California Nursing Student Creates Magical “Harry Potter” Rock Garden

by · April 15, 2021

Finding a creative outlet to unwind after a strenuous day of working or studying can bring more joy than we think. Kristen Newman is a great example of this. The nursing student from San Diego, California, started painting rocks during the pandemic. Her theme? Harry Potter! Her creations have not only helped her through her studies. They have also brought joy to the online Potterhead community.

 

An assortment of painted rocks are arranged on a garden patch. They are painted with Harry Potter thins like Hedwig, Luna's goggles, Hogwarts at night, Harry hovering over a Quidditch pitch on a broomstick, spells, the Platform 9 and 3/4 sign, etc.

Credit: Kristen Newman

 

“When the pandemic hit, there was so much unease and desolation in the world that I wanted to create something that would bring even the smallest amount of joy or comfort,” Newman, 30, said. Due to the social distancing guidelines in California, she has been studying nursing from home for over a year. With nowhere to spend time away from her rigorous classes, she turned to art to unwind. She has created a whole bunch of Harry Potter scenes painted on garden rocks, and they are adorable.

 

An assortment of painted rocks are arranged on a garden patch. They are painted with Harry Potter thins like Hedwig, Luna's goggles, Hogwarts at night, Harry hovering over a Quidditch pitch on a broomstick, spells, the Platform 9 and 3/4 sign, etc. Next to them,Kristen Newman, the artist is squatting and smiling proudly for the camera.

Credit: Kristen Newman

 

“I received my first Harry Potter book for Christmas in 1998 and instantly fell in love with JK Rowling’s universe,” Newman said about her choice of Harry Potter as her sole subject matter. “I’ve been enamoured with the wizarding world ever since.” While she shared that painting has been a way for her “to leave everything behind and focus my attention on something I enjoyed doing at the end of the day,” she plans to adopt this newfound hobby into her professional life later down the line: “If it’s allowed, I’d love to be able to paint these for patients in my future hospital.”

 

Kristen Newman, 30, blonde, is at her desk, painting a rock with Luna Lovegood's pink goggles while she is smiling at the camera.

Credit: Kristen Newman

 

Her painted rocks feature an assortment of scenes, such as Harry flying over a Quidditch pitch, which is one of her favorite pieces. Other rocks are painted with characters like Hedwig, magical objects, spells, potions, or other pictures that evoke moments from the story we all love so much. When Newman shared her creations on Reddit, her thread soon shot to thousands of upvotes.

I still can’t believe all of the love and positive feedback I’ve received from the Reddit community. I created these to put a smile on people’s faces, and I’m just so overjoyed that I was able to accomplish that.

Will Newman continue to make more of her magical art?

I definitely plan to! Especially because I’m going into a career of healthcare [sic], I’ll need a creative outlet to come home to.

What a relief! We are certainly in awe of her enchanting rock art and wish her the best of luck with her studies in the future.

 

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