Here's how you can fix a mistake made while painting a rock and, believe me, I have made many mistakes.
(Keep in mind these tips work for rocks which have NOT been sealed.)
While the paint is still wet
- A Q-tip (or corner of a paper towel) moistened with a little clean water can wipe away the paint which ended up where it didn't belong
- An art tool called a "paint eraser" can also remove errant paint. (This two-sided tool has a chiseled and pointed rubber tip at each end.) I find dipping the tip in a little water is helpful with paint removal
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| More info about this paint eraser |
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When the paint has dried
- Dawn dish detergent on a moistened paper towel magically "erases" dried paint most of the time
- Sandpaper is useful for scraping off small areas of paint which have strayed onto an unpainted, natural part of the rock
- Sometimes a combination of a little Dawn dish detergent followed by sanding works best
- Rubbing alcohol wiped on the dried paint with a q-tip or soft cloth also works
As a last resort
- If the mistakes are too numerous or you just don't like how the design is turning out, just cover the rock with white acrylic paint and start something new.
Do you have tips for removing paint from a rock? Please leave a comment and I will try them out.
© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks
Hello! I like your blog.
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Thanks for liking my blog, Dot. I checked out yours and it's a fun, wonderful resource for Etsy buyers and sellers. I don't use Google+, Google friend connect, or Bloglovin' but perhaps your comment here will help with adding subscribers. P.S. I love painting owls on rocks.
DeleteI use an emory board to remove my small mistakes. It works on sharpies and paint pens and acrylic paints; Thank you for your blog xo
DeleteThanks for the great tip, Cindy. I'm happy to hear you appreciate my blog.
Deletei've used the sandpaper and "Goof Off" product to fix paint mistakes. I make sure to wipe/wash the product off really good to avoid any potential reaction with my new paint or sealer.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the tip about "Goof Off", Lisa. I've never heard of the product but it's on my shopping list so I can try it out. If you've had success with it, I know it will work.
DeleteThanks for your tip!! I painted my first (test) rock tonight. They are black so I painted one white and just tried different methods...dots, squiggles, very pathetic flowers. I quickly realized that (1) I need to use the lighted magnifier I use for jewelry making, (2) at 61 my hands aren't as steady as they used to be, and (3) on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 = zero and 10 = best, my artistic ability is hovering somewhere around -5. LOL! The idea of the graphite paper is great! Can't wait to try it.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to rock painting, Debra & Mack. The great thing about painting rocks is you can easily start over if you don't like the results. In addition, your "canvas" is inexpensive and many times free. I have a magnifier which I have yet to master so you're a step ahead of me on that one. Graphite transfer paper has been a very helpful product at times. As a matter of fact, I just used it for a Southwestern Indian design I just painted on a rock. The design was circular and I didn't feel confident in making an accurate circle, so I traced it! Have fun and keep experimenting and practicing.
DeleteYour blog is a great source. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou're so very welcome, Colleen. I'm happy to hear you find the information helpful.
DeleteHi Cindy! I've LOVE your informative blog! You taught me a lot when I was starting out and I still go back for more information. Just a comment on the rock being a canvas. I look at it this way when people are puzzled or even appalled that someone would charge for legitimate artwork being sold or given proudly in rock form as opposed to on canvas, etc. I'm a lifelong artist that suffered a long "dry" spell, until I heard of painted rocks. It sounded like a good way to try something new. I mainly use Uni Posca pens, acrylic paint as a base and detail work with my best friend, the Sakura Micron Pigment pens (I'm not a good painter like you and so many others) and I quickly found my niche. Anyway, a canvas painter, etc can do incredible work on their canvas and then sell infinite prints from that one painting. A rock artist can't unless they individually try to duplicate a previous rock painting. Making one's rock, even when attempting duplication, an original and can't be mass produced. The recipient has a One of a Kind Original. A tangible rock to be held in the hand, feeling the energy that was put into it. It can't be ripped off on the internet, not exactly. Recipients should also understand that it is harder to paint precision on a "3D" surface that presents multiple obstacles like holes, bumps, odd size to hold onto while painting, etc. Rock artists bring life back into Mother Natures creation, the rock. You can put it in your garden, on your coffee table, on your bland office desk. It's a great conversation piece, as it stands out because it's "3D", not just flat on a wall (NOT undermining the beauty of wall art at all!). People pick up rocks and hold it, feeling it's weight in their hand, stunned at the imagination and talent it took for the artist to bring a simple rock to life! They make a deeply personal gift, again, OOAK. So the rock presents challenges not found in flat media. I know I sound corny, but I LOVE rocks and all the challenges they present. I've never "found" a Kindness Rock, but I leave many. They're very special, no matter the talent of the rock artist for all the reasons I stated above. And they're also kid friendly and kid enjoyed. I'm a Rocker, and 2D artist for life! Thank you Cindy for helping me and countless others to delve into rock painting with all the information, dedication, talent and love you share about the medium. You helped restart my lost creativity. - Bless you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the compliment and your comment, Polly. You beautifully put into words what I've always felt about rocks as a canvas and the uniqueness of a painted rock. You don't sound corny at all. Instead, you're passionate about this fun, exciting, ever-surprising art form and I'm so happy your lost creativity was restarted. May you receive abundant blessings by sharing your rock art with the world.
DeleteThis blog is several years old, so I don't know if it's still active. I've actually been three-quarters finished with a rock and decided the color combinations didn't jive or I simply didn't like the design that emerged. I put the entire rock in some sudsy water and let it sit overnight. The paint just washes away using a scrubby. Of course, this doesn't work if the sealer has been put on!
ReplyDeleteThe blog post is several years old, but the information is still relevant. Thanks for sharing your experience with putting a partially painted rock in sudsy water overnight and removing the paint so you could start over.
DeleteVodka removes acrylic paint from sealed wood. I assume it would work on a rock as well. Worth a shot. (pun intended)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, Anniet222. :-)
DeleteI use methylated spirits to remove acrylic paint.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing how you remove acrylic paint, Marie.
DeleteI have painted a rock with acrylic paint. After I a few days I sprayed it with a clear acrylic matte finish sealer. Instead of going on smoothly it became gooey. Is there a way to remove the sealer?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear your painted rock was ruined with the spray sealer. I mostly use brush-on sealers and, unfortunately, do not know how to remove the sealer once it's been sprayed onto the rock.
Delete