A Nanoose Bay artist is brightening up her corner of the world, one rock at a time. She uses scrap material from her studio to create intricate designs on rocks, before leaving them for others to find. (Debra Hagen)

By Alex Rawnsley

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Nanoose artist leaving trinkets on her trails around mid-Island beaches

Oct 23, 2022 | 7:23 AM

NANAIMO — “I just enjoy the idea that somebody else will get pleasure finding them, it brings a little light into somebody’s day.”

Debra Hagen spends hours gluing small pieces of glass, gold or ceramic onto rocks, before leaving them wherever she happens to be walking with her dogs. She calls them “petrosaics”, which combines petroglyphs and mosaics.

It’s a hobby which began for the Nanoose Bay artist during the pandemic and started with simple designs which have since grown to become much more intricate and time consuming.

Still, her passion for creating a bright spot in someone else’s day has driven her to complete well over 100 so far.

“When I’m placing them, I think who might come along and see it glittering and shining there, especially on a dark day,” Hagen told NanaimoNewsNOW. “It just gives me pleasure to think somebody else will find it and enjoy it.”

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The rocks are quickly becoming a very popular item in the surrounding community and across much of Vancouver Island.

She’s ventured and left treasures in places like Port Hardy and Coal Harbour on northern Vancouver Island.

A trip to Texada Island, off the coast of Powell River, last year saw her leave a few in different places there, while more regular hikes along beaches or trails from Qualicum Beach to Duncan see her staying busy creating the treasures.

Rocks are left along beaches or trails where Hagen has visited. Some feature only a few pieces, others take hours to put together. (Debra Hagen)

Depending on the complexity of the design, she can create two or three in an afternoon.

She recently began adding her Instagram handle to the back of the rocks in a bid to track who finds them and where they go.

“I’ve had probably maybe half a dozen people post comments that they’ve found them, how thrilled they are that they’ll have a place of pride in their garden or on a window sill.”

Hagen added some will re-home them after being found, others will just move them to a different spot on the beach or trail.

While Hagen works as an artist out of her studio in Nanoose Bay creating items for sale, the rocks are solely a passion project.

More information on Hagen’s artwork, including the petrosaics is available through her Instagram page.

The pieces Hagen creates range from very simple to extremely complex, but are always left for others to find at a variety of local beaches. (Debra Hagen)

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