Holiday Cheer

In anticipation of the Christmas season, my rock art painting has included Santa faces, nativity sets, and snow-covered houses.

The nativity rocks have been so well received, that I now have a website to showcase and purchase them - http://www.uniquenativitysets.com

The most difficult part of painting rock nativity sets is finding rocks with the correct shape and proportion. Animals such as sheep and cows are also rock art paintings that will accompany some nativity scenes.

These rock art paintings are a great religious gift for friends and family and can be used with the recipient's existing stable.

Here's a short video of rocks being transformed into a nativity set.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

High Plains Critters

In addition to painting animals, pets, houses, and flowers on rocks, I've put together a website to feature and sell my creations.

The name of the site is, High Plains Critters, (http://www.high-plains-critters.com).

On the site, you'll see rocks painted as birds, cats, gnome homes, snakes, fruit, Halloween ghosts & pumpkins, and Christmas nativity sets.

Stop by for a visit and see the creative things that can be done by painting on rocks and stones.

Painted Rock Gnome Homes used as Garden Art Decor

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Healing Art

The cute critters that I’ve created from painting rocks and simple stones bring smiles to everyone who sees them, especially my mother and her visitors at the nursing home.

My Mom looks forward to receiving a small package in the mail containing a new critter. Whenever I paint a large piece (which is too heavy for my frail mother), I also paint a smaller one weighing a few ounces which can fit in Mom’s hand. She adds each animal, flower, pet, or house to her collection which is kept safe in her bedside drawer. She brings out her rock art gifts of animals, flowers, pets, and houses for visitors; they know to ask her about any new pieces she’s received.

The routine and boredom of nursing home life is broken by a simple rock that has been enlivened using artful painting techniques. Hopefully, the painted rocks and stones bring smiles to everyone who sees them and assures my mother of how much I care for her even though I live thousands of miles away.

Stone Cold

It was very hot in southeastern Colorado this summer but I kept cool with my rock painting craft.

One day I was absorbed looking for rocks and picked one up that felt so hot I could have fried an egg on it. OUCH! However, rock art painting turned the stone into a decorative winter house featuring snow on the roof, windows lit with warm light, and a festive wreath on the front door.

My shelves also filled up with ghosts and pumpkins in anticipation of Halloween and the crisp Fall weather.

Halloween Ghosts, Pumpkins, & Candy Corn Painted Rocks

Once the rocks were painted and sealed, I rubbed my hands over the cool, smooth finish. It’s hard to imagine what was once a simple, cold, hard stone, is now a cute, decorative object begging to be touched and displayed.


© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Little Critters

Here's a sample of my early rock animal painting projects - a collection of little stone critters.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Practice Makes Perfect

It’s been several months since I picked up the hobby of rock art painting. True to the saying, “practice makes perfect,” my skill level has increased with each cute animal, flower, house, and pet that I’ve painted.

I’ve also gotten better at picking out rocks and stones that are suitable to become rock art paintings. Simple, smooth stones are definitely easier to paint than pitted rocks. Smaller stones are more difficult because more precision is required.

Going to the arts & crafts store is more meaningful because I now have a purpose for being there - discovering creative ideas to support my specific hobby of rock painting.