Rock Painting

“If I can’t have magic, I’ll take the improbable.” – Arianne

When I was in kindergarten I rode the bus to school.   One morning my mom announced there was no need to wait for the bus; she was walking me the short half mile to school.  I was thrilled to have her all to myself.  As we walked, she pointed out the smooth white pebbles among the gray gravel and debris along the side of the road.  “These,” she said, “are lucky stones. If you gather them up and keep them in your pocket you will have good luck through the day”.  Of course, I did as she instructed and rolled them around between my fingers in my pockets like happy little hidden secrets all day long.

This special walk with my mom planted a seed which grew into a lifelong belief that the world is filled with beautiful, magical objects just waiting to be discovered if you just take the time to look.  I still look carefully  in search of treasure on my walks and often fill my pockets with bird feathers, shiny stones, and colorful leaves. Magic may not actually exist in objects but magic is still out there. Magic is the ability to bestow kindness and love and change a person’s day.  It is recognizing beauty.  It is appreciating the improbable and unexpected.

Wouldn’t it be nice to share and spread that feeling of wonder at finding something marvelous, unexpected, and possibly lucky by joining in on the rock painting craze and painting your own special treasure? Join me at the Downtown Cary Food and Flea on Sunday, March 11 from 12-4pm or at The Wake Zone Espresso on Saturday, March 17 from 10-11am. Paint a rock to keep and one to leave somewhere for someone to find.  If you travel, take your rock with you, and leave it on some far off street corner in a bustling city, on the seat of a subway car, or on a high mountain trail.  Leave your little surprise for someone to find, and they will look at it in wonder, smile, and think, “How improbable.”

If  you can't make either of these events, buy a few bottles of craft paint and a cheap paintbrush, find a rock in your yard, and do it yourself.  If you have limited artistic ability, trying dotting the paint on the surface in a pattern as in the photo above.  

These events are for all ages.  Leave some love and bring a smile to someone’s face.

Happy Painting,

Arianne