Rock Painting -- How to Paint Rocks

Not yet, but you're inspiring me to paint rocks! :)

That ladybug looks perfect for a paperweight too. I don't have any paint on hand, or I'd be tempted to jump right in on this. I wonder if I could paint a large rock like a turtle to use as a steppingstone in the flowerbed.

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.

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.

No. not yet. but i am going to try this art. well presented lens. ~blessed~

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!

Nice to find another rock painter around here! It's spreading ;-) Great job; your second rock looks like a shoe to me

Very interesting.. never seen such innovative idea to paint the useless rocks...thnx for sharing wonderful concept. I would like to see more designs

Rock on!

I think you did a great job on rock painting, Thanks for visiting mine...

cute painting.

cute painting.

These are great!

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!

I'm so sorry I didn't beat Jebozid to the "Rock On" comment...shoot.

I did this when I was young. I'd love to try my hand at it as an adult.

I've never tried it. It sure looks like fun.

You're blessed! I've loved this lens since the day you made it. It's so personal and your rocks are da bomb.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Very cool! :) I like how you can transform something so easily.

Wonderful idea. Thank you. Now I know how to engage my grandchildren on vacations.

I have yet to paint rocks but it sure sounds like a fun way to create cute little figurines for the home.

Nice article, great job!

I love your artsy pages, this is another great one, Blessed

I haven't but this looks like fun.

Very cool creations.

What a novel idea.

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.....

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.

I haven't tried one, but sure I will, thanks for the great idea..

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 have, but not for awhile. It's such a fun craft.

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.

Very creative! Nice work.

Looks like a lot of fun.

It looks like fun! I like your cat - and all the other rocks.

What lovely creations and such fun. The ladybug ones would look lovely in a garden.

No, I've never painted rocks. Wish I had thought of this when the kids were young enough to be into crafts!

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!

That looks like fun!! Very cute!!

Rock painting brings a lot of fun especially to kids and art lovers! This is such an interesting lens. Thanks for sharing!

Sound like a fun activity that I should try

When I am ready to do some rock painting I will return here for these great tips :)

You're really talented to make these beautiful painted rocks. And then selling them on ebay is a great idea.

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

When my son was little, we painted rocks and then put them in our special rock garden.. Nicely done and Angel blessed.

What a lovely idea! I must try this out for some unique decorations.

I haven't done rock painting for years. I love your ladybug rocks. Good job! Angel blessings.

No, I have never painted rocks. I did buy a very pretty rock that was painted as a cat.

I guess I qualify for the paint on the gravel driveway. Rock painting sounds interesting and fun.

Really interesting article and I have started to doodle on rocks myslef with some of my artwork.

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*

Looks like a fun and very creative art for anyone to do. Thanks for sharing. Take Care :)

This is really awesome. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks for the idea

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.

Oh dear, yet another way for me to use up my spare time :-) I really must try out some rock painting.

Great idea to keep children busy as they usually lap up any sort of art work. I love the Halloween rock painting.

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! (^_-)

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.

Blessed-it is such a simple idea with great results

I have never painted them. Thought i really like the rocks that look like bugs or animals!

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 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'm sure you remember Pet Rocks from the 1970s. This takes it to a whole new level!

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.

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 ;)

This is so cool! My kids are going to love this!

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. hmm my parents have a huge garden so I wonder if they would let me paint some of the rocks there :)).

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!

I've done paintings of rocks! Does that count?

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!

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.

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!!!

Wow! This is a great craft for my daycare. Very creative. Thanks

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.

I've never painted a rock, it looks like a good idea though. I love the paisley ladybug.

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.

No I haven't, but painting animals on rocks looks like great fun!

We have some small river stones and you've inspired me. Great Lens.

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!

What a cute and clever craft project. I'd never thought about painting on rocks until I read this. Love your 'paisley' lady bug! :)

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!

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!

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.

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 have a rock painting lens too. I like the cat rock, excellent!

Nope have never done it, but they're pretty cute. Thanks for sharing, congrats on your rank!

Wow, some of the pictures are really beautiful and inspiring. Prior to visiting your lense, I had never heard of rock painting before!

Beautiful! It's amazing what the human mind can do.