The stones that I use for this Art form are Iberville shale – a name that comes from the Quebec town where the shale was discovered by Western geologists. It’s a thinly layered, sedimentary rock that was formed from marine silt deposited roughly 500 to 440 million years ago.

Iberville Shale was created during the Ordovician period, when almost all of the earth north of the tropics was ocean. The silt deposited deep in these ocean waters became shale as it hardened and compacted over time. Believe it or not, it’s much “younger” than most other sedimentary rocks in the Champlain Valley, which date back 600-500 million years!

And the white stripes are veins of mineral calcite. They were formed by powerful compressing forces that drove calcium carbonate in the water to coalesce into mineral calcite.
These stones were collected in Vermont on the banks of Lake Champlain, on the shores of Shelburne Farms.

Supplies

Refer to next step

Step 1: MATERIALS

Iberian Shale - various shapes and sizes.
Please read it’s history.
Paints - various colors and shades.
Chalk, pencils water or acrylic
paints can be used.
Brushes - various widths and thickness.
Tweezers - used for small stones.
Cardboard - cut to fit frame.
Frame - size determined by the artist
Adhesive - WeldBond or E-6000 clear, CA glass adhesive.
Sea glass - Blue or green. Glass - round yellow for Sun.
Miscellaneous - Penny (1 cent) as always.
Toothpicks and coffee stirrers for distributing glue.

Step 2: CONCEPT: Prepare, Select, Sketch and Design

Select the theme or scene you want to
build.
Ask yourself - what do I want my
audience to see!
1. Come up with several ideas for your project.
2. Sketch the several ideas on paper.

Remember to keep in mind the material, size and shape, that you have to work with.

3. After deciding on the theme or scene, sketch ✍️ out your idea on a full size sheet of paper. Consider your supply of stones (size and shape) when designing.
4. When the design is firm in your mind, transfer the sketch on cardboard to a size which will fit into your chosen frame size.

5. Pick the size frame for your finished project. I chose an 8” x 8” x 1-1/4” frame.
6. Cut several 7” x 7” pieces of cardboard for use as the backdrop to mount the stones on. These will be used to sketch your ideas to scale.
7. Once you decide on a final design, you will use this background as your mounting background.

Step 3: CREATE THE BACKGROUND

1. Choose your conceptual sketch and prepare to add colors to the background. (You can keep the background white as seen in other examples of my work.)
2. The background where the stones are mounted is light gray. To soften the gray acrylic, you need to dip the brush into a water cup to dilute the paint.
3. The background for the water are 2 shades of blue and white for white caps. Dilute colors to create your favorite shades of water.
4. The sky is done in very light gray with diluted white for clouds.
5. LET THE BACKGROUND ACRYLIC PAINT DRY BEFORE GOING ON TO THE NEXT STEP.

Step 4: CHOOSE YOUR ROCKS/STONES/SHALE

It’s time to arrange the rocks.
1. At this time take one of the sketches and prepare to pick the stones for placement. This may take a while until you are fully satisfied with the results.
2. See pictures for process. There is no secret to selecting stones. Select to create reality. (Thickness, size and shape)
3. Once happy with the layout I recommend you take a photo of the layout for use in coming up steps.

Step 5: ASSEMBLY

PLEASE USE PHOTOS AS GUIDES ALONG WITH WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Get the dry Painted background and tape it onto a flat surface. This will make it easier to mount the stones.
2. Start mounting the stones by taking them from the temporary sketch ✍️.
3. Using the WeldBond white glue, toothpicks and stirring sticks, put glue on the back of the stone/rock or shale then place / glue it onto the cardboard. (See photos)
4. Start with the lower portion of the Art piece. Glue one layer at a time. Adjust each stone to your liking.
5. Glue down the lighthouse (elongated rock) vertically.
6. Using the CA adhesive glue 2 pieces of sea glass. Once they dry, use the same adhesive to glue it to the top of the lighthouse. (Light) (see photos)
7. Next, affix the boats (3 sails and 3 hulls) rocks using WeldBond to the background. (see photos).
8. The next step is to affix the tiny stones which represent city on the horizon. Use WeldBond and stirring sticks to put down glue. Use tweezers to place tiny stones.
9. After all rocks are done, glue down the sea glass clouds (3) and glass sun (1).

Step 6: FINAL ASSEMBLY

Only a few steps are left……..
1. Get a yellow and red chalk for the sun-rays and lighthouse light(see photos).
2. Cut out 3 small rectangles in a piece
of blue painters tape. These will be the
patterns for the door and 2 windows
on the lighthouse.
3. Place the tape on the rock (representing the lighthouse) and use
white paint to in fill. Let dry and then
remove the tape.
4. Touch up any paint deficiencies.
5. Get your frame (mine is an 8"x8" x 1.
1/2" and open the back to reveal the
glass front. (Pull back on the tabs)
6. Place the completed art work into the
frame.
7. Replace the backing and fold over the
locking tabs.
8. Glue the PENNY to the back cover of
the frame
This will remind you of the . . . . .👍
"instructable" that you have mastered.
9. Flip over the frame and enjoy your
creation. YOU DID GREAT!

Step 7: FINAL THOUGHTS

To be able to create art using Iberian shale/rocks that are over 400 million years old is un-fathomable to me. When you look at all the rocks on the beach there are infinite amounts. (See photos)
This excites me to be creative and to share this creativity with others.
I hope others will share in this joy.
A PENNY for your thoughts.