Daily Inspiration: Meet Regina Esposito Huffman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Regina Esposito Huffman.

Hi Regina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Over the years, Rock Painting has become my place of solace. This passion started when I found my first painted rock outside a thrift store in 2015. I had been having a tough week, and when I found that painted rock, the first thing I did was smile! It took my focus off my troubles and reminded me of the good in the world. It made me want to share that same joy with the community. With things going on in the world, sickness, and so much anger and hate, it’s just a way to show people that their lives have value. There’s not enough love in the world, and it’s a way to share more love.

After getting cancer I am left with several disabilities that prevent me from being as active as I would like. I had been very active in my church and on the Mission Field for many years. I was getting cancer from physical disabilities that prevented me from being as active as I would like. Painting rocks to share hope, love, joy, and inspiration has become my ministry. Each rock gets prayed over while I am painting. Then in faith, it is placed in the community knowing the person who needs it most will find it.

I also send my creations to other cities around the country. One event I have contributed to is the Joshua York Foundation. They teach about suicide prevention and awareness. Someone can be having a really hard day and contemplating not good things about their future, and they find a rock that says ‘you matter.’ It can change their entire outlook!

I also create prayer rocks for people struggling with serious health issues. Three examples would be a young woman friend who was ventilated with covid last year. She was in the hospital for 9 months, but with the power of prayer, she is now home with her family. While she was in the hospital, I and some other rock painting friends painted rocks of thanks to the hospital staff! Another is for a friend’s 21-year-old daughter, who has been waiting for a new kidney since she was 16.  The most recent is a 5-year-old little girl in Texas with leukemia whom I learned about from another Rock Painting friend. My self and two other rock painting friends just mailed her a big care package filled with love and painted rocks! I am painting another set of prayer rocks for a friend’s husband who needs a kidney transplant.

I also enjoy making large batches of painted rocks for special community events. Two events I have participated in are a free community scavenger hunt where I contributed 200 painted rocks and a trunk-or-treat where I contributed over 200 rocks and my participation helping at the event.

During the pandemic, over the past two years, I have sent many thank you rocks to the hospital where my son-in-law works to thank. I also paint thank you rocks for other service workers in the community (waitresses, cashiers, law enforcement).

When the local schools opened back up, I painted over 160 rocks for the teachers and staff at my grandson’s elementary school to thank them for their service. Every member of the school staff received a thank you customized for their department (teacher, cafeteria, office, pt, pe, music, art, janitorial)

I offer custom-painted rocks for a fee to help replenish my supplies. Unfortunately, Florida does not have great rivers or lake shores where I can gather them for free. I have to purchase every rock I paint myself, and believe me, they are not cheap! In addition, the expense of the painting supplies and resin to seal each rock.

Some of the commissioned rocks I have painted include; Family Portraits, Pet Portraits, Memorial Stones, Teaching Stones, Story Stone, Tic-ac-Toe Sets, Business Logos, pocket crosses, and other special requests for gifts.

I have painted 1000+ stones each year since 2015! While I enjoy other forms of crafting, Rock Painting for the community is my passion!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not always been a smooth road for me. My chronic pain and fatigue allow me to sit and stand for short periods. Painting projects that I should be able to complete in a few hours take days. And larger event projects that would typically take days could take a month! And, because of my disabilities, I cannot hold a job, making purchasing supplies a burden. Thankfully I am frequently blessed with winning contests and giveaways that have helped me keep enough supplies to keep painting. Another sad struggle would be negative people. Sadly, even when you are doing something for good, some angry people consistently try to push you down. I battle this challenge by praying for my enemies and overcoming evil with good!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am currently unemployed. My favorite jobs include being an Art Teacher at a special needs school! Helping the children express themselves and be proud of their creations was very rewarding! Another creative job that I had for over 15 years before the cancer was as a professional nail tech. I loved working on hands and feet. Holding someone in your hands and silently praying over them while working was very much a wonderful full-time ministry for me. And I could be creative when decorating their nails with tiny pieces of art added to the reward! I believe the love and prayer that I pour into each piece of art, and into the people my art touches, sets me apart from other artists.

Would I want my art to provide for my family financially? Absolutely!!! In the meantime, I am blessed for it to provide for my husband and me Spiritually. This is my ministry, and it is very fulfilling.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Anyone can be a rock painter that shares love and joy with the world! You do not have to be an artist. If you can spell and write words of encouragement on a rock, you can change the world. Even if you only change the world for one person, it is more than worth the effort!

As you begin your journey, I encourage you to find rock painting groups on social media and in your community. You can grow as an artist, if that is your desire, by watching the many online tutorials. Several books have been put out on rock painting. I enjoy finding simple images to paint through online clipart searching. For example, if I want to draw a cardinal, I would search for a “simple cardinal clipart.” Or “simple cardinal drawing tutorial.” The ideas are limitless, and everyone is able!!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reggiesrocks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/reggiesrocks/

Image Credits
All images are of rocks painted by me and photographed by me