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