Story Time Painted Stone

Peruvian Storyteller with Children; This rock had been a member of my studio space for a few years before I felt called to paint the unique Peruvian Storyteller design. Warm earth tones accent the friendly charm of this heartwarming Ayacucho storyteller and her young friends, including the white bird. Wearing traditional clothing of Peru, the expressive characters bring the design on the stone to life. It's hoped to be an inspiring piece reflecting family values, togetherness, and showcasing the age-old legacy of storytelling. Sized at three inches wide, three and a half inches long and standing at about one and a half inches high this one of a kind hand painted rock makes a perfect desktop paperweight or addition to any home decor.

The design is totally unique to this piece, and there is no pattern that exists. It was drawn directly onto the stone, then painted with quality acrylic paints. When I work with materials, especially rocks, I often get impressions or mental images. I feel that I tap into the energy of a stone, and we seem to exchange waves, or communicate. I interpret that energy, in combination with natural marks and bumps on the surface, to create the spiritual images that are Spiritkeepers Stones. I'm fully open to the concept that this process is simply my active imagination alone, but through my own experiments, I'm satisfied that I am communicating with the stone, or object, in most cases; my experience with this spiritual energy is perhaps akin to Remote Viewing. Some stones seem as if they've been assigned, or chosen, a spiritual job to do, and may need to find the person they are to do work for; That's where someone like me enters the picture. I am a helper to the stone along its path.

Now, this particular stone told me that it was very old and had journied far. Once it had been a giant boulder high up in the mist covered Olympic Mountains. It had slowly begun to shift its location on the mountain until it reached the river. Boulders and stones do this by altering the energy waves and weakening the soil structure around them. It doesn't damage or effect the health of the soil, but simply changes the energy waves; like giving a wiggle. Tiny wiggles eventually create a full move. It doesn't matter to most rocks how quickly the move occurs; time is a different matter to stone. By the time this particular stone reached the place where I found it, there was not more than a handful of the original boulder left; having been worn down from the river. I knew the slightly triangle shaped rock was more of a storyteller than most other stones, so decided upon the Native Peruvian storyteller woman as a motif. There is a strong connection to the heartbeat of the Earth inside her. Someone is in need of the gifts this stone has to offer ... is it you?

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• Shop for Spiritkeepers Hand Painted Totem Animal & Spiritual Stones http://www.mysticgriffin.com/

Other Storyteller Spiritkeepers Stones by Tree

* Kokopelli Dancing Spiritkeepers Stone #skko07

Patron of music, dance, creativity, storytelling, and abundance. Kokopelli compares somewhat to the Lakota Heyoka medicine person, or Sacred Clown, in that through entertainment and shock the people are distracted into learning lessons to take right action.

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~ Other Storyteller links ~

*Tim Sheppard’s Storytelling Resources for Storytellers http://www.timsheppard.co.uk/story/index.html

*A traditional tale from Peru, "The Fox and the Mole," from Latin American Tales, by Genevieve Barlow http://www.globaled.org/globalLiteracy/handouts/glHandout23A.html

*More about storytellers http://www.towson.edu/csme/mctp/StudentProjects/Storytellers/TitlePage.html

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.

Sea Otter Playful Painted Stone

SOLD

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.

Two New Polar Bear Hand Painted Stones

Metaphysical ABOUT POLAR BEAR - Being the most outstanding hunter of the bear family also makes the polar bear the most aggressive of the bears. They have very keen hearing, listening for sounds under the ice from above. When polar bear hears a seal bubbling to the surface it patiently waits for the favorite prey to come up. They pounce on the seals to drag them from the water. This indicates that polar bear knows when to wait and when to act on an opportunity. These bears have a playful side too, sliding on ice and playing with cubs, indicating that though they're serious about the task at hand they know when to relax and nourish the soul. If you think that polar bear is a totem animal for you then be sure to also examine the animals it chooses as prey; there'll likely be a second totem in there for you.

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* Polar Bear Sleeping Hand Painted Stone

This item is actual natural rock and a one of a kind design.

A hand painted polar bear taking a nap, with head on paw, graces this unique hand painted stone. The image is unique to this piece; one of a kind, and created from the shapes found within the natural surface of the stone. This modern wildlife folk art piece can be displayed as decorative art, used as a large medicine bag or pouch item, or kept as a totem animal spirit guide reminder on decorative display; either way, this collectable Spiritkeepers stone makes a lovely sculpture of nature or Yule time gift. Sits safe for most surfaces at 2" inches tall and is 2 1/4" inches at the widest point, and 1/2" thick; palm of hand size. Place near your workspace computer to remind you of the magic world of nature outside of technology. Hand Painted Rock Folk Art.Each Spiritkeepers is unique and individually numbered. This piece is intended for indoor display though surface is water washable with cold water and care. Stone #sk025

Available at my Etsy shop. Click title to visit.

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Polar Bear Scene Hand Painted Basalt Stone This item is actual natural rock and a one of a kind design SOLD.
A hand painted polar bear standing in the ice fields, with mountians beyond, graces this unique hand painted stone. The rock material is a volcanic basalt from the Pacific Northwest ocean water. Basalt is known metaphysically to absorb negative energy. Use as a meditation devise to focus. The image is unique to this piece; one of a kind, and created from the shapes found within the natural surface of the stone. This modern wildlife folk art piece can be displayed as decorative art, used as a paper weight, or kept as a totem animal spirit guide reminder; either way, this collectable Spiritkeepers stone makes a lovely sculpture of nature or Yule time gift. Sits safe for most surfaces at 3 3/4" inches wide and is 1 1/4" inches at the thickest point; stout and heavy. Photos are a bit dark; colors are rich blue, purple, and white with brown. Acrylic paint well coated with environmentally friendly varnish. Place near your workspace computer to remind you of the magic world of nature outside of technology. Go for a late night walk with the power of polar bear! Each Spiritkeepers is unique and individually numbered. This piece is intended for indoor display though surface is water washable with cold water and care. Stone #sk44 Certificate of Authenticity included.

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.

Kokopelli Dancing Spiritkeepers Stone

Being a Deity of Considerable Potency, the Kokopelli figure has been found as early as 200 A.D in ruins of pithouse people. Many different tribes through time, including the Hopi, tell tales of this mysterious figure. His legend is so widespread that some even think Kokopelli may be an Ancient Hindu God! He was a wandering minstrel who played his magical flute from village to village bringing fertility of all types, as well as song. Patron of music, dance, creativity, storytelling, and abundance. Kokopelli compares somewhat to the Lakota Heyoka medicine person (Sacred Clown), in that through entertainment and shock the people are distracted into learning lessons to take right action.

Pronunciation: koh-koh-pell-ee
Also Known As: Magical Flute Player, humpback or hump-backed flute player, fertility god, prankster, healer and story teller

Each Spiritkeepers is unique and individually numbered hand painted stone. This piece is intended for indoor display though surface is water washable with cold water and care, as it is coated with environmentally friendly protective varnish. Sized at 3" (three inches) long, 2" (two inches) wide, and nearly 1" (one inch) at the thickest point; palm of hand sized. Painted on Ohio silt stone from an ancient fossil bed, making it a link to ancient knowledge -- the Akashic Record.
Kokopelli Dancing Spiritkeepers Stone #skko07



All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit.