The Beginner’s Guide to Rock Painting: Everything You Need to Start Painting Rocks

Have you been seeing beautifully painted rocks all over social media and are finally ready to try your hand at this fun niche craft? Perhaps you’re feeling a bit lost on how to even begin your rock painting journey, what supplies you’ll need, and the best techniques. This beginners guide will cover all the essential basics to help you get started with your very own rock art.

Painting rocks is one of the most affordable and accessible art forms to dive into, especially for beginners. It primarily requires basic, everyday craft items that you might even already have at home!

Essential Supplies for Painting Rocks: What You Need to Get Started

For those just starting out, there’s absolutely no need to spend a fortune on supplies. You can easily find basic and affordable rock painting supplies at local craft shops, major retailers like Amazon and Walmart, and even dollar stores. The absolute four essentials for successful rock art you will need on hand are:

Craft Paint for Rock Painting

When selecting paint for your painted rocks, stick with non-toxic, water-based acrylic paints. Luckily for the average artist, this category includes a wide variety of paint brands, ranging from budget-friendly dollar store options to mid-range and specialty artist acrylics. You don’t need to break the bank here; simply choose primary colors or color palettes that appeal to you.

You have two options for applying paint. Choose the one you feel most comfortable working with for your rock designs.

Bottled Acrylic Paint: This traditional method uses a brush and bottled paint. Some our our favorites are DecoArt and FolkArt. Both these companies offer value bundle sets of all the colors you need (and many more) for mixing and matching.

Acrylic Paint Pens (or Markers): These are exactly what they sound like – markers filled with paint, perfect for “writing” and “drawing” intricate designs on your painted stones. Like it’s bottled counterparts, markers range from very affordable to a higher price point for professional artists.

One fantastic beginner set, (a personal favorite) complete with dual tip and a carrying case is from Artecho. TooliArt offers a massive selection of markers in the all colors of the rainbow and several different tips to appeal to every artist.

Paint Brushes for Detailed Rock Art

Even if you plan to primarily use acrylic paint pens, keep a basic assortment of paint brushes for rock painting on hand. Paint brushes vary widely in price, and unless you’re a professional artist, you don’t need to invest a lot of money. Clean your brushes with warm soapy water after every use, and they will last for a long time.

Outdoor Sealer: Protecting Your Painted Rocks

One of the most common questions newcomers to Go Rock Go ask is, “Do you need to seal your rocks before putting them outside?” You absolutely need to complete this step if you plan to hide your painted rocks or display them outdoors. A good weatherproof sealer for outdoor use keeps your rock art looking vibrant and protects it from the elements so others can find it, no matter the weather.

Our favorite, tried-and-true sealer for painted rocks going outside is Duraclear by Americana. It’s widely available, in several finishes (matte, glossy, triple thick), non-toxic and guaranteed weatherproof!

Rocks: The Canvas for Your Rock Art

The final, and arguably the most important, supply for rock painting ideas is, of course, the rocks themselves! You have three main options for sourcing your painting surfaces:

Buy Rocks: Look for local landscaping companies, as they often sell rocks by the pound for a very inexpensive price. Amazon also offers a variety of exceptionally smooth rocks perfect for smooth rock painting.

Source Naturally: If you choose to collect rocks from nature, be sure to check local regulations and laws in your area regarding the removal of rocks from natural landscapes.

Make Your Own Rocks: For the more adventurous crafters, you can even create your own rocks using a pre-made mix and molds, ensuring a consistent shape and smooth surface for your custom painted rocks.

Additionally Amazon has some great choices for rock painting like these found here. Super smooth and already cleaned, these offer a superior painting surface you can’t find naturally.

For those who want to explore making their own, we recommend Perfect Cast and molds from the Happy Dotting Company.

These four categories cover the very basics you need to successfully embark on your rock painting hobby. What comes next is only limited by your imagination! The real magic happens when an idea takes shape on the rock, and your own personal artistic style shines through.

For more product ideas and recommendations check out the Amazon store.

Tips for Beginners: Starting Your Rock Painting Journey

Start Small, Experiment, and Find Your Unique Style for Rock Art

Social media is filled with examples of painted rocks, ranging from beginner-friendly designs to highly advanced masterpieces, and even some AI-generated creations.

The most important thing to remember when you start painting beautiful rocks is not to compare your unique art and style to anything you see online.

To remember:

Practice on paper to lay out designs and ideas that you like.
Experiment with different colors, shapes, and even words to discover what techniques work best for you.
Don’t conform to what you think painted rocks must look like. Express yourself authentically.
Borrow inspiration from artists you admire. Don’t copy their work but rather adopt your own personal style to it and make it uniquely your own. Can’t do realistic paintings? Go for cartoon, whimsical or a sketch-type vibe instead!
Believe you are an artist, because yes, rock painting is art.
Download our FREE Beginners Guide to Rock Painting here for more in-depth information and creative ideas.
Sign up to track your painted kindness rocks at Go Rock Go and watch kindness travel!