Why Rocks?

Why Rocks?

We see them everywhere, every day. We trod upon them without notice. We kick them on the sidewalk. We pass them on the street. They often go ignored. Why do I paint such trivial objects?

I envy their permanence.

A rock is unwavering and unyielding. It is a tangible souvenir of strength and durability. Millions of years shaped that stone into what it is; a rugged piece of beauty offered up from our earth.  Some rocks have pieces missing and some are the missing piece. Some have markings reminiscent of scars. Some are oddly misshapen. Yet all have been here longer than us. That pebble persists while our time here is fleeting.

I collect rocks on my adventures and loved ones bring me rocks from their own. My collection ranges from the Cliffs of Moher to a shoreline in Mexico to a pebble found in my garden path. Each has a special meaning. It may symbolize a place I’ve never been or a place I’ll never go. It represents the love I found with someone on a sandy beach. It may simply signify the friendship I have with the donor.

There’s beauty in the basics. Pause and appreciate the rocks.