Important Update...

Visit: Your Spirit Rocks! at our vendors booth every other week at the local Farmer's Market in Calistoga , CA

Sunday, December 23, 2012

The Disco Rock

The Rock of the week is one I call the "Disco Rock" because it reminds me of a lot of the dance clubs of the 70's. It has lots of florescent dots and lots of luminescent dots. The florescent dots look great under a UV/Black light that causes them to really pop out in the dark. I purchased mine at the local ACE Hardware for around 12 dollars.Scorpion Master has them for sale online. Note the difference between "Florescent" and "Luminescent" dots. Florescent does NOT glow-in-the-dark. Luminescent does.

Most of the rocks I paint will have something with Luminescent paint on it, to substantiate the claim that the rocks do glow in the dark. Lately, I have been including a lot of florescents because the colors are so bright.The dots also have a textural feel, which add to the overall experience.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Gratitude

Thanksgiving was wonderful, and so were the Arts/Crafts shows that were well attended. Your Spirit Rocks ! It is with much gratitude that I write this. Everyone who made a purchase at The Black Stallion Holiday Art Show or The Aegis Napa Valley Craft show really made these past three days just great,and this is in spite of the inclement weather and flooding throughout the Valley.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Thanksgiving Holiday

Join Christopher Sullivan who will be exhibiting his Spirit Rocks at the Holiday Open House & Art Show at the Black Stallion Winery on Saturday, December 1st, 2012, from 11 am until 4 pm. Black Stallion Winery is at 4089 Silverado Trail, Napa. When you are visiting Calistoga stop by the Farmers Market at Sharpsteen Plaza across from City Hall at 1235 Washington Street. Christopher who creates these beautiful Spirit Rocks, is there on Saturday’s from 8:30 am until 12 noon. The good news is the Market which used to close the last Saturday in October will be open until January this year.

Friday, November 2, 2012

A New Look

This week marks the end of the regular season at the Saturday Farmer's Market in Calistoga. Fortunately, it has been extended until January... weather permitting of course. Naturally, I will continue to provide some very unique designs and gift ideas for the upcoming holidays. I hope to see you there !


Please stop by and show me how much Your Spirit Rocks! Your enthusiasm makes a big difference on Saturday mornings .


It's great to be living in the Napa Valley and Calistoga in particular, among such interesting people within a thriving active community.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Your Own Spirit Rock

Thank you for visiting the Your Spirit Rocks blog spot.The following is how the idea for Spirit Rocks came to be.

The story began when I headed out to the coast to do some thinking after I left my job. Again, I was looking for guidance and direction from my Higher Spirit, because I did not know where or what to do next with my life.

Russian Gulch is an area just north of Jenner, CA.I parked my old Ford in a small,not-so-obvious turnout off the coast road and began hiking through the underbrush towards the ocean which I could hear in the distance. After walking approximately one quarter of a mile,you reach a clearing and inlet where a small stream of water will block your entrance to the beach when the tide comes in. Some people will throw logs and branches to make a bridge to the beach, but It probably is just as easy to roll your pants up and take your shoes off to wade closer to the shoreline. The surf crashes hard on this private little beach that is enclosed both on the north and south sides. It is only about one hundred yards in length.

Most of the rocks here are smooth and plentiful, as the tides have pounded over them for centuries.I picked one up and thought about how life washes over each one of us... smoothing our rough edges.I noticed how good it felt in my hand, and how it helped me center my thoughts.At once, I felt at peace and knew instinctively that everything was going to be okay no matter what direction I chose to take. Late in the afternoon, I stuck a few of these rocks in my pocket and headed back to my car.The ride home was exhilarating as my mind entertained pleasant memories of times spent near the Russian River area in summer's past.The warm days and balmy evenings playing miniature golf and going to teen dances are the stuff of youthful dreams.

Later when I arrived home, I emptied my pockets and began to paint one of the rocks with some metallic paints I had around. Once it dried, It looked really beautiful and so I took other colors and started to decorate it. The acrylic paint adhered very nicely to the surface of the rock and it occurred to me that a small amount of glitter may embellish it nicely. Lastly, I had some glow-in-the dark paint and began adding small dabs to see how well that took to the rock. It worked beautifully.

Turning the lights off, it looked like the rock's own spirit was emanating from inside as I held a flashlight to the white, glowing paint.Gradually the glow would fade and re-emerge depending on how long I held it under the light. Lastly, I sprayed a varnish on the outside to coat and protect all the layers of paint and glitter.Now I really had something to behold !

I began giving these away to friends and acquaintances as personal gifts, that they could keep or pass on as they wished. Naturally,they contain only the good fortune and power you want to give it, as it is held in your hand.It is not known where it's journey will end. Perhaps at Russian Gulch, where it was initially found.All I know is that it gives me a lot of joy to decorate them and pass them along.


Saturday, September 29, 2012

Just like cake!

This was a good week.Yesterday I met with my good friends Lee and Miriam. They enjoyed the glowing stones so much that they ended up purchasing over two hundred dollars worth.To date, that was my biggest individual sale except for Louise, who purchased two very large rocks a few weeks ago. Todays Farmer's Market was packed with many tourists from everywhere in the Bay Area and points beyond.I had one couple listen to my explanation about how if you put a rock next to your child's bed at night to asuage any fears of the dark. This was a good selling point that many parents were considering.The rock shown below is one that was worked on with good dose of cake decorating sensibility

Thursday, September 20, 2012

This Weeks Rock

I like to call this rock a “Bobby Dazzler” which is something I heard in Australia many years ago. It is a design which I am beginning to perfect.This would be a Meditation Rock which you would hold in your hand to ground and center yourself. I look forward to making posters of these type of rocks as I am certain that they would be even more stunning blown up.Perhaps I will do another show at the public library,much like I did last year.


Thursday, September 13, 2012

The Rock of the Week

This weeks rock was created in the usual centrist motif that i have come to repeat many times over. It just seems like my brushes,paints, materials or rock surfaces lend themselves to producing this type of starburst design that is much easier to repeat. I have experimented with painting black rocks, and using fluorescent pink to take advantage of the high contrast. I have also experimented with interference acrylics to render a two-toned effect that is also quite nice. This weeks rock is successful because it turned out “less messy” than many others.I am always venturing out,taking suggestions and looking for new methods and materials to provide you with the best work I have to offer.As always, “Your Spirit Rocks!”

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

A Summer of Spirit Rocks

It seems like this summer passed by more quickly than last year, which was the first year “Your Spirit Rocks!” went into business. A whole assortment of new designs and types of products went into production.Everything from buttons,bumper-stickers and bottle-stoppers to pendants, paperweights and wall posters were made.As the summer moved into August, my focus and skill level went up and people were noticing. Thanks to all of you who have purchased a rock. You are my official patrons! The Rock below is called the TEMPLE ROCK and it is the featured “Rock of the Week”.