By Wendy Clothier
It all started in early June. I was exercise walking alone and came to a corner where I noticed a colorful small rock stacked upon a concrete property marker. It was a (lucky) ladybug!! I looked it over and decided, Nah, I don't want to take this rock. . . it was not that well done and I figured someone else might like it. I saw it again on my next walk, then when I walked with Richie, my husband he noticed it. I told him how I "rejected" it! The next visit to that spot showed the ladybug had "flown the coop!"
The following weekend's newspaper included some pictures of painted rocks, a spot where they were distributed, with the message to take one and then bring one of your own creations to replace it. We then understood the ladybug, after reading that the adult artist placed a few rocks around the city and also in one spot at a gate nearby Egremont Elementary School. Richie and I visited that spot and got so wrapped up in the idea after seeing the sign that said. . . "TAKE ONE AND INSPIRE, SHARE ONE TO MOTIVATE. Help our garden grow." I picked up and kept one decorated with a rainbow, with a cloud that said LOVE. I thought, "Hey, I could do this, too. It might be fun!"
I found a few rocks, washed them off, and dug out my old acrylic paints, paint brushes, permanent markers. . . and began to work. I realized I needed more than just the dried out paint pots from a hundred years ago. We hit Michael's for more supplies and the rocks also became all varieties of SHELLS to paint! It was necessary to coat the paintings with gobs of Mod Podge coating, and then a final spray sealer, so that rain would not wash off the paints as the finished products lie on the ground. Richie got inspired, too!! He painted one snow scene and a few faces, but his specialty seems to be putting single words and phrases on his rocks. This is really quite a process, and has us totally involved. Little did we realize that a pandemic would expose our creative side!