I do have quite a few hobbies and every now and then I add “just one more”. My husband often shakes his head, but he supports me in every way. Sometimes he is the reason why I start something new.
I like to stay busy and I like variety. This is why I rotate my hobbies. It all depends on the season and my mood.
Unfortunately, life can get busy from time to time. It’s important to carve out some personal time when I want time to relax and forget the busy world around me. But then I wonder: “Do I have the time to get all the materials ready and set up everything?” Sometimes the answer is no. Yet I feel the need to create something. This is when rock painting comes in handy. Especially when using acrylic paint markers. They come in a wide variety of colors. It is a quick and easy way to get some creativity into my life.
It is fun for yourself and you can include the kids. You don’t have to prepare much, set up and cleanup is quick and you can do it anywhere.
Last year we had to remove my beloved little pond. Over the years it had become brittle and started to lose water. We had a lot of river rocks around the pond that we had to remove. I scrubbed the rocks with a brush and soapy water and stored them in a bucket.
Ok, so let’s get started.
Materials needed:
- Rocks (smooth, any shape, any size will work)
- Pencil or chalk pencil (optional, for sketching a design on the rock)
- Acrylic markers (I use Posca Pens)
- Paper towels
- Clear coat of choice for protection and added shine (optional. *See note)
Take your rock and clean it with a small amount of dish soap and water. Use a brush or sponge to scrub if it seems a little more dirty. Rinse well. Make sure you dry it completely or the paint won’t adhere properly.
If you’d like, you can sketch out a design on your rock with your pencil. Funny faces, flowers, an inspirational quote, just to name a few.
I took one of my rocks and sketched a very loose outline for my ladybug.
My rocks are quite dark. I’ll add another layer with some markers for better coverage.
Let the paint dry between coats and when using different colors next to each other, so the colors won’t mix.
This rock I chose to place dots. The colors pop nicely against the dark background. A simple wiggly line of dots.
Let the rocks dry overnight. The best thing is to let them dry in place. You can move them to a different location if you’d like, just be mindful on how you touch them. You don’t want to ruin your beautiful artwork.
The next day if you choose to do so, you can apply the clear coat. Make sure you do this outside or in a well ventilated area due to the fumes.
Here are my finished rocks.
These are simple to make. There is hardly any preparation needed. The materials needed are kept to a least amount. You can involve children.
You don’t have to be an expert, just have fun!
Notes
I use Rust-oleum 2X Ultra cover, gloss clear. It is non-yellowing and UV resistant. If you are displaying your painted rocks around the house, it isn’t really necessary to clear coat them. Remember, to clean them with a dry soft cloth in case they get dusty. Never use a wet wipe or soak them in water.)