A Review: The Art of Stone Painting

Recently, I was asked if I'd like to review a book on stone painting. The cover and accompanying materials were so inspirational to me that I said "Yes! Absolutely!" And so here we are, with 'The Art of Stone Painting' by F. Sehnaz Bac.

I know I'm not supposed to judge a book by its cover (metaphorically) but isn't it so stinkin' adorable? The color and pattern play took the express train right to that place within my soul that makes me gasp and think "Yes!!!!! That's the stuff!" 

OK, deep breath. This slim volume contains everything you need to know to successfully paint stones (including how and where to find the best ones, and even make the not-best ones perfectly usable).

That's only half the table of contents. The book kicks off with a review of the necessary materials, all of which can be had quite easily at most craft stores (or perhaps already within your stash).

Each section describes the process for completing that particular design, as well as tips for different looks.

One of the things I like about this book is that while the artist is showing a lot of detail, the process can really be as simple or as fancy as you'd like, making this a great activity for kids and adults to do together. Not an artist? Yeah, me neither. So find an image you like, trace it onto the stone, and color it in. Or follow her simple outlines to improve your drawing skills. 

These can be used as paperweights, as garden decor (properly sealed), and as gifts. They're so very artsy looking that people might think you paid a nice bit for it as a souvenir from your vacation. And the arrangements in the book are so fun to look at. Check some of these out:

Not a fan of having actual cacti in your home? How cute is a pot of painted cactus stones that won't hurt you or your pets, and also don't require any care?

How cute in the garden or on your porch?

Collect rocks and paint them with your favorite theme.

Don't trust your drawing skills? Doodle! Doodling is an art form--just because we frequently do it while 'on hold' on the phone doesn't make it any less so.

 

With a little bit of drilling know-how and some hardware (and the right sized stone) you can even make pendants. How fun could these be to wear?

I really enjoyed reading the author's story. The Istanbul native studied archaeology, restoration and conservation, and worked for two decades on many Turkish excavation sites. After a long-fought (and won) war with lymphoma, she turned her technical and drafting skills to this art form, inspired by nature and rendered in various media. She currently lives on the Adriatic coast in Italy. She sells her designs in her Etsy shop (and I kind of want all of the things). You can find the book here.

Seriously--doesn't this look hard core therapeutic? I'm very curious how many rocks I'll come home with when I'm out and about now that I 'need' them.

I was not financially compensated for this post. I received the book at no charge in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are completely my own based on my own experience. For my complete disclosure policy, click here.