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