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Rock Painting -- How to Paint Rocks

My Rock Painting Journey
I saw an article online about rock painting and decided that I had to try that! I don't consider myself to be artistic at all, but I do love crafts. I have no problem trying new things (or stopping if I am no good at it!). I figured painting on rocks would be a perfect new thing to try.
I already had a bunch of acrylic paint and paint brushes (cheap craft brushes, which won't work; oil and watercolor brushes, which I use very rarely and that are probably a little too nice for rock painting but hey, I already have them).
That meant one thing; I just needed to find some rocks!
Photo of my first rock painting project. (It's a ladybug.)
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood

Starting to Paint on Rocks
Starting is sometimes the hardest part for me.
I got a book by Lin Wellford called The Art of Painting Animals on Rocks and looked at the pretty pictures. I marveled at her skill. I wondered how she made those tiny strokes so evenly yet natural looking. This went on for at least a week or two.
I am an expert at studying something and never acting till much later (if ever).
Finally the other day I found the right rock, scrubbed it, and got busy. This photo shows Scarlett O'Hairy laying on the book. I slipped the ladybug rock, the recommended first project, on the book to get in the picture with her. See it by her right paw?
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
Whimsical Painting on Rocks

I painted these rocks today (May 22, 2014) because I felt like it. Sometimes a fun and totally whimsical craft is just what the doctor ordered!
Later I added a coat of Mod Podge to shine them up.
What You'll Need to Paint Images on Rocks
Just a Few Craft Supplies and Of Course Rocks!
To get started painting on rocks, I'll summarize here what you'll need:
- some smooth rocks, cleaned
- acrylic craft paint
- small paintbrushes
- paper, pencil, and scissors
For more detail, please see Lin Wellford's great books. The step-by-step instructions make it easy to get started and have a little rocky treasure when you're done!
The Art of Painting Animals on Rocks... and more by Lin Wellford
These books by Lin Wellford offer inspiration and ideas on what to paint on rocks. Then, when you have a clear plan, use the book and follow the directions on how to get started painting rocks.
Try it out. It's really easy and fun!
Rock Painting Tip:
Put an old towel or cloth (instead of newspaper) on your work surface to set the painted rocks on.
When the rocks dry, the paint might stick a bit to the fabric but won't pull up any of the cloth like if the rocks dried on newspaper.
Got Rocks? - These unpolished river rocks are waiting to be painted.

Rock Painting -- Project No. 1
Ladybug
Lin Wellford recommends painting a simple ladybug on a rock as the first project and for once, I did what I was told. I guess I waited so long because I hadn't found the right rock yet. So, with rock in hand, I had at it.
I followed her step-by-step advice and think I did okay, not great, but okay for my first rock painting project. I need to get a small liner paintbrush. And I used a toothpick to paint the antenna and the eyes on the ladybug. Oh, for the small black dots, I used the end of the brush handle.
The finished ladybug rock is shown in the introduction above.
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
Get Painting - Rocks Love Craft Acrylic Paint
I use acrylic craft paint to paint on rocks. It adheres well and is inexpensive. If I paint something I don't like, it's easy to paint over it and start again! Trust me. I've done that a lot.
Rock Painting Tutorials - More Tutorials for Painting on Rocks
Check out these links. They offer a way for you to learn to paint on rocks from experienced rock painters. Use these individual rock painting tutorials and see which ones you want to try.
- Rock Painting Tutorial How to paint on rock a by Livingrocks
A mother hen with her chicks is a cute and fun project to paint on rocks,especially for an Easter display. Learn rock painting with my lessons! - Rock Painting Tutorial How to paint a Leopard frog by Livingrocks
Paint a collection of frogs to decorate your garden. They are nice to look at and don't croak loudly! This is a unique rock painting Pdf lesson, - Rock Painting Tutorial How to paint on rock a by Livingrocks
This lovely kitty is ready for you to paint, just find the right rock shape and follow the instructions that will lead you through every stage of the - Free How To Paint Rocks Instructions
Free how to paint rocks instructions. Step by step photos and instructions on how to paint stones. - Aztec-Inspired Painted Rocks - Décor Hacks | Decor Hacks
Decor Hacks -- The first time I painted rocks, I thought they were fun. The second time I painted rocks, I thought they were pretty hip. And now, I'm pretty confident they're the coolest things ever.
Glow in the Dark Paint - for Painting Rocks
Yes, you can paint rocks with glow in the dark paint! This is perfect for Halloween or to just line your sidewalk or driveway with large or small rocks. Paint them all one color or get fancy and paint designs. Either way, rocks that glow in the dark are just plain fun!

Rock Painting -- Project No. 2
Cat
I found the rock. Now I have to figure out what to paint on it. Any idea? I'm thinking a cat but I'm also thinking that might be too ambitious for my second project.
Okay, I finished painting this rock this evening. I've added the completed CAT rock below. This rock was tricky to paint. I'm not thrilled at all with how it turned out, but then I don't have a lot of patience so I slapped the paint on, pretty much.
Hmmm. Maybe I should stick with round flattish rocks.
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
My Rock Painting Finished Projects
Click thumbnail to view full-size





Rock Painting -- Paisley Lady Bug
I like to say that paisley and plaid are my favorite colors. I know that's not quite right. Blue paisley and blue plaid are my favorites. Any hoo, since I love paisley so much, I decided to paint a lady bug with paisley on her back.
This was a fun one! I used a toothpick to dot on the little dots around the black paisley swirls and inside. I applied the eyes using the end of a paintbrush. I have no idea if these tactics are kosher, and I really don't care. I figure if it ends up with the result I want, it's okay.
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood

Flowery Painted Rock
This little rock was kind of tricky to paint but I got 'er done. The opposite side tilts southward a bit so I couldn't get a decent photo of it.
Again, I used toothpicks for some of the fine strokes. It's okay. Nothing great.
I hope I've inspired you by my primitive painting. You can surely do better!
Painted Rocks Available on eBay
Here are more lovely painted rocks available to buy on eBay. Naturally, I didn't paint them.
Painted Rocks by Other Painters - These are great for inspiration and some are for sale.
- Children's Crafts: Making Rock Critters | FreeStuff4Kids
Children always seem to love to play with rocks, so this can be the perfect craft project. Rocks are also free, since they can be found almost anywhere - Dark Sun Handpainted Magnet rock painting by thestoneteller
*Dark Sun* - Hand-Painted Magnet .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... -Hand painted with acrylic colours and - Pair of Cardinals Rock Painting by HildeMosaics on Etsy
I painted the Cardinals with acrylics on an oddly shaped found piece of of slate. the size is 12 inches x101/2.inches. The piece is sprayed 3x with - A frog in the well Painted rocks by Livingrocks on Etsy
Let me introduce to you a unique set of painted rocks. The set illustrate an ancient tale, very popular in India and China, and is about just what - One of a Kind Painted Rocks
This is another Squidoo lens featuring rock painting by d-artist. Her painted rocks are awesome! - Duckling Pond -- Paint on Rocks
Three tutorials for painting on rocks.
Halloween Rock Painting

