Best Paint for Rocks and Other Tips

The best paint for rocks is no secret, it is acrylic paint! When it comes to acrylic paint though, there are many choices. You will find here a description of the choices for acrylics and why to use each, as well as many other paint and coatings options to give you ultimate creativity in your rock painting designs.

Rock painting is a craft that has become an entertaining activity for young and old alike! Rocks are painted for decoration, to hide and find, or to share a kind message. No matter the reason painting rocks is sure to be fun!

Best Paint for Rocks

Best Acrylic Paint for Rocks

Many paints can be used for rock painting but by far the most used and easiest to work with is acrylic.  Acrylic paint seals well to the rock and is bright.  Another great feature of acrylic paint is that it is water soluble.  This means that clean up can be done with water.  If you catch a painting error before it dries, a Q-tip and water will even erase the mistake.

From left to right rock art by Leiza Johnson, Tara Carter, and Lori Lynn from Anchorage Rocks.

Not All Acrylics Are the Same 

• Outdoor Acrylic Paint: This paint is designed to be used outside. It is tough and has a UV protectant which will keep the colors bright. You do not have to seal your rock if you use outdoor acrylic.
  • Arteza Outdoor Acrylic Paint
  • Magicfly Outdoor Acrylic Paint  
• Multi Surface Acrylic Paint: This one is specifically made for all kinds of surfaces and that is why it works good on rocks. Generally this is thicker and one coat will be enough.
  • Deco Art Americana Multi-Surface Satin Acrylics
  • Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Acrylics
• Acrylic Craft Paint: The great thing about this acrylic paint is that it is inexpensive and can be purchased just about anywhere that craft items are sold. Craft paint may require extra coats and should be sealed. 
  • Apple Barrel Essentials Acrylic Paint
  • Acrylic Paint Value Set by Craft Smart Bright

Rock art by Dezarae Brooke, Anchorage Rocks

Oil (Not Best Paint for Rocks)

Oil paints can be used but I would not recommend this.  They are much more difficult to work with and take a long time to cure.  Also, if the intent is to trade or leave the rock outside, they may not hold up to the weather.  Because oil paints are oil based, clean up of brushes and workspace will need to be done using mineral spirits.  Special sealer protective varnish such as Soluvar will also need to be used to keep the paint from chipping.

One exception to this is oil markers. They are advertised for use on rocks. Double check your product for sealing recommendations.      

Best Paint Pens for Rocks

If you aren’t interested in brushing paint onto your rocks then paint pens are for you!  Many rock artists use paint pens alone or in combination with brushed acrylic paint.  

Paint pens are especially useful when it comes to writing messages, which is how all this rock painting started in the first place!  

Rock Art by Kelly Shrein find her on Etsy as RocksByKelly.

Recommended Paint Pens

• Posca Acrylic Paint Pens
• Pintar Acrylic Paint Pens
• Tooli Paint Pens
• Artistro Paint Marker Pen

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If you are on a budget then try Craftsmart Paint Pens or Elmer’s Painters Paint Marker. Members of my local rock group said they had good luck with these!

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Another great way to use paint pens is for Dotting Art.  

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From left to right Easter rock art by Amber Schiller, Lori Lynn, and Lori Lynn from Anchorage Rocks.

Best Alternative Paint for Rocks

• Nail polish
• Puffy paint
• Chalk paint or chalk (must seal)
• Colored Pencil (be sure to seal)
• Glow In The Dark Paint

Alternative Rock Decorating Options

• Melted Crayon Rock as done by The Artful Parent
• Temporary Tattoo Rock by Happy Go Lucky
• Adding accessories like hair and eyes (not for outside)

Rock art by Danyelle Dawn, Anchorage Rocks

Best Rocks to Paint

Look for smooth rocks with flat surfaces.  Paint does not adhere well to rocks that are very rough in texture.   

Where to Find Rocks For Painting

If you live in an area prolific with rocks then you may be able to find them as close as your backyard!  

Areas around natural waters edge such as lakes or the ocean have the best rocks because they have been rounded off and smoothed by the water.  Depending on where you live it may or may not be legal to take home rocks from these areas so double check first!

Another great way to find rocks for painting is to go to a landscaping supplier or gravel distributor.  For a small charge they will usually let you pick through their supply.

If you are really in a pinch for rocks you can also buy them from Amazon, Lowe’s and Home Depot!

Lastly molds can be used to make rocks instead! Check them out below.

Rock Painting Supplies

1. Rocks (see above)
2. Paint
3. Brushes and Tools
4. Sealer

How to Prepare Rocks For Painting

Clean

Make sure they are clean.  Spray the rocks outside with a hose if possible.  If a hose is not available then brush them clean the best you can and then finish with a rinse in the sink or a run through the dishwasher. For tough rocks you may need to use a mild detergent.

Base Coat

Some rock artists prefer to seal their rocks before painting either with a light coat of sealing spray or painting a base color.  Another base option is Gesso, a chalk based surface prep.

How to Paint Rocks

Brushes and Tools for Painting Rocks

The only thing you need to paint rocks is paint!

A few other tools, such as a brush, can be nice to have on hand. If you are using acrylics as suggested then make sure the brush you choose is intended for use with acrylic paint. If painting rocks with pens then you won’t even need a brush!

