The simplest of rock arrangments.
A good friend was stretching her creative wings and playing with her collection of smooth rocks. (Thanks Bobi for sharing this playful inspiration!) She was looking for a way to calm her creative turmoil and simplify her outlook for her next project.
Bobi dubbed her efforts “zen rock design” (or maybe I did) and she accomplished just what she needed. It was fun, calming, no-cost, mind-clearing and rejuvenating.
ZEN ROCK SUPPLIES
When you go rock hounding to collect specimens for your own Zen rock efforts, smooth and flat rocks are best, but you’ll need a variety of sizes and shapes to play with. Look around your house for shapes and other elements that can be stacked on or with the rocks for more interest. Find a cool plate, board or book to serve as the base or anchor for your arrangement.
As you can see by Bobi’s first effort, using a perfectly round element (the crystal ball) will add another level of challenge. I have to say, I tried using something round and gave up. Achieving balance was too difficult and it was losing the “calming” effect for me.
Add another rock for a little more complexity in the design.
ZEN STILL LIFE ARRANGEMENTS
Most of you are familiar with the catch phrase “Bring the outdoors in” as it pertains to design. We want to bridge the visual gap between outside and inside, so bringing in cut branches, flowers, beach sand, rocks, shells – anything natural – reminds us of our connection to nature.
This easy task of working with rocks to create simple, natural beauty can be very rewarding.
Wikipedia’s explanation of a still life is excellent: “a work of art depicting inanimate objects, typically commonplace items which may be either natural (food, flowers, plants, rocks…) or man-made (books, jewelry, vases, coins…) in an artificial setting.”
That’s what I want you to try today. Create a Zen still life using simple, natural elements.
Look at the wonderful balance Bobi achieved in this more challenging stack.
These rock stacks are increasingly challenging as Bobi was striving for not only perfect balance but creative and visually stimulating still life arrangements.
My early efforts at making a Zen rock still life.
You’ll find, as I did, that stacking these rocks in a way that is attractive AND so that they don’t fall over the minute you step away is more challenging than you might expect. However, the reward is surprisingly satisfying. These unique ‘art’ pieces are sure to be a conversation starter!
WHERE TO USE YOUR ZEN STILL LIFE
One of the great things about these little touches of natural art is that they can be small and subtle or big and eye-catching. You can place a rock arrangment among a couple of candles, on a table top under a picture, on a patio table for a centerpiece, at the end of your kitchen counter using a piece of fruit in the arrangment (see my version with a lemon), on a vanity top with a shell or two, on your fireplace hearth or use a big version on your front porch.
Go out and enjoy the outdoors this long Labor Day weekend – play with friends and family. And, while you’re out, pick up a rock or two…….
Share your creativity with us; we’d love to see some other versions of Zen rock still life arrangements. If you liked the ideas presented here, be sure to forward the post to your friends. As a last treat, click here for a very short video – so you can see how a “pro” succeeds. a rocky video
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