Rock Artwork Grew Into Profitable Business

2005 - Volume #29, Issue #6, Page #07

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Lin Wellford of Green Forest, Ark. turns common rocks into animals.
    Wellford has made a very successful business for herself by using her artistic talent to make unique creations, using rocks as her canvas. Besides animals, she paints buildings, flowers, and almost anything else she can visualize.
    Upon realizing the popularity of her inexpensive, three-dimensional art, she also began publishing a series of popular books that teach others how to become rock artists.
    "Since I began this in 1978, many others have also found enjoyment and profit from this type of painting," she says. "It's not just a quirky hobby, but a recognized art form. It's perfect for stay-at-home moms, people who travel, and retired folks. Actually, this is probably the oldest art form on the planet when you consider that early man used to paint on cave walls."
    Wellford says that any smooth rock works to paint on. She uses acrylic paints to create lifelike cats, rabbits, fawns, snakes, turtles, raccoons, owls, leopards, mice, pandas, walrus, squirrels, foxes, and almost anything else you can imagine.
    Wellford has also painted "rock buildings" such as barns, farmhouses, cottages, shops, Victorian homes and churches. These creations are best suited to square or rectangular rocks with rough edges such as fieldstones, she says. Wellford has used the various buildings to create entire villages.
    "Rocks are also suitable for painting flowers," she says, noting that she arranges the flower rocks in baskets or vases.
    Since every rock is unique, no two paintings are exactly alike either. She finishes her work with a protective acrylic seal and prices them by weight. Painted rocks weighing 1 to 3 lbs. cost $25 to $29 each.
    "My most popular pieces have been cats and kittens. Round, smooth rocks are well-suited to a curled up cat, a slightly lumpy one works well for a cat with kittens, and an oblong rock makes a good upright or reclining cat," she says. "Finding the right rock is like a treasure hunt. I often get mine from the creek banks, fields and roadside ditches near my home."
    Because her rock painting knowledge is in such high demand, Wellford has little time anymore for painting, however. She has published seven how-to books (with North Light Books) and in all, has sold more than 855,000 copies.
    She's currently working on a new book that should be out in the spring. Published by ArtStone Press, "Rock Painting Fun for Everyone" includes a cross-section of project subjects.
    She has also produced a video that shows the step-by-step painting process and has taped a number of television segments.    Wellford's website offers links to fellow rock artists who sell their creations and do commissioned orders.
    "Every time someone tells me they've been able to bring in an income for their family while staying at home to paint rocks, it's the best reward I could have," she says.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Stone Menagerie, Lin Wellford, 210 East Main, Green Forest, Ark. 72638 (linwell@cswnet.com; linwellford.com).

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Rock Artwork Grew Into Profitable Business ROCK PICKERS Rock Pickers Lin Wellford of Green Forest Ark turns common rocks into animals Wellford has made a very successful business for herself by using her artistic talent to make unique creations using rocks as her canvas Besides animals she paints buildings flowers and almost anything else she can visualize Upon realizing the popularity of her inexpensive three-dimensional art she also began publishing a series of popular books that teach others how to become rock artists Since I began this in 1978 many others have also found enjoyment and profit from this type of painting she says It s not just a quirky hobby but a recognized art form It s perfect for stay-at-home moms people who travel and retired folks Actually this is probably the oldest art form on the planet when you consider that early man used to paint on cave walls Wellford says that any smooth rock works to paint on She uses acrylic paints to create lifelike cats rabbits fawns snakes turtles raccoons owls leopards mice pandas walrus squirrels foxes and almost anything else you can imagine Wellford has also painted rock buildings such as barns farmhouses cottages shops Victorian homes and churches These creations are best suited to square or rectangular rocks with rough edges such as fieldstones she says Wellford has used the various buildings to create entire villages Rocks are also suitable for painting flowers she says noting that she arranges the flower rocks in baskets or vases Since every rock is unique no two paintings are exactly alike either She finishes her work with a protective acrylic seal and prices them by weight Painted rocks weighing 1 to 3 lbs cost $25 to $29 each My most popular pieces have been cats and kittens Round smooth rocks are well-suited to a curled up cat a slightly lumpy one works well for a cat with kittens and an oblong rock makes a good upright or reclining cat she says Finding the right rock is like a treasure hunt I often get mine from the creek banks fields and roadside ditches near my home Because her rock painting knowledge is in such high demand Wellford has little time anymore for painting however She has published seven how-to books with North Light Books and in all has sold more than 855 000 copies She s currently working on a new book that should be out in the spring Published by ArtStone Press Rock Painting Fun for Everyone includes a cross-section of project subjects She has also produced a video that shows the step-by-step painting process and has taped a number of television segments Wellford s website offers links to fellow rock artists who sell their creations and do commissioned orders Every time someone tells me they ve been able to bring in an income for their family while staying at home to paint rocks it s the best reward I could have she says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Stone Menagerie Lin Wellford 210 East Main Green Forest Ark 72638 linwell@cswnet com; linwellford com

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