Christmas Rock Painting

More Books for More Rock Painting
Once you start painting on rocks, you'll want to do more! These books provide lessons in painting garden stones, painting zoo animals, and more.
A book, paint, paintbrushes, and a few nice rocks make a great gift for anyone who needs a new hobby.
Affiliate Disclosure
This author, Peggy Hazelwood, participates in Amazon, eBay, All Posters, and other affiliate advertising programs. When you click an advertising link on this page and make a purchase, I receive a small percent of the sale. Thank you for reading this far!
Have you ever painted rocks? Dripping paint on a gravel driveway counts!
Peggy, these are really cute! I remember giving my kids some rocks and painting supplies when they were kids.
Beautiful! It's amazing what the human mind can do.
Wow, some of the pictures are really beautiful and inspiring. Prior to visiting your lense, I had never heard of rock painting before!
Nope have never done it, but they're pretty cute. Thanks for sharing, congrats on your rank!
I have a rock painting lens too. I like the cat rock, excellent!
I recently heard that if you paint rocks to look like strawberries and put them around your strawberry plants that the birds will peck at them, decide that these strawberries aren't edible, and then the end up leaving the real strawberries alone too, thinking that they are the same as the rock ones.
I'm not sure I am going to try it, but I am considering it because while last year they left the strawberries alone this year they seem to have discovered them.
I love painted rocks! They're always so cute. :)
My sister and her husband did everyone's names on rocks for their wedding as name "cards." They're a great souvenier.
This is such a great idea! I'm going to get started today! I love the idea of painting the flowers on rocks. Thank you for the ideas!
How cool! I love your rocks! I have always hesitated to paint rocks simply because I am not a very good freehand artist, but I do know it would be a lot of fun! Just might try regardless! I will have to thank our Little Crafty Kids Contributor for sharing this article today on Review This!
What a cute and clever craft project. I'd never thought about painting on rocks until I read this. Love your 'paisley' lady bug! :)
You did good. I collected a bunch of rock this past summer, just waiting to get paint all over them. I think you inspired me to get them out and give it a try. I enjoyed your lens. Thanks!
We have some small river stones and you've inspired me. Great Lens.
No I haven't, but painting animals on rocks looks like great fun!
No I haven't. But the thought crossed my mind when I came across some "inspiration rocks" at the local New Age store... Love your ladybug rock and the cat too.
I've never painted a rock, it looks like a good idea though. I love the paisley ladybug.
i have just started painting beach rocks and each time i am getting better and better :) love doing this sooooo much with my two year old :) thanks for all the cool info :) and links.
Wow! This is a great craft for my daycare. Very creative. Thanks
No, it is the first time that I read about it! I would love to try it out! Thanks a lot for sharing this wonderful lens!!!
Very nice indeed. Makes me think a bit of easter egg painting! Not sure what I would like to catch more when thrown at me, but they both can be amazing pieces of art. From eggs I knew, I had not heard nor seen rock painting as that you have so lovely described on your lens. Very inspirational. Thank you.
I live on a river and have a creek that runs in back of our property. There are some amazing rocks (I go hunting often) and I have always wanted to learn to paint on them. Thanks to your lens, I will give it a try!
I've done paintings of rocks! Does that count?
I have, and my daughter also painted on seashell fragments collected along LI sound one summer 30 years ago. We love to paint on rocks, shells and old stuff. Thanks for suggesting this lens as a part of the tribute lens roll at Purple Star Pastiche!
this is so cool. hmm my parents have a huge garden so I wonder if they would let me paint some of the rocks there :)).
I have not painted rocks, but it is on my to-do list. Probably next spring when I attempt to grow flowers again.
This is so cool! My kids are going to love this!
So much fun! I am going to have to get some paints - I already have collected a bunch of fun rocks! I have never painted them before if sidewalk chalk doesn't count ;)
So many rocks, so little time. I have a rock that I found recently and love it. Perfect size and shape. Were I to paint it, I would use an eight-ball design and place it on a pool table as a gag.
I'm sure you remember Pet Rocks from the 1970s. This takes it to a whole new level!
I love rock painting! I live near a river so there's a lot of rocks suitable for painting around. It's very relaxing - well most of the time. I am currently working on painted rock accessories so we will see how that comes out.
Love the ladybug. I see you too have a little helper to help you with your crafts =) (or play with your supplies ;)
I've painted quite a few rocks in my lifetime, but most were when I was much younger. I think my kids would really enjoy this type of craft.
I have never painted them. Thought i really like the rocks that look like bugs or animals!
Blessed-it is such a simple idea with great results
I haven't tried rock painting, but it's a good idea for a garden accessory. You rocks turned out well. Love your obliging model, Scarlett Ohairy.
This is a very interesting and well done lens. When I saw the title I had to satisfy my curiosity as to what rock painting was. Must say your first few rock painted projects turned out good. Thank You for stopping by my Traditional Irish Stew Similar To Grandmas lens and giving it a "thumbs up" as i really appreciate it. Hope you give the recipe a try to will enjoy it. Bon Appetit! (^_-)
Great idea to keep children busy as they usually lap up any sort of art work. I love the Halloween rock painting.
Oh dear, yet another way for me to use up my spare time :-) I really must try out some rock painting.
What a fun gift! Or even a rainy day project with the children. Aw, who am I kidding. I'd have just as much (if not more) fun as them.
This is really awesome. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks for the idea
Looks like a fun and very creative art for anyone to do. Thanks for sharing. Take Care :)
I love learning something new. I think you did great and you've inspired me to try this! I'm big into flowers so I'm thinking about designs (simple ones) that I could try. *Blessed*
Really interesting article and I have started to doodle on rocks myslef with some of my artwork.
I guess I qualify for the paint on the gravel driveway. Rock painting sounds interesting and fun.
No, I have never painted rocks. I did buy a very pretty rock that was painted as a cat.
I haven't done rock painting for years. I love your ladybug rocks. Good job! Angel blessings.
What a lovely idea! I must try this out for some unique decorations.
