Helpful Rock Painting Tools and Supplies

To paint a rock, all that's required is a rock, paintbrush and paint.

These are the helpful tools and supplies I use to create painted rocks. These products are not necessary but they are nice to have.

(Most of my rock painting tools and supplies are purchased at Hobby Lobby or Amazon.com. Occasionally, I'll find something at Walmart, Michael's or JoAnn's.)

Note: When you click on certain links in this post, I may receive a commission for the purchase of products. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Primers

Gesso

I recently discovered gesso and now it's my go-to primer. In the past, I used white acrylic paint as a primer. Now I prefer gesso for it's coverage and "tooth".  You can learn more about gesso here.

Regular gesso is what I use to prime smooth stones.

Regular gesso on a smooth stone

Super heavy gesso is what I use to prime pitted stones.

Super heavy gesso on a pitted rock

The following photo illustrates the difference gesso can make in paint color intensity when used as a primer.

Note the paint color intensity on each stone based on no primer, white paint, and gesso 

Specialty Brushes

Nail Art Brush Set

This set of nail art brushes is helpful for getting the paint into tight spaces. Fingernails are a tiny canvas, so it follows that tools used for nail art would be suitable for rocks too. Learn more about nail art brushes here.

Not only do the nail art brushes get into tight spaces but they're also perfect for painting very small stones.

Script Liner Brush

I paint thin lines and detailing with this script liner brush. It took a little practice to get used to this long, thin brush, but it became my favorite once I did. It's important the paint consistency isn't too thick when using this type of brush for lines and details.

Note: When you click on certain links in this post, I may receive a commission for the purchase of products. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Pens/Markers

Paint Pens - I use the extra fine point Posca paint markers for adding details and filling in small areas of my painted rocks. (The Posca pens are also available in bold point, medium point and fine point if you'd like to use them for larger areas.)

0.35mm Black Pen - I use this Pigma Micron 03 pen to add thin details and write on my stones. The line is thinner than the 08 Micron pen.

0.50mm Black Pen - I also use this Pigma Micron 08 pen to add details and write on my stones. The line size is slightly thicker than the 03 Micron pen.

(This 10-piece Micron pen set features a variety of sizes and shows the line width of each size.)

I used acrylic paint, Posca paint pens and the 03 and 08 Pigma Micron pens to create this owl.

Note: When you click on certain links in this post, I may receive a commission for the purchase of products. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Miscellaneous Tools & Supplies

Paint Eraser/Clay Shaper Tool 

I use this two-sided, rubber nib paint eraser tool to wipe away mistakes while my acrylic paint is fresh. It's very handy when the area I've messed up is in a tight or small spot. Just remember, you have to be quick and erase the mistake before the paint dries. Learn more about correcting rock painting mistakes here.

Embossing-Stylus Set

I originally purchased this 3-piece stylus set for tracing a design onto a rock with graphite transfer paper. Now the set does double duty as my dotting tools.

All of the dots on this heart were painted with the 3-piece stylus set.

Graphite Transfer Paper

I use graphite transfer paper to trace a design onto a stone.

For dark stones, white graphite transfer paper is used. And gray graphite transfer paper is used for light-colored stones.

Adhesive Glue

People often ask "what's the best glue for attaching rocks together." I have found E6000 glue to be the best-holding glue to secure painted/unpainted rocks to each other.

E6000 glue was used to attach the snowman's head to his melting body. Learn how to make a melting snowman painted rock here.

How to make a melting snowman painted rock

Brush Conditioner

Painting rocks can be tough on brushes. I clean my brushes with soap and water then condition them with Pink Soap to extend their life. A little goes a long way and a bottle lasts for quite awhile.

When you have the right tool, the task is easier. These are my helpful, rock painting tools and supplies which assist in the creation of unique, painted rocks art.

Note: When you click on certain links in this post, I may receive a commission for the purchase of products. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Helpful Links

Regular gesso
Super heavy gesso
15-Piece nail art brush set
Script liner brush
Posca paint pens (extra fine point)
Posca paint pens (fine point)
Posca paint pens (medium point)
Posca paint pens (bold point)
Pigma micron 03 pen
Pigma micron 08 pen
10-piece Pigma micron pen set
Paint eraser
3-Piece stylus set
Gray graphite transfer paper
White graphite transfer paper
E6000 glue
Pink soap

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

How I Fixed Two Stones Ruined by a Spray-On Sealer

Supplies I Used to Repair These Two Ruined Stones

When art pens or Sharpies are used on a rock, care must be taken when applying a sealer because the pens tend to blur or fade.

Applying thin coats of a spray sealer is usually effective in protecting the painted rock unless your spray sealer happens to drip as you're spraying. (This is the first time it has happened to me and may have occurred because I did not clean the nozzle after prior use.)

Here's what happened and how I fixed the stones.

I created these stones using acrylic paint for the colorful background and Pro Art pens for the mandala design.

I was sealing the stones using my preferred method and sealer, and the can's nozzle dripped while I was spraying thin coats onto the rocks. (The green stone survived but the design on the orange and blue stones blurred.)

Two of Three Stones Blurred by a Spray-On Sealer

Close-Up of a Design Blurred by Spray-On Sealer

My first thought was "Oh, no. I have to repaint the entire stone." But after mulling it over for a few days, I decided to "mend" the error and try another sealer recently suggested to me.

