The Poster Project

Okay.So this week's rock of the week is not to be seen. Instead, the image below is a poster I have put together in the traditional 18"X 24" format.I will be painting on top of the printed poster in fluorescent colors to create a 3D effect under a black light. I have done this with other pictures in the past, and have been putting together a body of work to reflect that.

The 3D images have to be viewed using these special glasses called "Chromadepth".A friend, Martha Casselman has offered me her home to show off all the posters when completed.She is a local patron who has been a contributor to the art scene here for some time. So far, I have four completed pieces.

A Teeny Heart

This week's rock is called " A Teeny Heart" because of the size of the little iconic heart in the center of the highly decorated rock. It was difficult keeping all the paint from bumping up against the other blobs that appear all over this rock.People will tell me how patient I must be to paint these rocks.I can assure you that I am anything but! It seems that I am constantly landing my elbow or the side of my hand in the wet paint and thereby smearing it to smithereens (?)! It is pleasing that the rock has turned out as well as it has.

Shells in the dark

My friends Jennifer and Matt have been very generous in supplying me with an assortment of Scallop Shells. My friend Bill has been requesting to purchase these almost as fast as I can make them! Between the supply and demand, my little rock business has taken on a whole new direction... painted shells !

I wanted to take this one step further than just painting them in such a way as to have them glow in the dark or burst in color (like the one below) under a black light.These shells could also be functional. Aha! glue a night light to the back of the shell !

This idea was exciting to say the least, but then I thought about replacing the regular night light bulb with a black light bulb.Unfortunately, Christmas tree lights and outdoor lights did not come in that pure purple color that illuminates the florescent paint so nicely.Perhaps they will in the future, but not now.

When the night light shell is turned on, it becomes translucent from the back, thereby reducing the brightness of your traditional night light.These lights are not motion activated, they must be turned on and off with the little switch at the bottom. Like anything that is in development, these items hopefully will continue be something that "Your Spirit Rocks!" will be able to offer.Please keep in mind that the image below is being showcased by having a separate black light shining on the shell from the FRONT. Yes, we have to have truth in advertising, even if this is just a blog

This Week's Rock of the Week

My experiments in 3D art forms have been fun an challenging. This design is one that I have drawn in sketch pads for some time,and have found it very intriguing. The spiral is an ancient symbol for gathering and centering.The spiral can also serve anyone who wants an image with which to focus, prior to achieving a meditative state. It has also been effective for the amusement of youngsters and magicians.

Whether you are a meditator or not, viewing a spiral can have a mesmerizing effect. Comic books used to sell and item that was called a "Hypno-coin".This playful come-on had many a youngster sending their entire allowance to get a hold of one of these devices. My rock design is just a spiral made to look dimensional.Under a blacklight it takes on a beautiful color and can be quite stunning.

This Week's Rock of the Week

I have had this rock on display since this past Fall and it is one of my better designs. This was a study of an Iris that came out looking a little bit like a stained glass window, especially under a blacklight. The rock itself is rather large and yet symmetrical and smooth.This past week I freshened it up a bit and went back over the colors and puff paint that I use. I hope you like the result. i will have it back on the table this next weekend. Enjoy!

A Fun Project

It has been around twenty years since I first got familiar Photoshop. Lately, I have been exploring the idea of doing another series of posters like the ones that had been prepared for a library show back in 2010.

I have learned a few things since then. First, I have learned not to be in a big rush to get a show up. Secondly, this is a whole different direction for me so easy does it. The process includes taking rocks, sketches and other images.All of this involves painting, scanning images, composition and modification in Photoshop, sending the prepared file to the printer, and then picking up the print.

A little further down the road it involves getting a suitable frame and eventually showing the final piece. Below is something I call,"The Space between Worlds".I sent the file off today to the printer in Santa Rosa.

Click on the image to see a larger view

Very Pleased and Grateful

Today i put together a slide show which showcases my best work over the past six months.I am very happy with the direction and motivation that the variety of mediums and methods that have made this work so enjoyable.Everyone has been very complimentary about this pursuit of mine. Over the past seven years, these rocks have allowed me to indulge in an activity that has never bored me. Granted, it can be tedious and tiring at times, but the feeling of accomplishment and gratification has been continuous.Click on the link below to see the slideshow (Music by Stevan Pasero "Prayer to the Rainforest")...

Your Spirit Rocks on Facebook

This Week's Rock of the Week

So much has been happening. This past week the St. Helena Library featured a Rock painting session for people to paint and hide rocks near the library. Several kids ( both young and old ) participated and left some of the rocks seen below for others to enjoy.New rock painting groups are forming on Facebook all the time.

This is wonderful how kids and families enjoy this sort of activity and local groups are forming to support this effort. One of these groups started in the city of Napa and now has several thousand members on their Facebook page Naparocks The Facebook page for Calistoga Rocks is still growing and welcomes new members.

Anyway, this weeks Rock is an Owl rock, painted for a dear friend who left it as a memorial for their loved one at a sacred place in Hawaii. I was so happy to paint this rock and have it brought for this person to see before their passing (see the last image in the series below )

This Week's Rock(s) of the Week

Happy Easter! today I have put together a group of rocks that have inspired me in different ways. Naturally, the butterfly is a symbol of resurrection which is fitting for the holiday.The rock on top is of a vortex.The three rings of dots form an entry into another realm; Another way of seeing things...a higher realm.

The rocks on the right and left are what I call "Diamond Daisies" as both are in the shape of a diamond (Baseball Diamonds for Spring?) as well having as a daisy in the middle to symbolize a common Spring flower.

Springtime has been a little slow arriving, with a few stops and starts (i.e. The frequent storms that have been revisiting us) but the anticipation of new life bursting forth is what was intended to be communicated with these stones.