Change of Pace: Looking Forward to a Weekend of Creativity!

With our first "show" of the season — as arts and crafts vendors — now just a week away, I'm looking forward to a weekend of creativity!

Yes, I am basically a "stone painter!"

That is to say, I create intricate entirely free-hand painted mandala patterns on very smooth beach stones.

It's something I've been doing for about 15 years now, and prior to that I drew the same patterns just as black ink on paper... since about age 14.

In some ways, it's one of the things I've stuck with for longer than anything, except maybe for my writing which I also started as a teenager.

There's almost no limit to the variations that can be created; different color combinations, different pattern styles... and, of course, no two stones are ever the same.

We find the stones here locally, walking on our beaches.

Thankfully, I have good eyesight, still! In truth, though, I find this kind of intricate work to be a really good form of meditation. Because I really have to stay focused in order to avoid making a mistake, I end up having to silence my mind and focus on this one thing only.

So who would actually buy a painted rock?

Pretty much anybody, from people who just appreciate the art, to people who are looking for a "focus object" to hold while doing their own meditations.

Anyway, it's time to make sure that I have everything I need for a three-day event, and time to start painting new work for any "holes" resulting from sales at the last event we went to, back in September.

One of the reasons we attend quite a few of these events every year is that it is quite difficult to sell such work online. You really have to be able to see, and touch, and pick up each stone to get a true feel for the designs and the vibrance of the colors.

We absolutely do have online shops, but they are only modestly successful, and most of our online sales are actually the result of someone having met us in person and later deciding they wanted to purchase something they'd seen.

Yes, I keep saying "we," because Mrs. Denmarkguy is definitely a part of the process, and she also has her own creative projects that we bring to shows.

Of course, art isn't exactly a "money-maker," but part of the fun of being in a creative endeavor is to share the work with others, and hopefully make enough (at least!) to pay for travel, food, art supplies and such. And it's always nice to get some first-hand feedback from others!

So, that's what I'm going to be doing, for the next few days!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great Friday!

How about you? Do you have a creative outlet, or a form of art you work with? Do you consider yourself a creative individual? Leave a comment if you feel so inclined — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!

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Created at 2023.11.02 21:53 PDT
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