Fun Rock Painting Tools

• Brushes of differing size
• Dotting tools – used to make dots
• Makeup wedge sponges– use for painting base coat
• Q-tips- use for dotting or clean up

Painting Rock Ideas

• Ladybugs
  • Simple Everyday Mom has a really nice instruction for painting ladybugs.
• Acrylic Pour Painting
  • Learn how to make swirls and acrylic pour paint with Rock Painting 101!
• Mandalas
  • Lydia May has a creative video using dotting tools found around the house to create Mandalas.

Rock art by Patricia Campo, Anchorage Rocks

Planning Design For Painting On Rock

• Sketch with a pencil the design on the prepared rock. This is an easy way to get little kids painting rocks as it is like coloring in a coloring book.
• Paint the rock using your paint of choice.
• After painting you may want to outline the design using paint pens.

Owl rock art by Kali Allen and DD age 5

Sealing Acrylic Paint

Sealing painted rocks is very important if you plan to leave them outside or participate in seek and find rock groups.  Spray sealing and Modge Podge are the most popular options for sealing. The following are other products used for sealing acrylic painted rocks.

Rock art by Robin Brandt-Lebiedz, AK Pebble Painters and Anchorage Rocks

1. Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating
2. Rust-Oleum Crystal Clear Enamel
3. Modge Podge Matte-Mat-Mate 
4. DecoArt triple Thick Brush on Glaze
5. Clear Gorilla Glue
6. Resin

Rock art by Jake Steed, Anchorage Rocks

Sealing Painted Rocks With Resin

The ultimate way to protect your painted rocks is to us art resin. Resin is a thick, durable, clear coat that gives the painted rock a professional finish. It’s hard surface protects the rock art from damages. Resin is usually a two part system that is mixed, applied, and cured. Here are some products to try.

• ArtResin– non toxic
• Glaze Coat
• Sig Wong Epoxy Resin
• Alluminite Amazing Clear Cast
• Art ‘N Glow Clear Casting and Coating Epoxy Resin

Resin can take away the luster from the rock. Try sealing with a matte spray sealer first, to maintain natural luster.

Can You Use Sharpie on Rocks?

Yes, but… they will fade from sun and weather.

Sharpies may also bleed when sealer is applied.  I made this mistake on my rocks (see owl below).  The sealant spray reacted with the Sharpie and made it bleed.

Sharpie oil paint markers do not seem to have the same issue! 

Tips for Outside Painted Rocks

• Use Sealer
• Do not decorate with “stick on” items or paint that may come off.

Please don’t add attachments to rocks you are planning on hiding outside. Things such as glitter, glue on eyes or other stick ons may come off and harm wild life.

DO NOT hide or place rocks in National Parks, most parks have banned painted rocks.

How to Share Your Painted Rocks

Join a Rock Group

The most fun way to share painted rocks is to join a rock group on Facebook.  These groups are designed to hide and share rocks.  The rock painter glues a note on the back that says, “Keep or hide and post to the group.”  The finder takes a picture the painted rock, posts it to Facebook and then keeps or hides the rock in a new location. 

My first introduction to rock painting and hiding rocks was on the island of Kodiak, Kodiak Island Rocks!  The whole island participates in making and hiding rocks!  It is a treasure hunt to find a painted rock!

Most towns and cities have a group! My local group is Anchorage Rocks. Many of my painted rock examples are from this group!

Kindness Rock Project

The Kindness Rocks Project is about sharing inspirational words to make someone’s day better.  The project was started by Megan Murphy in 2015 on Cape Cod.

Megan was always looking for messages in rocks from her late parents, one day she decided to write an inspirational message on a rock and left it on the beach.  Her friend found it and it made her friends day!  She started a kindness rock garden and the idea spread like wildfire. 

Rock art from left to right Kelly Shrein (RocksByKelly), and Lori Lynn, from Anchorage Rocks.

From Kindness Rocks, painted rock groups were born. Here is how Skagit County Rocks Facebook page shares it’s rocks!  “In this space, our members will find a place in which they can contribute to and uplift their community and its members by spreading kindness, positivity, and smiles through painted rocks.”

Other Ideas for Painted Rocks

• Gifts
• Magnets- Turn them into magnets by gluing a magnet to the back.
• Paper weights
• Plant Markers- Paint the name of the plant on the rock.

Rock art by Philip Vanderpol, Anchorage Rocks

My Rock Story

A few years back I was headed out to Kodiak, Alaska. A friend of mine from Kodiak told me to be sure to look for painted rocks while we were there. I met some amazing people on my trip and I made sure that all of them knew about the Kodiak rocks. We found a few rocks and had so much fun searching for and finding them!

One of the people from my trip, Robin and I have stayed in touch. She loved the rock hunt so much that she began to participate in our local rock group in Anchorage, Anchorage Rocks. She is an amazing artist that paints and gifts many rocks in Anchorage, Alaska.

Recently I had expressed that I wanted to start painting rocks with my kids. She completely took me by surprise and gifted us a full rock painting kit, including rocks!!! We have done one round of rocks so far, I am excited for many more to come. You can see her rocks directly below and by clicking here.

A huge shout out goes to my local rock group Anchorage Rocks for sharing their painted rocks for my post! Most of the information I have gathered about paint and painting rocks has been from this group.

Rock art by Tanya Wood, Anchorage Rocks

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Leave me a comment to let me know what you think or if you have any questions!