I have had a high demand for a painted rocks post so here it is! Painted rocks are one of the internet’s best sellers as far as art goes. Many crafty types enjoy painting rocks and selling them on their own website or a shop site like Etsy. People buy painted rocks as home decor or garden bed designs. You can even write something inspirational on them and hide them around the area where you live for others to find. Now, let’s hop to it and see how it’s done!
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Table of Contents
What Kind Of Paint Is Best For Rocks
This is a pretty common question I get a lot from people. I highly recommend acrylic paint pens. Because rocks are so small, I find it much easier for me to write, draw, or stencil them more precisely. You can also spray paint them if you have a well-ventilated workspace!
In addition, I recommend outdoor acrylic paint. The weather can be harsh on your artwork so it is good to use more sun and rain-resistant paint.
Get the paint you need to start this project right now on Amazon!
What Kind Of Rocks Should I Use?
You can literally use any rock that you find lying around. My advice to you if you find one outside you would like to use, be sure to wash it off thoroughly. You can use your garden hose if you don’t feel like getting your indoor sink dirty. Another alternative would be to purchase stones that are already optimal for painting. Art stones are typically shaped nicely and provide a much smoother surface.
Get optimal rocks for painting right now on Amazon!
Should You Use A Base Coat?
It really depends on how you want your rock to look and how you want your paint to apply. I’ve found that rocks are a bit porous to paint on and actually absorb quite a bit of paint. For this reason I usually use a base coat. The base coat allows the rock to absorb the excess paint and provide the nicest surface to paint on. Do allow your rock to dry for a few days after painting it. Here is a great base coat tutorial post if you want to see an easy way to apply one.
Get a great acrylic base coat paint for rocks right now on Amazon!
Using Stencils To Paint Rocks
You can use virtually any stencil to paint on your rocks. I recommend taking a charcoal pencil and outlining your stencil of choice before painting. This helps you get nice straight crisp lines to follow with your paint. This is especially useful if you are doing a Mandala dot pattern on your rock. Here is a great Mandala rock tutorial you can check out.
Get stencils for Mandala rock painting right now on Amazon!
How Do I Make A Painted Rock Design That Really Pops?
To make a design that really pops it is best to use contrasting colors. Many artists like to use a black acrylic base coat versus a white one. This allows your colors to really stand out. Color Shift paint is a popular paint type to use for painted rocks as it adds more dimension to the flat rock surface.
Get Color Shift paint for rocks right now on Amazon!
What Tools Will I Need For Painting Rocks?
There are several types of tools to use for rock painting. Of course first you will need traditional fine tipped paint brushes. Another great tool to have is a silicone dotting tool. There are multiple types of these. They range in size and shape for the desired look and effect you want.
Here is a tool kit you can get for rock painting right now on Amazon!
Also check out this first time rock painting video with more tips and ideas to use!
I hope this helps you to get started with rock painting. Let me know how it goes! Feel free to comment about your rock painting experiences or share your pictures! Email them to [email protected]. Stay happy, healthy, safe, and crafty!
If you liked this, you may like some of my other crafty posts!
How To Make Gel Candles That Look Like A Glass Of Sparkling Champagne
How To Make Elegant Water Candles
You’re featured rock paining image looks so good that it actually doesn’t look like that would be possible with a rock and some paint. An interesting art and craft idea, that I’m sure many people will enjoy doing
Thank you for stopping by to read. This is such an easy and creative craft to try out and I do hope many people get to try and enjoy it! 🙂
I really enjoyed this post! I’ve been trying to be more creative over lockdown and this is such a great idea 🙂
Thank you for reading! This is a really fun and easy craft to get into! I hope you get to try it!
I love seeing and finding painted rocks on my walks, but have never tried to do it myself. Thanks for the tutorial! 🙂 The pictures of these painted rocks are amazing!
Yes there are so many beautiful designs you can do with rocks. I like to browse Pinterest for inspiration. There are tons of great artists out there. I hope you get a chance to try rock painting soon!
I’ve recently started doing up my garden and have wanted to find a way to introduce colour to it so this has given me a lot of inspiration! Great post
Awesome! Painted rocks make a great addition to gardens for a lovely pop of color. Thanks for reading!
Oh wow, they look beautiful. And it sounds like they’re easier to make than I thought they would have been too which is always nice x
Sophie
Yes this is a craft for any and all levels of artistic ability. It is a completely creative process. You can put in tons of detail or just have fun with it. Thank you for reading. 🙂
This is INCREDIBLE! I am bookmarking this for time with the grandkids. Thank you for this! 😃💖
I am glad you enjoyed my post! This is a great craft for both kids and adults so I am sure they will really love it. Thank you for reading!
Okay what?! These seriously don’t even look like rocks! I’m blown away.
Yes they can be really detailed and resemble nothing of a rock when you are finished! Thank you for taking the time to read.
I have seen some beautiful painted rocks recently. My daughter and I are planning to paint some. These tips will be very useful. Thanks.
Thank you for checking out my post! I wish you luck with your rock painting! I am sure you will have a ton of fun. It is such a creative process.
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