Feliz Año Nuevo !

My neighbors have been greeting me this way for years.This coming year will be one of more production, more posters, more sales and more friends.My emphasis will be on showcasing the 3-D posters which will be coming soon.A new printer is in the mix along with an enclosed dark room for the public viewing of my work (still imagining this one).All in all, it is shaping up to be an exciting year.It looks like this site has also hit another milestone...5200 hits!

My friend Veda, celebrating the new year

Merry Christmas and Joyous Noel !

Here's to all of you who have supported my creative pursuit over the years. You have made 2017 a stellar year in spite of all setbacks and natural disasters. My hope is that you all receive all your gifts with gratitude, and all your loved ones with joy. Best wishes to you in 2018

Stocking Stuffers

This past week has me painting a whole assortment of rocks, just to stay ahead of my inventory. Last week was pretty good over in Sebastopol. Many people were on the square, looking around for that perfect unique gift to give to a loved one. The rocks shown below feature a few new images and a few standard looks that I've honed into visually pleasing, economic designs.

Better Holders

The picture below is of a Rock Holder design I created a while ago that features an updated version showing the thickness of the piece. The second photo is an assortment of the same item custom produced from a template designed to die-cut plexiglass.This was an expensive undertaking, but one that upgrades my whole display and really showcases the best rocks offered for sale.

Exploring new directions

My sister and I visited the "After Dark" exhibit at the Exploratorium on the waterfront in San Francisco last week.After finding a parking place and getting through the line, we began viewing the exhibits. It was my intent to see the LED lighted sculptures, as well as any glow in the dark items that may be featured.We found an exhibit about Scorpions that showed how they glowed in the dark because of the luminosity of their exoskeletons.The backlight I had brought with me so impressed the exhibitor that she wanted to know how she could acquire one.They are called "Letmy™ UV Blacklight" and can be found on Amazon for around ten bucks.

Later, it occurred to me that there were far too many things to see in one evening so we departed after about two hours.The picture taken is of the sculpture outside the facility

The Buttons have arrived !

These are smaller than the last ones I had printed a few years ago, but they are still glowing buttons and fun things to wear around during the holidays. The message, "Your Spirit Rocks!" has always been a year-round greeting.Although it is intentionally a double entendre, it is also the name of my business.These buttons will be available at the Farmer's Market for a buck.Get em' while they're hot!

Your Spirit Rock Buttons !

The picture here is one of my favorite rocks.It will be featured on a button that is being made to encourage this art form.

The rock you see is almost perfectly round, and was found that way before it was decorated.The heart image is an iconic symbol that has come to mean many different things.Naturally,it is a symbol for love,connection,caring,sharing and friendship.

The button being produced has this symbol along with text which reads,"Your Spirit Rocks!"which is a movement/trend that is spreading as people paint and hide a variety of different rocks to be found.That's right.These rocks can be kept,re-hid or posted online

Calistoga Rocks or Napa Rocks on Facebook™ is where one can VIEW these findings.*Your Spirit specifically,is the enthusiasm you bring.

Disclaimer:

*The name"Your Spirit Rocks!"is not affiliated with the popular retreat and meditation center in Fairfax,California

"Your Spirit Rocks!"occupies a vendor's booth at the Farmer's Market on Saturdays in Calistoga and Sundays in Sebastopol, which is a business not associated with the aforementioned Facebook™ pages, yet supports the concept whole-heartedly

Bobble Rock

Not to be confused with "Bottle Rock" this rock is simply decorated with bobbles.You know, the kind that you get in the craft store or garden supply shops.First, you paint the rock, let it dry and then begin the process of gluing bobbles onto the rock.I like to use E6000™ industrial strength glue because it sets up in about 5 minutes.To prepare the bobbles, I paint on their backs or glue craft paper or a dot of glow paint on the back of each bobble. When dry, I glue them all around the rock in a seemingly uniform pattern.Voila! a bobble rock in place for your desk or nightstand.

Shell Horizon

This poster was created using many scanned objects and images brought into Adobe Photoshop™ for modification, arrangement on layers, color-correction, resizing, etc. The overall composition is meant to show natural elements (scallop shells,grape leaves,dragonflies, butterflies) in a visually pleasing setting.When the poster is printed, it will be adorned with glitter, phosphorescent and fluorescent paint for ultimately a 3D effect using Chromadepth™ glasses.Click on the picture itself for a larger view.