When my son was little, we painted rocks and then put them in our special rock garden.. Nicely done and Angel blessed.
I have never tried this particular craft but my garden is full of pebbles of all sorts and sizes. If you dig dowdn a spade's depth then you hit a hard compacted pebble bed. They are always rising to the surface and I tried clearing them and now have areas where I have built up layers of large pebbles on the surface. I also have lots of acrylic paints which I do not often use. perfect! no excuse for not trying this out. Thanks
You're really talented to make these beautiful painted rocks. And then selling them on ebay is a great idea.
When I am ready to do some rock painting I will return here for these great tips :)
Sound like a fun activity that I should try
Rock painting brings a lot of fun especially to kids and art lovers! This is such an interesting lens. Thanks for sharing!
That looks like fun!! Very cute!!
Fun lens! I bought a rock on eBay that has 3 creative drawings on it done with a fine tipped black permanent marker. One side is a fish. One side is an old car. And one side is a moccasin. It is adorable! Was going to give it to my nephew. Perhaps I should send it to you instead!
No, I've never painted rocks. Wish I had thought of this when the kids were young enough to be into crafts!
What lovely creations and such fun. The ladybug ones would look lovely in a garden.
It looks like fun! I like your cat - and all the other rocks.
Looks like a lot of fun.
Very creative! Nice work.
I love this. I use Mexican River Rock and put them in my yard. They are so cute. I love the ladybug. I have made whole families of them.
I have, but not for awhile. It's such a fun craft.
I'd forgotten to come check on the completion of your second project and beyond. I'd say you should be very pleased with your cat. You seem to have a folk art style that is quite delightful and sweet...and if something works for you, it doesn't matter if its kosher! One you've painted a rock, it seems you see so much more in them than ever before, it's a little addictive.
I haven't tried one, but sure I will, thanks for the great idea..
These are so sweet and cute! I love your Paisley Lady Bug! When we had our daughter's wedding I chose to paint simple flowers on small rocks and gave them out as small keepsake gifts along with the favors. I used permanent markers and sprayed them with varnish.
Yes! When my son was little, we painted rocks and put them in a rocky area next to our patio. We called it our rock garden! I think I had more fun doing it than he did.....
What a novel idea.
Very cool creations.
I haven't but this looks like fun.
I love your artsy pages, this is another great one, Blessed
Nice article, great job!
I have yet to paint rocks but it sure sounds like a fun way to create cute little figurines for the home.
Wonderful idea. Thank you. Now I know how to engage my grandchildren on vacations.
Very cool! :) I like how you can transform something so easily.
I saw a painted rock at a gravel pit's scalehouse, it was of a bunch of flowers. The scale lady said she had painted it. A few weeks later I was at Michael's (the craft store) with my wife, she was looking for some bead stuff. I saw a book on painting rocks and it reminded me I wanted to try it. So I bought some paint and cheap brushes.
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I have hauled gravel off and on my whole adult life so I have always had a love for rocks; picking up petrified wood at a gravel pit on the Colorado/Nebraska border, fossils in the grayish-white limestone at Coralville, Iowa and great looking rocks at gravel and limestone quarries near and far.
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I remembered the book at Michael's had mentioned if your rocks were too rough you could put a layer of Bondo(auto body putty) and smooth it up with sanding paper. The rocks I found were smooth enough though. On all of them I painted flowers, I had done a red tulip on a black background on a weird elongated rock about 10 inches long and 4 inches wide by 1 1/2 inches thick. On a round rock I did half a dozen yellow daisys on a brown with green background. I did some others but one of my artsy sisters asked to borrow them when she saw them when we moved, I can't recall what they were. I do know that it is fun, fun, fun and if you screw up paint over your rock's surface and start over.
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Great lens.
Our front yard is landscaped with river rocks, which is low maintenance, but a little on the humdrum side. We have painted a handful of rocks and scattered them amongst the others. It always makes me smile when I notice a cheerfully painted rock peeking out from our staid and mature rock garden.
It's fun to paint rocks. My teen helped out downtown for smaller kids to paint rocks this past year. I love the kitty in the first picture--looks just like my Exodus.
Years ago, I painted rocks with my kids. Yours are much better and make me want to find that old rock collection we had! Very Inspiring!
I think your rocks are turning out great! Anything is kosher when it comes to rock painting. Hey that other one looks like a shoe to me!
You're blessed! I've loved this lens since the day you made it. It's so personal and your rocks are da bomb.
I've never tried it. It sure looks like fun.
I did this when I was young. I'd love to try my hand at it as an adult.
I'm so sorry I didn't beat Jebozid to the "Rock On" comment...shoot.
Your rock painting skills might just get you into the Smithsonian one day - I mean, really, I don't know a better rock painter...ever! You're da bomb. Love these!
These are great!
cute painting.
cute painting.
I think you did a great job on rock painting, Thanks for visiting mine...
Rock on!
Very interesting.. never seen such innovative idea to paint the useless rocks...thnx for sharing wonderful concept. I would like to see more designs
I want to try this! Yours are really cute. It would be a fun activity to do with grandkids. I have a rock that I've saved for more than a year, because I've always wanted to paint it. It looks like the guy in that famous painting "The Scream". Hope I can do it justice!
Nice to find another rock painter around here! It's spreading ;-) Great job; your second rock looks like a shoe to me
I'd say you are a quick study by the results of your first project and now am wondering what that special rock turned out to be in your second project, rock painting can get a little addictive!
No. not yet. but i am going to try this art. well presented lens. ~blessed~
yes my mother and i painted on round rocks from Lake Superior. It was 1969. She painted them with turtle colors and glued felt feet on them and a felt head and tail.
This is just the cutest lens I've ever seen! I love the conversational tone to it and hope it does well. I think the ladybug would be very cut as a decoration in a potted plant. Nicely done.
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