How Stones Become Art

January 13, 2026

There’s something magical about stones—they feel like little pieces of Mother Earth, fragments of Crete with their own spirit. When I hold one in my hand, it feels whole and unbreakable, and it touches my heart in a way nothing else can.

I find my stones on local beaches, drawn mostly to oval shapes, though the rare round ones feel absolutely perfect, almost beyond perfection. I love the middle to large sizes, but even the small ones have their charm. Searching for the right stone can be a challenge, needing just the right shape and size—but when I find it, it sparks my imagination instantly. I can already see the design taking shape, waiting to come to life with color and care.

My biggest inspiration comes from symbols. I absolutely love painting them, often using a huge variety of colors that come to me naturally as I work. When I look at a stone, I can already imagine the colors and how they will connect, creating a harmony that feels alive. Some of my favorite symbols are the evil eye, yin yang, and Om, and I also adore creating Mandalas. While I explore all kinds of themes—cartoons, Christmas, Easter—symbols always hold a special place in my heart.

Sometimes a single stone takes me a few afternoons to complete, and I especially love painting in the quiet of the evening or night. There’s something peaceful in that time, a perfect space to think about colors, let inspiration flow, and bring each design to life.

After bringing the stones home from the beach, the first step is always washing them thoroughly. Once they’re clean and dry, they’re ready to be painted. I start each stone with a coat of white acrylic paint as a base, and from there, I let my imagination guide me. Depending on the stone and the level of detail, painting can take a single afternoon or several sessions. I love experimenting with a variety of colors and sometimes add glitter or Swarovski crystals to give a sparkling, magical effect.

The absolute favorite part of the process is resin. Resin gives the stone depth, bringing the colors to life and making any glitter sparkle like a night full of stars. Applying resin is a careful process that can take several days—each layer needs 15 to 20 hours to dry. Once dry, I polish the base with a Dremel and add another layer, repeating until the surface is perfectly smooth. Most of my stones have at least four to five layers of resin.

For painting, I use a range of acrylics—my favorite being Deco Art Americana, but I also use El Greco, Penart, and Amsterdam. I work with many tools, including dotting instruments, brushes, makeup brushes, and even Martha Stewart sponges for blending. Every stone is a journey, and I pour my attention and heart into each one until it feels truly complete.

What excites me most is knowing that a perfectly finished stone will one day begin its journey from the seashores of Crete to someone’s home, carefully packed with best wishes and positive vibes. When you hold it, you can almost hear the sound of the waves—it feels alive, full of spirit. All I do is bring the colors, turning it into a piece of art.

I hope people will save a little corner in their home—next to their books, on a favorite shelf, or even by the bed—because who knows? One day, one of these stones may end up in your hands, ready to bring beauty and joy into your space.