Step into the vibrant world of artist Carmen Hemmersbach, where rocks transform into captivating canvases bursting with color and character.
Hemmersbach’s relocation from Winnipeg led her to Warren, where she discovered her artistic talent. After a 42 year career in social work, retirement beckoned Hemmersbach towards new adventures – including catering with her husband. Their shared love for nature and relaxation blossomed at their lakefront cottage in Nopiming Park, sparking Hemmersbach’s passion for rock painting.
Though she spent time relaxing after retirement, travelling and scuba diving, she found a new way to get back to work through catering. She and her husband started their catering service, preparing hors d’oeuvres for small parties.
Over 40 years ago, Hemmersbach and her husband built a lakefront cottage in Nopiming Park, where she found her passion for rock painting.
“I had never really done any painting until then,” shared Hemmersbach. “I started with painting little stones for giving away, but soon wanted a larger canvas for flowers.”
Hemmersbach, her husband, and occasionally one of her three sons venture out onto the lakeshore to find flat shale rocks that usually break off into the water. With these as her new canvases, Hemmersbach began to expand the subjects of her paintings from flowers to birds to small animals.
“I still have so much to learn about painting but I find that if I just keep working at a piece, it eventually gets to where I want it to be,” said Hemmersbach. “Painting brings me such a sense of peace and happiness where time doesn’t matter to me. I have always loved vivid colours and try to make my rocks as eye-catching as possible.”
Though she works to make her paintings visually appealing, Hemmersbach never considered selling her artwork until she read an article about a small craft store, Warren Crafters’ Corner, run by Stacey Fairlie in the Warren gas station. At the time, she’d reached out to Fairlie to see if she could sell some of her rocks at the shop. Hemmersbach already had about twenty painted rocks in her garage and when she dropped the first five rocks off at Warren Crafters’ Corner, they sold out within 45 minutes.
“So, my rock painting career started,” said Hemmersbach. “I’ll always be grateful to Stacey for giving me a chance.”
As enthusiasm for her paintings grew, Hemmersbach learned more about painting from the internet, trying her hand at more intricate portraits. She began to paint raccoons, frogs, and otters and loved the challenge. She has also painted pet portraits and memorial stones, learning new ways to paint thanks to commissions from those who admire her work.
Now, she and her husband collect about 125 stones from around the lake every summer. She then cleans them up and lets the stones dry out completely before they can become her canvases. She coats each one in a layer of gesso, which helps the paint stick. After painting, she seals the rocks with a UV resistant varnish to protect from rain and sun, though the art pieces do need to be kept inside during the wintertime.
“I have sold many rocks in the Warren area and thank all of my supporters,” said Hemmersbach. She also attends markets when she has more than 25 rocks in her inventory.
“People really seem to like my rocks whether they buy them or not. The rocks seem to bring a smile to people’s faces. That makes me happy! I hope to continue painting, and I look forward to attending more markets.”
Anyone interested in placing a custom order or seeing her stock, visit Hammersbach’s Instagram page, carmencatering204.
