How Does Your Garden Grow?

Decorating the great outdoors can be fun and easy? Here are two more additions to my RiverRock collection that will awaken any area of your garden.

Garden art like all art is often in the eye of the beholder. A little imagination and a purchase from my collection can surely improve your surroundings with color and bring a smile to your face.

Perhaps, up until this point you have focused mainly on the interior of your home with art decorations. Maybe you haven’t considered garden art, however, think about it. Why do you plant flowers? I believe you plant to bring beauty to your surroundings and color into your life. There is a part of you that enjoys beauty, creativity, and the fulfillment of creating something of your very own.

Well, that’s how I feel when I create the RiverRock Critters. I paint because I truly enjoy it and know that someone somewhere feels the same as I do. Every piece I paint is made especially for someone looking for the artistic presence in their garden or home.

SPRINGTIME

Its spring time so let’s start planning where some of these lovely critters can grace your garden and add color and vibrancy. There are many ways to display your critters. The main thing is to have fun with them and create a story book land of birds, squirrels, lizards, turtles, or whatever suits you’re fancy.


Life can be very stressful, and most of us need a way to relax. The problem is we don’t really get the chance. It seems to be a forgotten art! Ironically many people feel guilty if they take time out to relax and unwind from life’s daily stresses.

In the springtime when the sun is warm, and sky is clear blue, the garden becomes a haven, and it can be your oasis. Escape, to experience a most relaxing past time. Sink in your hammock close your eyes and enjoy what you have created with your hard work and planning.

YOU’RE GARDEN

Your garden will contain both natural and man-made decorative materials. It should be decorated to bring you closer to nature and make you know more about ecology in a practical way. Gardening brings relaxation to mind. It is an art and with art pieces surrounding you it helps gather knowledge from various sources to attain mastery in this field. It also makes your family members and children enjoy their leisure time joyfully in your artfully presented backyard.

So in creating a rock garden of critters, we must aim to secure carefully a selection and grouping, an impression of boldness in the color masses. Nothing is more satisfactory when contemplating any form of garden art, than the feeling that the designer has from the beginning worked with the idea of achieving some definite purpose.

Pauline Libutti , Artist & Writer
http://www.riverrockcritters.com/

River Rock Critters - Pet Rock

Pet Rocks

Children love to create rock critters. As a school outing or a home project this will surely delight them. Have them collect some rocks of different shapes and sizes. After you have a rock that a teacher or parent feels suitable for painting, the project is ready to begin.

Their finished piece can be used as a shelf decoration, or make a large one that can be used on Mom's desk as a paperweight. While the average ladybug is red, let them use their imagination using several vibrant colors. Their project will turn out to be their own unique design and color scheme.


Supplies:

• Smooth, round or oval rocks, washed and dried
• Acrylic craft paint in colors of their choice
• Black acrylic craft paint
• Acrylic matte sealer spray

How to Paint Lady Bug:

1. Completely wash and dry all rocks
2. Paint rocks in desired colors, and allow to dry
3. Apply second and third coats if needed.
4. There is no pattern needed, simply paint about ¼ inch of the rock any color they choose in the "front" area of rock
5. Use a thinner brush to draw a straight line down the center of the rock, starting at the center of the base of the “head”.
6. Dip the end of a large paint brush, or the eraser end of a pencil, in black (or any color they choose) into the craft paint. Dot on the spots, reloading with paint after every dot.
7. Once the paint is dry, spray the rock(s) with acrylic sealer spray.
   Allow sealer to dry completely.
   

Important Tips:

Paint a lady bug, bee, or anything on a rock that symbolizes a critter of your own. Decorate with dots for an antenna, a straight line or a fun swirl of color. Glue Google eyes on it or paint your own. See your critter come alive with your very own artistic ability. Apply fun stickers on it or swirl colors of paint. Let your imagination run wild and you will see a pretty unique art piece that will treasured for a lifetime.

Pauline Libutti , Artist & Writer
http://www.RiverRockCritters.com/