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Lin Wellford's Rock Art News- Fall 2007

Rock Art News- Fall 2007

Not long ago I heard a radio announcer mention that there were 90 days remaining until Christmas. At the time, it was still feeling like steamy summer, and I moaned “Nooooooo!” out loud. 
Don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas. Along with its spiritual significance, Christmas means spending quality time with my three daughters and my two grandchildren as well as with my mother, who will celebrate her 85th birthday next month. It also means some wonderful collaborative meals, leisurely visits and fond recollections of past holidays and of the dear ones who are no longer around to celebrate with us.

Here is the part about Christmas that is hard; as my family has grown up, it is increasingly difficult to figure out what to give as gifts. Some of the things they mention, (Blue Tooth? Ipod accessories?) are foreign to me. Many of the things they wish for are both expensive and trendy, a combination that goes against my practical nature. And I doubt my ability to accurately decipher their various tastes in clothes or jewelry.
It sends my thoughts back to a time when gifts were often-as-not, handmade. A pair of knitted socks or a sweater, one of my sister’s amazing art quilts, a jewelry box crafted by a father or grandfather, or clothing sewn up on my mother’s old Singer. I might spend hours on a watercolor wildlife painting for my husband, or on one of the intricate pen and ink sketches my parents and grandparents liked to get from me. It all sounds quaint now, and with global trade, buying things ready made is more sensible than expending the huge effort required in making things oneself.

But the times do seem to be changing. Imported items are increasing in price, and suddenly funds for extravagant purchases seem to be scarcer as well. These days a lot of my spare cash seems to be finding its way into my gas tank! Living in a rural area as I do, going just about anywhere entails a substantial amount of driving. The uncertainty in the housing market is adding to the feeling of financial insecurity we all seem to be experiencing.

And is it just me, or are there others who are beginning to get a queasy feeling that holiday gift giving has become an exercise in ‘wretched excess’?
Perhaps we are slowly making our way back around to the days when the gifts we give one another will be handmade and unique rather than mass-produced and imported.
With that thought in mind, this would be an excellent time to ponder your list of friends and relatives and think about what you might make that would surprise and delight them.
What about retaining wall block painted to look like a planter full of flowers, then personalized with the family name or street number? 

Is there a cat or dog lover on your list who might treasure a small portrait of their pet? Even if you don’t feel up to a realistic portrait, you can create a charmingly stylized pet portrait using the instructions in Rock Painting Fun for Everyone! A bowl of painted fruit would make a lovely three-dimensional still life art piece…
Or how about a snow-covered rock cottage? Make a whole set, or perhaps begin a giving tradition by painting just one, then adding another piece each year until you have created a whole snow village set.  Unlike so many gifts, rock art is practically indestructible, so the gifts you paint could very well become heirlooms! For the past several years I have been making one friend matching pieces for a rock Nativity Set. She has the complete Holy Family now and this year I want to make her a shepherd. 

All this thinking of the holidays inspires me to offer gifts to my rock painting friends as well.
From now until December 15th, I’d like to include a free copy of my video with any book ordered at the regular price. I also have a limited supply of what I call “scratch and dent” copies of Rock Painting Fun for Everyone or Painted Garden Art Anyone Can Do. These are books with covers that were slightly scuffed or perhaps had a corner bent in transit. You can have either book as your bonus with any regular book purchase, or you can order them on their own. Simply add a note to the bottom of the order form specifying which bonus item you want.

If you would like to have additional copies of any or all of the three bonus items mentioned above (to share or perhaps to give as gifts?) simply send a check or money order in the amount of $6.00 each for any additional item, and that includes postage! These prices apply only within the US, but for any order to Canada, the difference will be only the additional cost of postage. All books will be signed, of course. If you have any questions about these offers, feel free to email me.

One last note; I have a dear friend who has come through a very tough couple of years of unemployment, which put her into deep financial distress. Thankfully, she is now working again and loves her job. Slowly she is whittling down the pile of debts. And she has become a convert to rock painting thanks to my last book, Painted Garden Art Anyone Can Do. Though she has enjoyed looking at my other books, this was the one that finally inspired her to pick up a brush and give it a try. Now I get phone calls from her, reporting on her latest creations. She’s making “Garden Gators” and Butterfly Stepping Stones for Christmas presents she can afford to give, and on top of that, finds painting is helping reduce the anxiety that built up as she went through her jobless ordeal.

Thanks to all who write to me to share your thoughts on rock painting. I welcome your notes and enjoy seeing samples of your painting (small files, please, as my connection is slow!)

All my best for hours of rockin’ fun!

Lin

www.linwellford.com
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