DD ARTIST PROFILE SERIES – Ingrid K Ilg uses Lake Superior Rocks as her canvas, then returns the finished rock art for someone to find. Artist Ingrid K. Ilg finds her free art “canvases” in unusual places along the beaches of the North Shore of Lake Superior where she discovers rocks for her art supplies. After her rock paintings are complete, she usually puts them back for others to find as a whimsical surprise, as they walk along the shoreline of places like French River, Stoney Point, and Lester River. “Most, if not all, of these rocks, are illustrated by the shape of the rock and then placed up and down the scenic route to spread joy. I use mainly basalt, as it is very smooth and easy to paint on, while also being an incredibly gorgeous stone smoothed by the Lake Superior waves. I also love doing little photo shoots with my rocks throughout the area,” she said. Ilg works at Larsmont Cottages on the North Shore; as she drives along the lake to go back and forth to work, she stops along the way to pick up more rocks. “The Scenic Route is my favorite place. I remember my family bringing me up to go on vacation. I have always loved it,” she related. “Rocks are some of the oldest pieces of history within our land, and I simply adore honoring the rocks I find. I’ve put hundreds of rocks out along the North Shore and each has disappeared.” She always puts her Instagram address on the back of the rocks so that people can let her know they found one of them and leave her a comment. Ilg has received many comments back on her Instagram such as: “Finding this rock made my day!” “We found one of your rocks on the beach. My six-year-old was sooo excited!” “I found your rock at the French River . . .Please don’t stop doing this!”