posters have my painted rocks above drawings and paintings of previous work in the background. The above is a good example of what I am talking about here. It give me great pleasure to bring these images into Photoshop and arrange the entire piece in a visually pleasing manner.

Space Stones

This is a picture that I drew and scanned ,and then added some special rocks to the scene. It was all created in Photoshop. I blew it up to poster size 18x24” and will have it in the St. Helena library show that I have scheduled at the end of the month. I really am looking forward to it. The picture above is like being on a another planet and having the Spirit Rocks jump out of the picture at you!

Quiet Reflection

If you are reading this blog, you are to be commended for your good taste, enjoyment of beauty, and the peace of mind that it brings to your Spirit. The silhouette in this picture is of my sister, who is at prayer. Some butterflies (or were they leaves?) appear to be flying from the top of her head. I love this picture.

I think that prayer can open us up to the magic of our own creativity . This can happen if we have a solid relationship with a higher power. My hope is that everyone reading this has a joyous and prosperous 2012.


Leave a comment on how you use your Spirit Rocks. Some people use them as paper weights or table ornaments.Others use them as meditation devices. How do you use them?

I’ve been thinking…

It’s Wednesday the 28th of December, 2011. I sense that big changes are in store for 2012. As I write this, I am still debating whether or not to launch the web site “Your Spirit Rocks.com”. Already I have purchased the domain name, but what does that mean? All is says is that I have a place holder for that name.

The name,“Your Spirit Rocks!” is a double-entendre (and the exclamation point was added for emphasis) that immediately sounds like a wonderful compliment, but in another way, can be referring to item(s) or a quality that you possess.

My hope is that the website will incorporate both interpretations intentionally. One’s spirit as I understand it, is an essential element of one’s personality. Just as I have discussed very early on, that these Spirit Rocks are meant to be passed along. It does not matter if they are kept for a day or a lifetime; So long as they are given in the spirit of GIVING. If you get one, and if it does not really reflect your own Spirit, I would encourage you to pass it along to someone else, so that (in principle), The rock will find it’s way to the one for whom it belongs. Ultimately, it is assumed that we know it is the earth for whom this rock belongs, and will find it’s way back. Above is a picture of the home where most all of the rocks were gathered.

The Idea…

I have taken this document to be notarized and sent via registered mail to myself, to verify that I am it’s author. Now I hope that it generates a lot of interest and enthusiasm for everyone who supports it.

Thanks,
Christopher

Rock of the Week

This one I call " Bluenew" because I have run out of names to call these blue rocks. I think I will have to start numbering these rocks to be able to catalog them. I am certain that I have painted over five hundred rocks this past year and will have to create a ledger in order to keep track of the designs. I have started adding little gold flourishes to these designs using a sharpened chopstick. I go through my #00 brushes weekly and the cost begins to add up. Today I purchased 9 - 18"X24" Frames for my show in February. I have just begun my third poster design. I hope to have all 9 posters done in time. I officially got my resale permit today and will begin doing a quarterly tax. The fun never ceases.