| Mental health experts have long known the value of | | | | gotten tons of letters over the years from people who |
| developing creative outlets to relieve stress. This | | | | wanted to tell me how exciting it was to discover a |
| particularly applies to people who work in 'burn-out' | | | | way of making art that they were actually good |
| prone professions like teaching, nursing and social | | | | at."Another group who have embraced rock painting |
| work, but these days nearly everyone is liable to feel | | | | are people suffering from chronic pain. Engaging in a |
| some degree of work-related stress. But what if you | | | | creative activity allows you to 'zone out' for a time, |
| hate knitting, don't have the resources to take up | | | | providing relief and respite. People dealing with loss or |
| scrapbooking and are convinced you don't possess a | | | | grief also report finding immense solace from |
| drop of creativity? It might just be time for you get | | | | concentrating on their painting projects.Creative |
| rocking!Painting on rocks is probably the oldest art | | | | pastimes are an important component of living a |
| form known to man, but according to Lin Wellford, who | | | | balanced and satisfying life, so if you have not yet |
| has been painting rocks for almost thirty years, rock | | | | discovered your hidden talents, it may just be time to |
| painting is an ideal way to connect with hidden artistic | | | | take a closer look at the art material lying right there at |
| talent.But why paint rocks? Not only are they free for | | | | your feet!Lin Wellford is widely considered to be the |
| the taking in many places all over the world, but they | | | | 'mother of modern rock painting' for her efforts to |
| have shape and dimension so that even people with | | | | promote this low cost, assessible form of |
| very little artistic experience can visualize what the | | | | self-expression. The author of eight books on the art |
| rock could become with just a little effort."Rocks are | | | | of painting rocks, including her newest book, Rock |
| not intimidating the way so many more formal art | | | | Painting Fun for Everyone!, Wellford appears regularly |
| materials are," Wellford explains. "They are natural and | | | | on The Carol Duvall Show on HGTV. Articles about |
| rather humble, and it is simply impossible to ruin a | | | | her unique art form have been published in such |
| rock."People seem to have an affinity for rocks and | | | | diverse magazines as Birds & Blooms, National |
| stones that they don't have for other materials. They | | | | Geographic's World, The Artist, Country Decorating |
| are solid and real, and they also represent a piece of | | | | Ideas, Michael's Arts & Crafts magazine and Family |
| the place they came from. Add to that the fact that | | | | Circle's Weekend Homecrafts. Her new book is |
| they are both fun and easy to paint."I think there are | | | | available at her website, at or at Hobby Lobby stores |
| many people who've longed to find successful ways | | | | throughout the U.S. Along with her books, she has a |
| to express themselves creatively," Wellford explains. | | | | video on rock painting and also teaches and hosts |
| "They may have tried drawing or painting before and | | | | workshops to introduce new painters to the basics |
| perhaps were embarrassed by their efforts. Painting a | | | | and encourage them to uncover their own hidden |
| rock is like finding a shortcut to satisfying results. I've | | | | talents. |