Blaine area residents connect through painting rocks in the community

Blaine and Birch Bay residents have been placing vibrantly decorated rocks for community members to find in local areas since the creation of the Blaine/Birch Bay Rocks Facebook group.

Group creator and original administrator Victoria Cooper said she created the group in inspiration of her youngest daughter, Jordyn. “We would go on little family walks, hikes, beach days, park days and different family activities and she’d find these painted rocks from different areas around Washington,” she said.

Cooper said it would brighten her family’s day when they found those rocks, so they began collecting each one they found. It was because of the joy that it brought her and her family that Cooper said she created a Facebook group for the Blaine and Birch Bay area in September 2016 after seeing similar groups in other communities.

“It took a little bit of time to get the group started, but we’re close to 1,000 members now and I’m just shocked and in love with the little community we’ve created,” Cooper said.

Macinda James joined the group in the summer of 2017. Through her passion for painting rocks, she became moderator and then eventually second administrator.

“This group is a way to get outside and meet amazing people,” James said. “We are always looking for more people to join, it doesn’t matter what kind of artist you are.”

James said the group has begun engaging in community outreach projects such as painting rocks to support community events. Rocks can also be found in community rock garden boxes at the Beachwood General Grocery Store, The C Shop and Blaine Marina.

“Our Halloween trick-or-treat event is widely enjoyed by community members of all ages,” she said. “People decorate rocks with Halloween themes and then get to hand them out as treats.”

Jake Willmorth joined the group last summer. “The first thing that sparked my interest was when I went for a walk after lunch with my family and we noticed one painted rock with the group name on the back and then we noticed another and decided to look into it,” he said.

Willmorth said he thought the community was a great outlet for artwork and to make somebody’s day. “Sitting down for a few hours here and there is worth the pictures of reactions I’ve seen for some of my rocks.”

Willmorth said his wife and son will gather around the table to paint rocks with him as well as go for family walks to hide and hunt for other artists’ rocks. “Styles vary from inspirational quotes, scenery, silly illustrated puns and cartoon characters.”

Ricky MacWilliams joined the group at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. “It all started when I found a painted rock at The C Shop and I thought it was cool,” he said. “A friend of my wife told me about Blaine/Birch Bay rocks, so I checked it out and joined.”

MacWilliams said his work was not great in the beginning but with practice and paint pens his artwork has improved since he first started.

“We also do monthly challenges usually based on a theme and the holiday that month,” he said. “The administrator spins a computer wheel and someone wins a great prize.”

Renee Gugich joined the group in February 2021 after her daughter, Lindsay, saw a post on Facebook and they both have been searching and painting ever since. 

“Rock painting is a fun, addicting and stress-relieving hobby,” she said. “Searching for and hiding painted rocks also has another benefit – exercise.” Gugich said she has walked up to four miles while hiding and searching.

James encourages people in and outside of the community to get involved with the group by searching “Blaine/Birch Bay Rocks” on Facebook to request access to the private group. 

She said the goal of the group is to spread joy and connect with the community. “You never know when you need to find something that will make you smile.”