George, primarily uses rocks from the shore, as they have been smoothed by
the surf and are, therefore, ideal for painting. He does not attach
anything to the rock, or chisel pieces of it away; he prefers to work with
the shape provided by nature. The natural imperfections, such as chips,
streaks or holes, often work to his advantage; a rock with one edge broken
off became the half-eaten side of an apple.

Usually, George must study a rock for quite some time before deciding on a
subject. Then he draws an outline on the rock in pencil to get a feel for
the proportion. He uses acrylic to paint the actual image, then adds a
protective coat of clear acrylic varnish. Witham has found that a layer of
glossy varnish, followed by a layer of dull varnish, gives the rock a soft
look ideal for animal fur or feathers. Glossy varnish can produce the look
of metal (the crushed soda can), or an animal's eyes and cold, wet nose.