Sea Otter Playful Painted Stone

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This was my fourth otter stone I've painted, and the most playful by far! I really had fun working with this stone and the wonderful texture of the surface. See the pictures below that show how this little critter came together.

*About this stone: A detailed form of an adorable sea otter playing with green kelp graces this Spiritkeepers. It is a hand painted original design created from the natural forms of the rock itself. The shapes of the little toes are actual dips in the surface of the stone! Fur is created from hours of carefully dry brushing acrylic paint over the surface. Finished with a durable indoor/outdoor protective varnish. Sized at 4 inches long, 2 inches wide, and 1 inch thick; palm sized. It makes a perfect desktop paper weight or home decor curio shelf accent. Each Spiritkeepers is unique and individually numbered. No two are exact, each is unique OOAK artwork; no fillers or cutting used in making this totem animal fetish stone.

Photo 1: The Birth of a Spiritkeepers
Base coat of paint with rough outline of features. The size and shape made it easy to decide upon an otter. But which kind of otter should it be?
I remembered back when I used to live in the Pacific Northwest and the sea otters would visit. About the time of the salmon run, sea otters would creep up the mouth of the river and play in the churning mixture of salt and fresh waters. Sometimes they'd drag in kelp or sea weed from the deeper ocean as if it were clothing wrapped around plump little bodies. Actually, when one is up close it can be noted that the sea otters are fairly good sized critters! When my husband and myself would take breaks, from our shared place of employment, we were often blessed by a visit with the otters. Few things take away the stress of the day like watching Nature's clowns putting on a show! This stone was painted in honor of those little stress helpers. :)



Photo 2: Taking Shape
The natural bumps and cracks in the rock actually made the texture of the fur and details of the tiny toes, through careful bry brush painting.



Photo 3: Face of a New Friend
All finished and up close.



Photo 2: A side view



All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

Big Wolf Painting Double Naturally Holed Stone

This item is actual natural rock and a unique, one of a kind, design painted on 450 million years old "canvas"!

Each Spiritkeepers is unique and individually numbered hand painted stone or shell. This piece is intended for indoor display, though surface is water washable with cold water and care. Sized at 12" wide, 10" (two inches) tall, and about 1 1/2" at the thickest point, it will require a display easel or space to lean -- not recommended as a wall hanging due to weight between 7 to 10 pounds.

This is without a doubt the largest Spiritkeepers Stone to date; A special DOUBLE NATURALLY HOLED STONE! Part of an underground rock layer at one time, it was shaped by nature rather than being broken out of the ground, and was discovered resting peacefully in the magic of running water. It caught my eye as I passed by this stone, seeming to demand attention. Despite the rugged texture I knew it had to become a painting, so I lugged its weight back to my studio by hand. I never go out on "hunting trips" when I collect, to load up a truck or wheel barrow with random stones. I just simply go for a walk and see what speaks out to me, if anything at all. The triangle shaped piece here, with its two natural holes, seemed to want to become something new. I was glad to oblige.

It was a tough job for me and my paintbrushes, working with the rough texture of this stone -- working "with" and not hiding the natural surface. Note the areas where actual brachiopod fossils shells can be seen. On the back you can see them unpainted, in the natural fossil colors darkened slightly by varnish. It had to be painstakingly hand cleaned of creek bed debris before being painted as a highly detailed bust of a red brown timber wolf. The entire piece took a year to craft, from cleaning to the final protective varnish layers.

Golden eyes shine out from fur created by dry brushing many layers of paint over the natural texture of the stone. Washes of pale blue sky, and vivid greens, make a slight background with trees. The new owner of this stone will be amazed to feel the facial details of the wolf in the actual surface, which was sculpted by an ancient underground river. The ears and mouth especially are created from dry brushing thin layers of paint over the natural shapes in the rock. The entire nose is actually a brachiopod fossil shell. This stone is a striking piece for home decor and specimen collections for the office space; Sure to impress guests with the size alone.

The painted surface is a limestone and shale fossil cluster, with very well articulated half shell brachiopods and other fossils. Location is from the Southwestern Ohio Valley, USA -- the Appalachian Basin on the pinnacle of the Cincinnati Arch. These fossils are found predominately in a large strata of thinly bedded, but dense fossiliforous, limestone approximately 450 million years old! The most recognizable of these fossil species are Brachiopods, Trilobites, Cepholopods, Bryozoa, Crinoids, Eurypterids and Horn Corals. This particular stone is replete with specimens.

From a metaphysical view, being comprised of fossil, this stone is a link to ancient knowledge -- the Akashic Record. It is thought this type of stone can accelerate the transfer of said knowledge into one's "being". Telepathic abilities may develop or increase. Fossils in general, from a metaphysical understanding, may bring quality & excellence into one's surroundings. It may raise the level of, and add to one's achievements in the business world. Creativity may be increased simply by the presence of fossil stone in the environment.
*A naturally holed stone, or holey stone, is also known as the Witches Amulet. It is the most powerful protection amulet for the witch because it IS the presence of the Goddess Herself, the opening in the stone being the Sacred Womb of the Earth. When strung with a red string or ribbon and hung over or near the bed it acts as a shield against bad dreams, called Witches Dream Shield -- much like the Native American dream catcher. A holey stone may also be used for Full Moon magic by gazing at the moon through the hole.

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

WOLF Giant Holey Stone: In Progress

This wolf holey stone will be the largest Spiritkeeper to date, when it's finished, at nearly a foot wide and an inch and a half thick. I feel this stone was certainly a special find, in itself. Being in the shape of a triangle, having three natural holes and being loaded with fossils, this stone nearly screams "Sacred" to any Wiccan, witch or Neo-Native American, (as if any stone were NOT sacred in the first place). I'm taking my sweet time with painting this one. I want the natural forms in the stone to create the image of the wolf, and it's working well! Some areas, such as the lower muzzle, are created by dry brushing over actual brachiopod shell fossils in the surface! I don't want to hide the natural form of the stone so dry brushing over certain areas allows those forms to show. The side of the face near the hole has deep grooves in the stone and will feel like carved fur to the touch. Several layers of paint may be applied until I feel the resulting image reflects a true personality of a timber wolf -- the character of the creature. When finished it will be well coated with a protective varnish.

(Nose is an actual fossil shell!)

I found this large naturally holed stone while camping with my family in Southern Ohio. For anyone interested in the specific fossil record information I'm sure I can supply a reasonable account of location and layer, but this is intended as a piece of artwork rather than a fossil specimen offering. For the spiritual account, know that the energies were quite high when this rock was gathered! A huge summer electric storm system was providing a wondrous light show -- from a safe distance -- a meteor shower graced a lovely view, and loving family bonds were strengthened through sharing.
When I was asked to attend the camping trip I had that familiar feeling of "Spirit" calling me to work, so to say. I knew it was to be more than just a get away. I enjoyed my time with my loved ones, I learned many things metaphysically and personally, and came back with several future Spiritkeeper stones. Family bonding was the main focus of the camping trip, so I feel the wolf on this stone, as a symbol of the power of family -- of the pack -- is a perfect balance of spiritual energies. Fossils connect us to the oceans of the past and can aide psychic ability, intuition, and the creative drive. Those energy influences will seep from the fossils, in a positive way of course, without the owner needing to do a thing. I hope this wolf Spiritkeeper will not only be a loved piece of art for someone but will become a home for Spirit to dwell with happiness.




All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit or personal gain. Metaphysical suggestions are intended as entertainment only -- I/we make no claims as to the ability of the action of stones, spells or advise.
Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by Tree Pruitt.