The Stones Project
2024 / Ongoing
The Stones Project is an ongoing series of original watercolor paintings by Minnesota artist Kristin Maija Peterson, exploring Earth’s history, human emotion, and the quiet weight of stones.
It began with one simple question. What is it about that one particular stone that catches our eye that makes us pick it up, wanting to feel the ancient weight of it in our hand, and then have us place the stone in our pocket and carry it home?
My simple question about stones is leading to rich and intriguing paths involving Earth’s history, space, geology, human development and history, folklore, fertility, divinations, measurement, and more for me to understand.
The hope is to develop this project into a fully realized art exhibition full of paintings, stories, science, and curiosity. And stones, of course. Here is an early selection of stone works, from minimalist designs that provoke emotions to realistic found observations of stones in watercolor and drawings.
RECENT WORK
The Milky Way
The neighbors tore out the earthy, warm pavers and replaced them with cold concrete — a driveway transformation that took away their property’s curbside appeal. Why? They must have had their reasons.
After the dust settled and the concrete hardened, my eye caught a string of pebbles and stones in all shapes and colors. A tiny universe!
Want to see more of the story?
DETAILS: 18 x 24-inch watercolor painting + archival ink on 300lb Fabriano Cold Press paper. (Unframed.) $2100
FEATURED WORK
The Shores That We Know
Stones can tell us where we are though the stones we see have traveled far from their origins, by way of glacier ice and water. The stones we see in present day are far from their origin appearance. Pressure, water, and millions of years transform stones’ character, color, and shape.
Most of the stones you encounter are basalt, including those in the watercolor painting. But basalt loves to fool the citizen scientist and budding geologist. The rock plays a chameleon, taking on various characteristics other than the smooth round water-polished form.
I am no stranger to the North Shore as many of you are not either if you live in Minnesota or the Great Lakes region. Standing in front of Lake Superior for the first time I thought I was seeing the ocean. A lake so vast she can create her own weather and her tempests have devoured some 500 ships.
I spent my college summers waitressing (when women servers were called that) at Lutsen Resort when the Nelsons owned and operated it. That job gave me an education I would never have received anywhere else.
DETAILS: 7 x 9-inches watercolor painting on handmade Twin Rocker artisan paper. Unframed.
(You can get this watercolor painting as a mobile phone background (wallpaper) as a thank you for subscribing to my (mostly) monthly Nature Calls newsletter.)
MINIMALIST STUDIES
Our Rocks, Ourselves
EVERYTHING WILL BE ALL RIGHT. Children huddle close to the big mama central figure.
11 x 14-inch buckthorn berry in painting on handmade Twin Rocker artisan paper.
SHE’S STILL THINKING ABOUT IT. Arranging her thoughts and one hand on her hip you can tell she has not made up her mind. 11 x 14-inch watercolor painting on handmade
Twin Rocker artisan paper.
HARVESTING EGGPLANT. 11 x 14-inch watercolor painting on handmade Twin Rocker artisan paper.
SHE FEELS BETTER BY THE WATER. 11 x 14-inch watercolor painting on handmade Twin Rocker artisan paper.
FEELING GOLDEN LIKE A QUEEN. 11 x 14-inch watercolor painting on handmade Twin Rocker artisan paper.
Notes On The Stones Project
If you noticed the straight lines drawn in the watercolor paintings, these are intentional. Like latitude and longitude, the lines represent the mapping of the geological world and all the wonders and mysteries to be discovered there. In the titles of the two minimalist pieces, I tend to anthropomorphize, something artists can get away with but tragically scientists can not.
When I began doing thumbnail stone studies, without thinking, I arranged the “stones” to create tension and an off-balanced effect. I think of this representing the human condition. Things change, we change. We rearrange, make adjustments, get upset, and then come together again.
There’s pareidolia going on, too. In some of the thumbnails, I see bear, crab, rabbit, an above view of a forest elephant, or a flock of starlings.
Stone Studies
These are painted stone designs, yes, and they speak about the human condition, too. Each of these evoke an emotion, a tention, a resolve. Make with multiple layers of watercolor paint and archival ink cross-hatching patterns.
He Felt Things Needed Rearranging
See How She Holds Her Puppy
All She Could Do Is Be There For Them
Fascinated by stones?
Whether you are casual stone collector or a geologist by hobby or profession, let me know if the Stone Project interests you. These are not in the shop (yet) so if you are interested in aquiring an original stone 11 x 14 inch watercolor painting, please contact me.
Giving Back.
10% of all Terra Kind Studio Co.’s annual art sales are donated to nonprofits devoted to environmental and climate change issues.
By supporting my work as an artist, you’ll have nature’s beauty dressing your walls while doing good in the world.
ABOUT
Terra Kind Studio showcases the creative work of visual artist and designer Kristin Maija Peterson. Growing up among prairies, lakes, rivers, and oak savannas along with her project work with environmental organizations have collectively influenced her creative path. Kristin works in watercolor, graphite, color pencil, oil pastels, and pen and ink, interpreting in detail the beautiful chaos she finds in native wild spaces and its inhabitants who call these spaces home. Kristin sees all living creatures as kin and is always kind to spiders.
Contact
e: hello@terrakindstudio.com
p: 651 318 7100
Follow
Be Kind to Everything That Lives.
