Easy Rock Mandalas with Posca Paint Pens

Rock mandalas are easy to create when you use Posca Paint pens.

(Inspiration for this project is from the Rock Art Handbook by Samantha Sarles.)

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There are two types of mandalas you can create on rocks with Posca paint pens  - an outline mandala and a filled-in mandala.

As you can see in the photo below, the outline mandala on the left is the simpler of the two designs. You start in the center and add concentric circles of varying designs/dots/colors using the Posca paint pens.

Outline Mandala (L) - Filled-In Mandala (R)

The filled-in design on the right looks more complicated, however, Posca paint pens make the process easy - as I'll show you.

I started with a smooth, round stone which I base coated with white, acrylic paint.

A yellow dot in the center of the rock started my mandala. I then surrounded the yellow dot by adding petal and leaf shapes in pink, green, and purple using the Posca paint pens. (Note: my paint pens are the extra fine point tip.)

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The fun of mandalas is that you can choose any colors and designs you wish to surround your starting dot.

This is what my mandala rock looked like after I finished my design around the center dot using the Posca paint pens. It's a simple, colorful, filled-in mandala. I could have stopped here but the next step is what makes the rock mandala "pop."

I used my black, Sakura Pigma Micron Pen (03 tip) to outline the colorful shapes and add various doodles. In the photo below you can see where I started with the outlining in the center of the stone.

Observe how adding fine, black details (lines, dots, doodles) with the Pigma Micron pen adds a look of complexity to the mandala without being difficult to accomplish.

Reference Links
Rock Art Handbook by Samantha Sarles
Posca Paint Pens
Sakura Pigma Micron Pen

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© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Rock Art Handbook: Techniques and Projects for Painting, Coloring and Transforming Stones

I checked out this recently-published book: Rock Art Handbook: Techniques and Projects for Painting, Coloring and Transforming Stones by Samantha Sarles.

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This book is a great resource if you want to use a medium other than acrylic paint to decorate your rocks. There are over 30, step-by-step, how-to techniques using pens, paint, nail polish, glitter, fabric, paper, chalk and more.

The techniques and projects are easily explained and beautifully illustrated.

The topics covered are:

• Finding and Prepping Rocks
• Sealants
• Acrylic Paint
• Markers and Pens
• Drawing Mandala and Zentangle Designs
• Marbling
• Colored Pencils
• Decoupage
• Creating Unique Backgrounds
• Embellishments and Textures
• Rocks for Learning
• Rocks and Kids
• Possible Uses

These are rocks I decorated using just a few of the techniques and/or designs from Samantha Sarles' Rock Art Handbook.

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Sharpie Pens

Sharpies are notorious for blurring when sealed and I had several unused pens to experiment with. The technique: Draw various circles with Sharpies and then use alcohol and a Q-tip to intentionally blur the Sharpie pen lines.

Colored Pencils

The technique: Base coat a design with white acrylic paint prior to filling it in with the colored pencils. The book recommends Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, however, my Loew Cornell colored pencils seemed to work just fine. (Note: I used black acrylic paint to outline the flower.)

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Outlined and Filled-In Mandala Designs

This was my favorite project from the book. I used extra fine point Posca Paint Pens for both of these rocks. For details on the larger filled-in mandala design, I used a Sakura Pigma Micron pen.

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.

With Christmas approaching, Rock Art Handbook: Techniques and Projects for Painting, Coloring and Transforming Stones by Samantha Sarles would be a great gift for the rock painter in your life.

OR

The stones you decorate using the techniques in this book would be wonderful, personalized presents to give and receive.

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Supplies mentioned in this blog post:

• Rock Art Handbook by Samantha Sarles
• Loew Cornell Colored Pencils
• Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils
• Extra Fine Point Posca Paint Marker Pens
• Sakura Pigma Micron Pen

   
© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Before & After Painted Rocks: Dogs

Here are the rocks I used to paint various types dogs. Most often I chose a loaf-shaped rock for a reclining dog.

This is Max. He was a memorial stone and special request. Max was also used in my blog post about "How to Use a Wash and Tint Technique on Painted Rocks."

Say "hello" to Deuce. He was a special request for a birthday gift. (The brindle fur was quite a challenge for me.)

Meet Mr. Pug. He was painted using this tutorial by Ernestina Gallina.

This dog with puppies was painted using a tutorial from the e-book, "Artistry Set on Stone" by Suzi Chua.

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© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks 

Before & After Painted Rocks: Cats

Here are the rocks I used to paint various types of cats along with the sketches for the placement of the kitty's features.

Sleepy Kitty - A Flora Tan Design

White Persian Cat - A Suzi Chua Design

Orange Striped Tabby - A Suzi Chua Design

Black and White Cat - An Ernestina Gallina Design

Brown Persian Kitty - A Suzi Chua Design

How to Paint Cats on Rocks Tutorials:

• "Painting Pets on Rocks" by Lin Wellford
• "How to Paint on Rock a Black and White Cat" downloadable PDF by Ernestina Gallina
• "Let's Get Catty: Painting Realistic and Detailed Cats on Stone" downloadable ebook by Suzi Chua

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© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

There's More Than One Way to Paint a Cat Rock

I used how-to guides from 4 different artists to create these kitty cats painted rocks.

Lin Wellford's book, "Painting Pets on Rocks" was the inspiration for this Black Cat painted rock.

Design courtesy of Lin Wellford

I found Lin's instructions clear and easy to follow. Other cat designs included in Lin Wellford's "Painting Pets on Rocks" book are: Tabby Cat, White Cat, Siamese Cat.

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This Black and White Cat was painted using Ernestina Gallina's downloadable PDF tutorial - "How to Paint on Rock a Black and White Cat."

Design Courtesy of Ernestina Gallina

This Black and White Cat was more difficult to paint than Lin Wellford's version, however, by following Ernestina's detailed instructions, I was pleased with the result.

Suzi Chua's ebook "Let's Get Catty: Painting Realistic and Detailed Cats on Stone" inspired the Striped Orange Tabby and White Persian painted cats rocks.

 

Design Courtesy of Suzi Chua

Design Courtesy of Suzi Chua

I am always able to paint cute, whimsical designs using a Suzi Chua how-to guide. However, I find it necessary to study Suzi's included photos because her directions aren't as detailed as Lin Wellford's or Ernestina Gallina's and could be frustrating for beginners.


Flora Tan was a guest artist also featured in Suzi Chua's "Let's Get Catty" ebook who included instructions for painting this Sleepy Kitty.

Design Courtesy of Flora Tan

Of the five cats I painted using the how-to guides, I found the Sleepy Kitty to be the most challenging. The instructions were clear and detailed but all the fur strokes became frustrating for me.

The steps for painting a cat on a rock are basically the same in each how-to guide. I often refer to and adapt various steps/features from each guide to paint my own version of a cat rock.


How to Paint Cats tutorials mentioned in this post:

• "Painting Pets on Rocks" by Lin Wellford
• "How to Paint on Rock a Black and White Cat" downloadable PDF by Ernestina Gallina
• "Let's Get Catty: Painting Realistic and Detailed Cats on Stone" downloadable ebook by Suzi Chua

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