5 Specialty Acrylics for Painted Rocks

 
Rock painting can be taken to a whole new level when you use specialty acrylic paints.


Here's how I used five, different types of specialty acrylics on my painted rocks.

Glitter paint

These little pots of glitter paint are perfect for Christmas-themed painted rocks. I used them to add sparkle to the puff ball and trim of Santa's hat. (Glitter paint also comes in 2 oz. bottles.)

How to Paint a Santa Hat on Rocks

Glow in the dark

I used glow-in-the-dark acrylic paint for the eyes of these mystery rocks. Glow paint is great for garden and Halloween-themed painted rocks.

Learn more about how these mystery eggs were made

Metallics

Metallics are one of my favorite specialty acrylic paints because I can use them on so many projects. In addition to gold, silver and copper, metallics are also available in many brilliant colors such as the  Emerald green and Topaz blue I used for the owls below.

Patio or Garden

Yard & Garden paint (also called Patio Paints) are specially formulated for outdoor use. This gnome home was painted using these specialty acrylics. I would still recommend you "seal" the painted stone if it will be kept outdoors.

Do You Want to Give this Gnome Home a Home?

Dimensional Paint

These specialty paints are referred to as fabric, 3-D and puffy paint. I used them to add realistic details to painted rock candy.

How to Paint Rock Candy

These are just a few of the many specialty paints available. Be creative, experiment, and try some for yourself. Most important of all - have fun!

Useful Links

Types of Craft Paint
Painted Mystery Rock Eggs
How to Paint a Santa Hat on Rocks and Stones
How to Paint Rock Candy
Add Magic to Your Garden with Painted Gnome Home Rocks


© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Painted Rocks: How to Correct Mistakes

 
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

More info about this paint eraser

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.

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

Wild Animals Painted on Rocks: Before & After

A smooth, 3-inch stone was primed with white acrylic and transformed into a cute panda painted rock.

See more photos of this panda

This rock had been sitting around (unpainted) for quite a while. I didn't see the shape of the elephant until I picked it up and turned it over. The rock's striations and color were used as part of the elephant by shading/painting just his head and legs.

 

This is another rock which was sitting around and I kept seeing a duck until I painted my first elephant (above). To add a little pizazz to this rock elephant, I painted a paisley design for a headdress and blanket.

See more photos of this elephant

See More Before & After Painted Rocks

• Various
• The Beatles
• Garden Critters
• Furry Pets 
• Machines 
• Things with Wings 
• Christmas Holiday 

Useful Links

• Blog Post: Ideas for Wild Animals Painted on Rocks
• Pinterest Board: Ideas: Wild Animals Rocks

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Where Can I Find Rocks for Painting?

 
Here's a solution if you live in an area where rocks are difficult to find or you don't have access to the type of stones found near a beach.


Check out your local home improvement store and/or it's website, especially during the summer months when landscaping and gardening projects are in full swing.

You'll want to search for any of these terms: pebbles, river rocks, landscaping rocks. 

I purchased two bags of smooth, white beach pebbles (small and large) through the Home Depot website. To save on shipping, the stones were sent to my local store where I picked them up.

Small Caribbean Beach Pebbles

Large Caribbean Beach Pebbles

Of the small- and large-sized beach pebbles, I found the shapes of the small rocks to be better suited for most rock painting projects. 
 
Here's how I painted some of the beach pebbles purchased at Home Depot.

The design is painted directly onto the cleaned and dried white, beach pebble. (I did not prime the stones before painting these butterflies and owls.) The stones were sealed after painting to protect and preserve the design.
 

Tips

• You may also find rocks, stones and pebbles at landscaping supply stores and/or Walmart
• Stay away from polished stones for painted rocks. They are too slick for the paint to adhere and/or remain on the stone
• Wash your stones with a little dish detergent and allow to dry completely before painting. (The white beach pebbles shown here were chalky until I washed them.)
• For brighter colors, you can prime the stones with white acrylic paint
• Be careful where you pick up rocks and stones. Public lands, state parks, federal lands prohibit the removal of natural material
• Enlist the help of friends and relatives

Useful Links

• Small Caribbean Beach Pebbles at Home Depot
• Large Caribbean Beach Pebbles at Home Depot
• Medium snow white pebbles available online
• Large Caribbean beach pebbles available online

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

3 of My Favorite Rock Painting Brushes

What are the best brushes for rock painting?

You can use any brush to paint rocks (and I have many) but I keep returning to the same three brushes - stencil, script liner and flat - for most of my painted rocks.

For me, it's the shape which makes these brushes my favorites and not the brand or material. (You're better off not spending a lot of money on rock painting brushes because the rough surface of the rocks wears away the bristles.)

Script Liner Brush

Good for:

• Outlining
• Detailing
• Fur strokes

For many years, I used short-bristled liner brushes. Brushes with the longer bristles (script liners) just didn't make sense to me...until I used one. The longer bristles of this script liner brush enable me to pull the paint stroke further for better outlining, detailing and fur strokes.

Flat Brush

Works well for:

• Filling in large areas
• Washing/tinting
• Brush-on sealing

I use both small and large flat brushes depending on the area I want to fill or tint and the size of the rock I'm painting or sealing. The flat shape allows me to work around my sketch lines as well as fill large areas.

Stencil Brush

Used for:

• Dry brushing
• Blending
• Shading
• Dappling/stippling

I use both small and large stencil brushes depending on the area I want to shade or dapple and the size of the rock I'm painting. 

  * * * * *

Here's how I used a flat, stencil, and script liner brush to paint rockin' rolls.

As you paint rocks, you'll discover the subjects you enjoy painting, your personal style, and the brushes which work best for creating your masterpiece.


Helpful Resources
Brushes Tutorial
Before You Purchase a Brush
Paintbrush Guide
How to Care for Paintbrushes
How to Clean Paintbrushes



© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks