- Flat, somewhat smooth rock
- Pattern or photo
- Graphite transfer paper
- Pencil or stylus
- Paints
Steps
Find a rock with a smooth and/or flat surface. A rock with lots of pits or angles will be difficult to transfer a pattern onto.
 |
Even though this rock has pits, the pattern transferred nicely because of it's flat surface.
Find a photo or pattern you'd like to paint on your rock. If the photo or pattern is larger or smaller than your rock, that's OK.
 |
| This pattern was taken from "Stained Glass in an Afternoon" by Vicki Payne |
Measure the width and height of your rock. You'll need the dimensions to adjust your pattern so it fits nicely on your rock.
Copy OR scan your pattern so your original is not damaged.
- If you copy your pattern on the printer, you'll need to play with reducing or enlarging the image so it will fit nicely on your stone
- If you scan the image, you can insert it into a drawing program and resize the image using the rock's measurements to find a good fit, then print the page
Place a sheet of graphite transfer paper on top of your rock with the waxy side down. (If your rock is dark colored, you'll use white graphite paper. If your rock is light colored, you'll use gray or black graphite paper.)
Place your pattern (face up) over the graphite paper. You can use masking tape to secure the pattern and graphite paper to the rock so it doesn't slip while you're tracing the image.
Trace around all the lines of your image using a stylus or pencil.
Remove the pattern and graphite paper and paint your rock.
 |
| Pattern transferred onto the rock |
 |
| The rock after it was painted and sealed |
© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks
Just found you here. Thank you for the wonderful information!!! Your work is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Mary; I'm glad you find the information helpful. Thank you so much for the compliment about my work.
DeleteThank you for sharing how to transfer. I cannot draw but I love to paint rocks. Yours is beautiful 😊
DeleteYou're so welcome, Kimberly, and thanks for the compliment. I've found the tracing technique especially helpful when I've painted pets on rocks.
DeleteWhat did you use to seal the paint on the rock.....could you use modge podge?
ReplyDeleteYes, you can use Mod Podge to seal rocks. However, in high humidity it can become "tacky" so I always add a coat of acrylic or polyurethane sealer over the Mod Podge. Here's how I seal my rocks: http://paintingrocks.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-seal-and-protect-painted-rocks.html
DeleteSo good to find another rock painting lover. Love painting on paving stones too. Always have my eyes open for river rocks and rocks in unusual shapes. Moving to Ft Lauderdale and asked my friend there if river rocks, etc were plentiful. She paused and said they have sand! I'm moving my supply of rocks with me. Sure, could buy them at garden center but I prefer ones I find, or as I call them, free range rocks. Like to repurpose clay pots that are broken, especially if they are molded into decorative shapes. Oh, the possibilities. Rock on, Cindy!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for leaving a comment, dreamweaver. It's a good thing you're moving your supply of rocks with you to Florida. I've heard good ones for painting are difficult to find. Don't forget the U.S. Postal Service "if it fits, it ships" service with the 70-lb. weight limit. Maybe some of your friends can send rocks to you in Florida as a Christmas or birthday present. :-)
DeleteSo....if life hands you lemons make lemonade. This is why....MY husband was trying to get some rocks for our flower beds. Instead they dumped a ton of big rocks in our drive way which I was very mad about. THEN....I got the idea of painting rocks. I now have tons to choose from. I've made a lot of cute things.
DeleteWelcome to the fun world of painted rocks, Nans. Most of us wish we had easy access to good rocks like you do! Happy painting!
DeleteI was wondering if you used a pen or brush on the lines of the harlequin? Such a beautiful piece of artwork !
ReplyDeleteThank you for the compliment. I used a brush to paint the lines on the harlequin because I prefer to use a brush-on sealer and a pen tends to bleed or change color. A pen can be used, but a spray-on sealer (instead of brush-on) should be applied to protect the piece.
DeleteI am going t have to try this I've been using paint pens to draw on the rocks
Deletethis would be soooooo much easier I love your rocks they are so beautiful
I'm glad to hear you want to try this idea on your rocks, Cindy. It is much easier than free-hand drawing. Thank you for the compliment about my rocks.
DeleteAhh. I wondered how I could successfully transfer designs to rocks. Thank You.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Marnie. I'm glad the technique was helpful to you.
DeleteThank you for being such an amazing sharer of your journey of rock painting. You simply make it easier for us newbies who are afraid to ask thinking we are being daft. Your work has only improved from what I have seen. The Shabby Chic rocks were lovely and I cannot wait to make some. I was also thinking of a dark green to give it a verdi gris look. Again, thank you Miss Cindy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely compliment to receive on Christmas Eve! It warms my heart to know my rock painting tips have been helpful to you. When you make the Shabby Chic rocks, I'd love to see them. If you're a member of Facebook, share a photo on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CindyThomasPaintedRocks
DeleteHi Cindy, thank you so much for sharing. Could you please tell me what kind of paint you use?
ReplyDeleteHello. I'm happy to share what I learn about rock painting. I use acrylic and craft acrylic paint sold in 2 oz. plastic bottles.
DeleteHi Cindy! I got my transfer paper tonight along with some outdoor acrylic paint. I'm really looking forward to getting started on some new painted rocks. Maybe I'll snap a couple of photos when I'm finished, which will be quite some time from now, I'm sure, to show to you. You inspire me to try new ways of doing things. Thank you so much!!
ReplyDeleteHi Lora. I'm happy to hear you've been inspired! Don't be afraid to experiment with rocks. That's how I discover what I share on my blog posts. And, don't rush. Sometimes I take weeks to finish a painted rock. I'll paint a little and let it sit for awhile. It helps me visualize how I want to paint the rest of it.
Delete7/24/2017 I'm so glad I found you, now I can draw / paint my feather onto a perfect rock, it's a spiritual meaning for a friend that's going to help me in more ways. Thank you for sharing this information it's greatly appreciated ❤
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for letting me know my information is appreciated and has been helpful to you. I love to hear from fellow rock painters.
DeleteIs transfer paper the same as carbon paper???
DeleteThat's a good question, Betty. I have only used the graphite transfer paper. I believe carbon paper will be more messy and may transfer some of the carbon onto your rock. While the graphite transfer paper will enable a cleaner tracing of your design. You may certainly experiment with the carbon paper and see how it works for you.
DeleteCan I use sewing tracing paper?
DeleteI've never used sewing tracing paper but it could work. You'll have to give it a try. Much of what I've learned about rock painting is the result of experimentation.
DeleteI just began to paint rocks but I find that my drawing skills are lacking. I have gotten a little discouraged until I found your method. I am motivated again. Thank you so much for your ideas Cindy.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear you haven't given up on rock painting because of my tips. I was a beginner once and the more you paint, the easier it becomes. Another idea for you to try is rubber stamps (like the type used for making cards and scrapbooking). Once you stamp the design onto a nice, smooth rock you can apply the paint - no drawing skills required.
DeleteSo happy to see this site. Our great granddaughter is having her 1st birthday next month and to celebrate they are collecting items to put in a time capsule to be opened by her on her 18th birthday. There is a special pattern I want to try but my drawing skills aren't that great. This will be perfect. I also want to share with her the current fad of painting and hiding and relocating rocks we enjoy so much. Thanks for sharing your skills.
ReplyDeleteA time capsule is such a neat idea for your great granddaughter's 1st birthday, Trisha. I'm happy to hear you'll be able to use my pattern tracing technique for your contribution to the time capsule. Rock painting has been a continual learning process for me and I'm happy to share what I've discovered with others.
DeleteHave you tried applying stickers to the rocks, and then, using a sealer to cement the image to the rock?
ReplyDeleteYes, I have applied stickers to rocks followed by a decoupage technique using Mod Podge to cement the stickers to the rock. The rocks with stickers have held up, however, they have not been handled. Therefore, I can't comment on how long stickers placed on rocks would last.
