DIYRocks

Summer is here and I'm happily growing herbs in the garden and even happier to be using them 

in some fresh delicious food. I've been painting herb markers on rocks for the last few years, 

I have a thing about collecting rocks and painting is my love so these are right up my alley. 

Here is how I do them:

1. It's best to find rocks that are fairly smooth, in texture and color. River rocks are great.

2. Clean them with soap and water so there is no dirt left, and wait till they are dry.

3. Gather your materials. I use White Acrylic Ink by Daler Rowney, a thin brush with 

a good point. A white Stabilo pencil, some tracing paper, a gel pen, a ruler and your rocks.

I usually do these by eye but it's a good idea to draw out your design first so you aren't 

unsure of what to do half way through. I make all the letters in capitals and keep them 

the same height. It looks cute that way. Don't worry about being perfect, when they are 

off and a little wobbly it gives them character.

3. For practice you could take a ruler and make 2 parallel lines about 3/4" apart and 

do a practice alphabet.

4. Trace the outline of your rock so you have the general size of it. 

5. Write the name of the herb you are using in the middle of the rock.

6. Draw your design around the word. A circle and then scallops, vines, little flowers.

7. I haven't found a great way to transfer the actual design onto the rock, but now 

you have a clear idea of where to place your drawing.

8. Take the white Stabilo pen and very lightly draw the word and just the circle or 

stem of the design. It's better not to draw it all on there because it starts to look heavy with it.

9. Pour a bit of the ink out onto a pallet or even on leftover tracing paper. It's good 

to load your brush with ink but first paint some lines on a piece of paper until you are 

getting a smooth line that isn't blobby.

10. Paint the word, then the circle or vines and finally the details, following the design 

you drew earlier.

11. When ink is dry it's best to spray rock with a clear sealer. Krylon works well.
Your rocks will be in the dirt, water and sun and this way they will last for the summer!

I also make inspirational rocks.. They make a nice gift! Enjoy!

This is a page from my Daily Sketchbook. My restrictions for
these paintings are that I do 1 a day and I limit my time to 30 minutes
and under... This is a page of succulents, I've wanted to start a
succulent garden for a long time..I love the forms. My sketchbook
is also a place where I can experiment with other techniques, not worry
if it doesn't come out "good", I'm trying to find new ways of painting
that I love. When I first did this one I thought it just looked rushed and
very messy but the more I look at it I realize that I achieved a kind
of magical environment that I've been trying to accomplish.
By working daily like this some fun ideas start to emerge..

Here is my very messy desk..

This is my sketchbook. I can't wait until its a full fan of painted pages..
I'm using a book that's really not made for painting.. the paper is very thin,
it buckles and tears through if it gets too wet. I chose it because sometimes
if the sketchbook is too nice it becomes too precious. I don't want to worry
about mistakes or mess with this project. It is from the Japanese store MUJI,
It's really cheap and has lots of pages. You can see the whole series on my website
in the sketchbook section. I Also put them on instagram daily.

May Painting a Day 16. Sage

The sage in my garden is still there after the winter, very woody
and leggy with dried flower pods all over the top of them. I had
hung a branch of them to dry a few weeks ago so here is the live
plant and the dried one. I am submitting this one to Illustration
Friday too, for the word future. Maybe a bit of a stretch, maybe
more like before/after?

IF-Vocal

I'm having a melancholy day... my migraines have gotten under control
and it's been SO much better, but today it's back with a vengeance.
I just put on some incredibly sad music, which is somehow making
me happy, and just started drawing, It's the flowers calling out for the
rain, and the birds calling out for their food and the dog barking out
for whatever reason dogs bark...The garden is calling for me to go into it.
Hopefully tomorrow.

Herb Markers

This year I've planted a veggie and herb

garden. It's all fenced in so the critters

can't get to it. The tomatoes are growing

abundantly, I have peppers and leeks

and strawberries.

My favorite part from the start though has 

been gathering fresh herbs to cook with.

Watermelon tastes so good with mint, and

fresh basil on the tomatoes!

But when I send out my husband or son,

they don't always know which is which,

And that inspired me to go out and
collect rocks 

and make them into little herb markers.

I always get what I need now!

Thanks so much for visiting!