The first step was to paint over the blurred portions of the stones using my tiny nail art brush.

After the blurry, colored portion of the stone was repainted and dry, I re-drew the ruined mandala section with the Pro Art pen.

I didn't want to chance using the same spray sealer. Instead, I grabbed some clear nail top coat and brushed it over the stone. And the clear nail top coat didn't smear the design!

The Blue & Orange Stones Repaired and Sealed with Clear Top Coat for Nails

In the photo above, the green stone has the matte spray sealer and the blue and orange were sealed with the clear nail top coat. 

What I learned from this experience.

• Clear top coat for nails is a suitable sealer for smaller rocks where a pen has been used.
• Clean the nozzle on the spray sealer (per the can's instructions) otherwise it may drip and ruin the art.

Useful Links

Spray-On Sealer Tips
Brush-On Sealer Tips
Nail Art Brushes
Pro Art Pens

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

How To Paint Dotted Mandalas on Rocks

 

Beautiful, dotted mandalas are all over the Internet. 

I wanted to paint some for myself but could not figure out how the simple, yet intricate design was accomplished. 

Then, I came across a fantastic dotted mandala tutorial and look what I painted!



Here are my tips and thoughts about painting these beautiful stones.

Paints

I used both acrylic and acrylic craft paints. Acrylic paints will need to be thinned with water more so than the craft paints. Consistency of the paint is very important in order to obtain a nice effect.

Colors

I love color and these stones can be painted with any combination. For inspiration, I have a Pinterest board devoted just to color palettes:

Brushes

The tutorial recommended a certain type and size of brush for painting dotted mandalas. I had 4 suitable brushes on hand. I found the small brushes from a recently purchased nail art set worked best for me. (The nail art brushes are the 2 with white handles in the picture below.)

Stones

I used 3 types of stones for my dotted mandalas because I wanted to see how the painting technique would work on each one:

• Round and pitted (bottom left)
• Flat, smooth and an irregular shape (right)
• Round and smooth (top left)

The Tutorial

I recommend reading the detailed steps from the tutorial a few times before starting.

Mandala Tutorial by Colorful-Crafts.com

Practice

I practiced the brush dotting technique on paper first to get the hang of it before painting my first stone.

Painting the Stones

Stone 1 - Round and pitted

You can paint a dotted mandala on a pitted stone. I think my first attempt is OK but the dots appear to be flat.

One stone "dot" painted and two more to go.

Stone 2 - Flat, smooth and an irregular shape

It was definitely easier to paint on the flat, smooth rock and my dots have a little more dimension this time.

Stones 1 and 2 side by side

Stone 3 - Round and smooth

My third stone is nice but I definitely need more practice.

What I Learned

• It's not as easy as it looks.
• Go slowly and don't rush.
• Practice and practice and practice.

Helpful Links

• Dotted Mandala Stones Tutorial
• Green & Blue Dotted Mandala Stone Tutorial
• Nail Art Brushes - A Great Set of Tools for Painting Details on Rocks
• Rock Painting Color Palettes on Pinterest

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Nail Art Brushes - A Great Set of Tools for Painting Details on Rocks

It has been suggested to me that nail art brushes are wonderful when painting details on rocks. You know what? It makes sense! Fingernails are a tiny canvas, so it follows that brushes used for nail art would work on rocks too.

I purchased this inexpensive, 15-piece nail art brush set to give them a try.

Note: When you click on certain links in this post, I may receive a commission for the purchase of products.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

There were other sets available but they shipped from China and I was willing to pay the extra shipping cost to have it originate in the U.S.

(I've been told that nail art brushes purchased on Ebay and shipped from China take approximately 10 days to receive and you're able to track the package (if it states the item is shipped via "epacket"). I have not verified this information for myself.)

Contents of My Nail Art Brush Set

• 3 Drawing Tools
• 7 Painting Tools
• 2 Liners
• 1 Dotting Tool
• 2 Fan brushes
• Plastic storage case

The Tests

I started off with this small rock for my first test of the brushes...

...and used a design from "The Chinese Brush Painting Bible" and 3 of the brushes - a liner, flat painter, and pointed drawing tool. I was quite happy with the results.

  

Design Painted with 3 Nail Art Brushes Only

For my second test, I used an even smaller rock...

 
...and chose another design from "The Chinese Brush Painting Bible." This time I used only 2 brushes - the flat painter and a longer drawing brush. Once again, I was quite pleased with the nail art brush results.

Design Painted with 2 Nail Art Brushes Only

Here's a side-by-side look at the two rocks I painted using only 4 of the nail art brushes.

Alternative Use for the Nail Art Dotting Tool

I already have several dotting tools and the one included in the set is quite tiny. Instead of dots, I use this tool to secure small rocks when they're being sealed. (In the past I would use toothpicks to hold the stone in place while I was sealing it.)

Dotting Tool Used to Secure Rock While Sealing

My Conclusion

Nail art brushes ARE a great tool for rock painting details. Even if I never use all the brushes in the set, the price is low enough to justify the purchase based on my results. And, you can never have enough brushes. Right? 

  
Videos - How to Use Nail Art Brushes

I found these two videos very helpful explaining how each nail art brush/tool can be used.

Click here to purchase this nail art brush set

Note: When you click on certain links in this post, I may receive a commission for the purchase of products.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks