‘Hoot' is for the birds

By LUELLA DOW

Contributor

“Hoot” sits forlornly on my window ledge waiting for the rain to cease. He longs to fly to the barn where he can intimidate those pesky pigeons.

“Hoot” began life as a river rock. One day Karen Aschenbrener selected him from among other rocks as she was walking along a beach. She has the knack of “communing” with rocks; sees the good inside them, the possibilities that others can't find. Her ability is like that of a sculptor, who chips away until he finds the object or person hidden within the block.

Aschenbrener grew up on a farm, developing her keen sense of nature and a love for animals. In high school, Ashenbrener majored in art and studied other forms of media. Multiple sclerosis paralyzed her in 1995. At this time she returned to her love of painting. She said, “I needed a hobby.” She saw an ad explaining how a person could make money painting rocks, and sent for the information.

As her strength returned Aschenbrener began to stroll beaches and beside rivers for naturally formed rocks to use. Here is where she found “Hoot.”

Her painting is detailed, and precise. The brush strokes of a wolf at rest painted on an oval-shaped rock are so well formed one has to touch it to see whether the wolf's hair has a furry feeling. It doesn't; the fur is an illusion created by the artist.

Aschenbrener paints flowers, cottages and barns, and all kinds of animals. She will paint your family pet on a rock for a keepsake. All her rock paintings are weather proofed. She teaches quilling and art at her home.

With her two service dogs, Wolfgang and Benji, she hikes trails, “always hunting for rocks,” she said. The dogs help to carry the rocks home where they are transformed into clever objects only Aschenbrener can envision.

Driving past my home someday, you may see “Hoot” sitting on a fence post, keeping the magpies at bay. Don't let his imperious stare bother you. He's really “rock-solid” friendly.

Luella Dow is a local author and can be reached at [email protected].