DeleteHello Cindy, I have been painting rocks with a group here in Orange County,California. I have a hard time drawing as I am just not artistic in that way. I love your site here and just did my first graphite paper transfer of a dog and it turned out pretty good I might add. I am getting ready to do a stained glass one on a rock of a star. My question is...should I do the rock as it is or should I seal it first (it is a smooth rock)? Looking forward to hearing your advise :)
ReplyDeleteHello. I'm happy to hear you've found the tips on my site helpful with your rock painting. Personally, I've always sealed the rock after I painted it and never tried to seal it prior to painting. Since your rock is smooth, my advice would be to paint it first and then seal it.
DeleteI have been taking a friend for radiation treatments at the Mitchell Center, in Mobile Al. They give out rocks to paint for the rock garden. They want up beat, encouraging sayings on them. Thank you so much for your educational information. I will use it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know you'll be using some of my rock painting tips. I'm sure your friend appreciates your company while undergoing radiation treatments. I think it's fabulous the Mitchell Center has a rock garden and encourages uplifting sayings painted on stones.
DeleteWhat are good markers, fine point, to use? I've tried a couple kinds, but they won't mark on the "natural" rocks I got from the garden.
ReplyDeletethank you
Sherry, for painting, I like Posca Paint Marker Pens. They have fine and extra fine point.
DeleteFor writing on rocks and and drawing very fine lines, I like the Sakura Pigma Micron Pen - size 03 (0.35mm)
Thanks so much for this information! I can't wait to try it. Your work is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment and happy rock painting.
DeleteI have tried and tried using graphite paper black, on white rocks and pattern does not show. press until paper tears. what else can I do?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear you're having trouble transferring a pattern onto a rock, Shelley. Personally, I've never experienced that issue with the graphite paper.
DeleteI have heard of another way to transfer but haven't done it myself.
Here are the steps:
1. Reduce/enlarge a design to fit your rock.
2. Color the back of the design with black pencil (for light rocks) so the paper acts like carbon paper.
3. Cut out the design and tape it to the rock (design side up).
4. Transfer the image by tracing over the lines with a ballpoint pen, using light to medium pressure.
My son makes is own fishing lures and uses this technique to transfer his drawings to his wooden lures. It works great.
DeleteThanks for sharing how your son uses this technique to make his own fishing lures, Alfreada.
DeleteYo estoy empezando al usar las rocas para pintar lo que no sabia es que tipo de pintura se útiliza y que sellador yo use pintura para manualidades y el sellador una laca en aerosol
ReplyDeleteI use acrylic paint on the rocks. I prefer brush-on sealers but a spray sealer is also a good choice. I'm confident the paint and sealer you used will be suitable for the rocks.
DeleteHello. I have a spray painted rock that I'm trying to trace an image too but it doesn't show up. Any suggestions or tips to get this to work? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThings that can cause the design not to show up are - a pitted stone, wrong color of transfer paper (you need dark for light rocks and light for dark rocks) and in your case, perhaps the spray painted rock is too slippery. You could try this technique - fill the reverse side of the image you want to transfer with #2 pencil. Flip it over and trace the design onto the rock. The theory is the pencil from the reverse side of the image will transfer onto the rock.
DeleteThank you. I will try this and see if I can get my image to trace. I appreciate your quick response
DeleteYou're welcome.
Deletewhich color material you have used
ReplyDeleteHi Shehbaz. I have used dark gray transfer paper on light-colored rocks and white transfer paper on dark-colored rocks.
DeleteCindy, hi - I really hope you are still reading these messages 🙏. I'm getting really confused, as a total beginner with no art experience, about transferring to stones. I'm not interested in transferring photos but printing words in word art and transferring them onto the stone. I've been reading that you need a laser printer and all sorts of gadgetry. From what you're saying, I can print off what I want and trace over it with graphite/carbon paper. I've bought a transparent sealant for the stones as well as a finishing off lacquer to weatherproof them. It's just the in between bit that's foxing me. Be well and friendly greetings from Austria, Sara ☺️
ReplyDeleteYes, Sara, I'm still reading the messages and greetings to you in Austria. I have transferred words onto stones using the technique described in this post. No need for laser printers, etc. The important thing to remember is if your stone is a light color, the dark graphite transfer paper works best. If your stone is dark, white or gray transfer paper will be best. Also be aware that even if you weatherproof your finished stone, it will probably still fade and need to be retouched occasionally. Happy painting.
Delete