Local woman hides painted rocks around Fort St. John

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A rock painted like Mike from Monster's Inc sitting in a playground. — A painted rock in a playground. (Hide n’ seek rocks FSJ, Facebook)

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A local woman is sharing her art with the community by hiding painted rocks around town for residents to find and keep.

Local mom Ashlee Dawson saw the idea on another Facebook page and decided to join in on the concept with her page, Hide n’ seek rocks FSJ.

“My kids, they love to watch me paint, so it’s just super, and I enjoy it, to make people happy,” Dawson said.

Rocks painted as a one up mushroom, Boo, Bowser and other Mario characters in a cardboard box. — Mario-themed painted rocks before being hidden around Fort St. John. (Hide n’ seek rocks FSJ, Facebook)

Though she only started at the beginning of April, Dawson says her painted rocks have been well-received by community members and wants to continue hiding them around the city on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“They’re not perfect. I have never gone to school or anything like that,” Dawson said.

A rock painted with Daffy Duck in a corner of a building and a fence. — A Daffy Duck painted rock hidden in the city. (Hide n’ seek rocks FSJ, Facebook)

According to Dawson, each rock takes her approximately 20 minutes to paint and 24 hours to dry and clear coat. Over the past week, Dawson has painted 20 rocks in total.

“Now I have a Mario theme coming today,” Dawson said.

A picture of a door to a business with a painted rock of Baymax leaning against the push to open button. — Baymax leaning against a push-to-open button. (Hide n’ seek rocks FSJ, Facebook)

“I’m a kid at heart, so I love Disney. I love all the nineties themes, my kids love Disney and Pixar, so I’m hoping to stick to Disney and Pixar.”

Dawson’s biggest supporters are her kids and their dad.

A rock painted like a pokeball sitting against a grey brick building next to automatic doors. — A pokeball outside of a building. (Hide n’ seek rocks FSJ, Facebook)

To see Dawson’s latest additions and get clues on where the rocks may be hidden throughout the Energetic City, visit Dawson’s Facebook page, and use the hashtag #hidenseekrocksfsj if you find one.