Myndie Vanhorn is a businesswoman with rocks all over her desk.
Painting rocks has always been a hobby for some people — it is relaxing, affordable and simple. But Myndie Vanhorn and her friends have found a way to make rock painting a trend here in the Lewiston-Clarkston valley and it has completely taken off.
The LCV rocks movement is a project that encourages family and community bonding by connecting through art. People paint rocks with whatever design suits their creativity and hide it for others to search for. The LCV Rocks Facebook page lets people show others what they find or what they have recently hidden. There are already more than 12,000 people in the group now, after less than 10 months.
A couple of Vanhorn’s friends brought up the idea in August 2016 and they actually began it in September. The idea came up when her friends and visited Whidbey Island and found a couple of painted rocks over there. Her friend messaged Vanhorn pictures of the rocks and told her they needed to begin the movement Lewiston.
Vanhorn thought it was a great idea but then realized it would be kind of difficult to start it during that time.
“Having a full plate all of the time I didn’t really jump on the idea at first,” Vanhorn said.
Now in the corner of her studio at The Fourth Wall Gallery in Lewiston, Vanhorn has a desk where she keeps her favorite rocks. People who admire the project have painted rocks specifically for her. She also has favorite rocks on display that she has found. She keeps them on her desk all next to each other. One rock that stands out is a rock that has gears in pinks and yellows and grays. They look clear coated onto a rock, mismatched. Another has rose-gold wiring wrapped around it to form a tree.
In the rest of the Fourth Wall Gallery, visitors will find a lot of art. A lot. The style of her work looks as if it has been created by a child with a skilled and creative mind — a very fun and whimsical style that is pleasing to the eye.
Vanhorn teaches multiple classes in her studio. Some of the classes she offers include the “Paint and Sip” for ages 21 and over on weeknights and weekends, and there are a couple childrens classes too.
Vanhorn is in the process of relocating her art gallery. She was at 832 Main St. and she will be moving to a larger space at 620 Main St. across the street from Brackenbury Square, where she is planning on beginning a new class for teens.
Art has always been a part of her life but it really began when Vanhorn got her first paint set at the age of 8. This first interest in art led her to a style of art that is carefree, cute and creative.
“I don’t know if it’s really sparked an interest so much as just a need to do it for as long as I could remember,” Vanhorn said.
“The best part of it is seeing it bring the community together and families getting out together,” Vanhorn said about the rocks project. “[There are] more going on walks looking for rocks and painting them together, hiding rocks.”
It’s all inclusive for all ages, such as the 70-year-old woman who told Vanhorn about how she paints rocks all the time.
“It does my heart a lot of good to see how many people are doing it,” Vanhorn said.