Try Ernestina Gallina's Cute
Valentine's Day Love Bugs Project!

Between a rock and... an irresistibly cute bug place!

When's the last time you looked at a piece of art that made you smile? Ditto if the art is whimsical, brightly-painted, and smiling at you first? That's exactly how I reacted when I first saw Ernestina Gallina's Valentine Love Bugs project, which is now available on the Creativity Portal Web site for painting enthusiasts to try out as an introduction to the creative and fun art of hand painting rocks into objects, animals, bugs, and other characters.

Oh, and if bugs aren't your thing, you can try Ernestina's Stone Cactus project instead. It's an artful way to connect yourself with the Saguaro-laden deserts in the Southwest without the dry heat!

Hang around a little longer and you'll witness the next fun-veiled project Ernestina will bring over to the Creativity Portal as we celebrate the' life within the rocks', which her Web site, "Pietrevive" (www.pietrevive.it) reflects in unmistakable animated splendor with each of her hand-painted characters manifested on a canvas of stone.

What else will you find on the Italian/English Pietrevive? More beginner and intermediate rock painting projects, some free and some as instant-download PDF's that you can buy online at a very fair price. Ernestina also welcomes custom-made requests for her work, so you can contact her via her Web site to ask her questions and learn more.

And as for adorable Love Bugs just in time for Valentine's Day? Move on over, Herbie. You've got company! •

© 2008 Chris Dunmire www.chrisdunmire.com. All rights reserved.