Kindness and rocks... what do they have in common? In a few words, I will try to explain...
A week ago I felt as if someone had hit me with a rock.
Of course, it quite hurt as it came unexpectedly. They were just words, and imagine how a real stone hurts. The pillow absorbed the tears that night but the rocks appeared the next day again - in a completely different way. They came to inspire me. To lift me up and call me to action. To give a different meaning to that matter - to bring love and kindness instead of ache.
The inspiration came from this little display in a care centre for elderly people where I played the piano that afternoon.
I saw the painted stones, the effort, the affection and the message they could mean to these elderly people. Through creativity, they converted lifeless stones into flowers, animals, faces, and shapes. It was cute, and not just that. These colourful stones made me think.
What if we could convert all the words that hurt and bring disharmony into kindness...?
The jar of pebbles and stones from my balcony could help me with this! I know, I didn't show you this collection of stones, but here you see it. Soon they will be painted!
I picked one little stone, cleaned it and brought something to paint it — don't laugh hahaha - I found nail polish and some permanent markers. When I had an idea what my little rock will be I brought also a package of tiny googly eyes! 👀
It was a nice feeling to paint this rock, my husband took this photo of me doing it. I guess he was surprised seeing me with the nail polish in my hand.
When the red one was done I let it dry and painted another rock with a golden colour.
When the red rock was dry, I drew it a head, a line in the back and spots. It was the moment when my first painted rock was born. A tiny ladybug, waiting for the second googly eye to be attached.
Done. Resting in my palm...
I know it is far from being perfect but it is my first painted rock and without proper material. Nail polish and markers are not the best for this activity, I will have to buy acrylic paint for the rocks. Also, use bigger rocks as it is pretty hard to draw in these miniatures.
The ladybug asked for friends so a few more pebbles joined the painted collection. The golden one had to bring a message to smile often, but the paint was still sticky and the word OFTEN was messed up. The marker got sticky and the letters came out ugly when I tried to correct them with a different marker.
For Caring Rocks I used a very light pink nail polish, let it dry well, and used a CD/DVD marker which later had to be thrown away as it is meant for CDs and not for rocks...
A small pebble with a peculiar shape got eyes and the message that kindness is always a good option... it simply rocks. The black heart-shaped balloons on the red/purple painted rock wanted to say that it is fine to be out of the ordinary. Do things differently even if it is not always understood.
All in all, the rocks from the jar are getting coloured, in a very imperfect way but with a very perfect goal - transform ordinary things into kindness. And share it. When I become a bit better, I will leave my painted kindness rocks on the beach, or a bench, in someone's window or entrance.
Ideas will come, but the first step is done.
A community for all those who want to paint rocks and share kindness is here.
It is open to everyone! Use it when you need to convert an unpleasant situation into forgiveness and kindness through decorating a stone.
Use it when you want to bring a message or you just want to paint on a rock.
When you want to be creative.
Share with us your tutorials or stories, about how and why you decided to decorate a rock, and whether you left it in a public place or gave it to someone special to you.
It can be a simple message, letters written with a pencil or a marker or the most artistic creation. It is up to you.
Maybe some challenges will come too, so stay tuned. In the meantime, I will try to improve with these drawing activities!
