There are sharp rocks, round rocks, lumpy rocks and layered rocks.
Asking how to paint a rock is a little like asking how to paint the sky.
There are infinite variables, but there are some basic guides that can make painting rocks not such a hard topic.
Rocky Road To Travel
First, take a close look at the type of rock you are going to paint and in what context will it be presented. If you are doing a landscape in which there is a rocky shore along a waterway, you are certainly not going to paint individual rocks. You will be painting the essence of the shore. If, on the other hand, you will be painting the side of a craggy cliff, there may be a need to add detail if this is a focal point in the painting.
There may be occasions in which the artist will need to examine and paint in detail a group of rocks. A water portrait of fish swimming in a clear shallow pool comes to mind. Rock walls or fences may be painted in detail, and a photorealist can decide an ultra-close view of the ground, including rocks, may be just the message he is trying to relate.
All Rocks Are Not Created Equally
Rocks are not all brown. Depending on the geographic location, rocks can be nearly any color of the rainbow. Learn a little about different types of rocks and their characteristics, just as you would any other subject for a painting. As with any subject, they have character traits specific to their variety, which varies a great deal.
The first step to painting rocks is to make a medium to light colored mixture of your paint in the basic coloration the stone will have. If the rocks have sharp edges, use a flat end brush and make light, erratic general shapes of the rocks. Vary the color, adding cool tones if the rock is warm or some warm tones if the rock is cool toned. As the rock takes on a definite shape, with edges and geometric form, expand on creating a solid, believable surface. Continue to solidify all the planes, keeping in mind how they intersect. Add shading, deformities and fissures. It is a little like sculpting except you are adding to create the shape, not removing material.
Dry Brush For Texture
Using dry brush can add texture and interest to many surfaces, including stone. Shale, quartz and other stone with striation can be portrayed nicely using dry brush technique. Develop the basic formation and coloration and when the area is dry, make further developments to the surfaces of the rock with accent color and slight gradations with a dry brush tipped lightly into the paint.
Plastic Wrap Locks In Freshness
If watercolor or watery acrylic is the medium, plastic wrap can be an inventive way to develop basic shapes for both individual stones and cliff faces. With juicy paint, lay out areas in different tones for the basis of the rocks. While the paint is still wet, take a piece of kitchen plastic wrap and erratically place it over the paint. Now walk away from your painting. Stay away until that paint has thoroughly dried. When you are sure, remove the plastic and see what kind of rocks you have created.
You have a perfectly good mess that you can use as a base to define all those rocks or that cliff you want for your landscape. Look at each section, and use your imagination to create the illusion of rocks. This is a fun activity that one may rush through at high speed or dawdles over, finding more and more happy little rocks peeking out. Rock wall are easily painted in this fashion, as are riverbeds.
Flinging Paint
Well-worn stones, those that are all rounded edges, need particular attention so they do not end up looking like potatoes. Shading and shadows, fissures and divots add to the overall appearance and should be considered when a stone starts to look like an Idaho baker.
A trick one can use in any medium is spattering. In a very small container, prepare a watery mixture of paint that is in stark contrast to the base colors of the stones. Load a toothbrush with the mixture and using your finger, palette knife or craft stick to run over the bristles, spray dots of color over the stone or rocky area. If the area is dry, the speckles will stand out. If there is moisture, the dots may blend in to different degrees. This can be useful, and different effects can be achieved by the timing used in applying the spatter. It may be necessary to protect surrounding areas of your painting from overspray. Lay scrap paper on adjacent areas that would not benefit from the sprinkles.
Light Salted
Another trick that is used for both watercolor and acrylic painted as watercolor is salt. For this technique, the artist does not use table salt, as it is too finely ground to make any effect. Kosher salt and coarse sea salt can be used to make erratic, interesting textures on a subject. Different salts behave in different manners, so experimenting with different types of salt is recommended to observe the variety of patterns they form, and at what density they perform best.
Paint the rocky area with juicy paints, varying the color to create color interest. Sprinkle the salt, being careful not to use too much. Again, walk away and go do something else for a while. When the paint has perfectly dried, use a whiskbroom or paper towel and brush the salt away. You might be surprised to see twinkling stars or bursting fireworks where you thought you were painting rocks. Or you may see meandering fissures and trails of color.
This is, once again, a basis from which to develop the cracks and creases and ridges of your rocks. Use the impressions left by the salt to guide you in developing the surfaces. Cover some up, emphasis others, use them as paint-by-number lines. They are an easy way to let your imagination flow as you see the rocks emerge from your chaos.
Use the variety of your palette to make interesting, colorful stones and rock formations. Remember, a painter has artistic license and can maximize and enhance to his heart’s content. Rocks may not be a large part of your portfolio and may only occasionally appear on your canvas, but their basic organic appeal is universal.
Stones can be very beautiful and are worth the effort to learn to paint well.
Now, after all this, if you decide you don’t want to paint rocks, but paint on rocks… Well, I’ve got you covered.
Keep reading… :)
How to Paint a Rock
Decorative rock painting is a craft the whole family can enjoy. The materials are relatively simple, inexpensive and rocks are available everywhere.
Colorful Beginnings
Acrylic paint is a quick-drying, waterproof paint that works well for painting rocks. Inexpensive student grade or crafter’s paint is widely available in a broad range of colors. Using craft grade paint is suitable for this type of creation and purchasing basic colors that can be mixed to make other hues keeps the paint costs down. Buy black, white, brown and the primary colors and add others as the budget allows.
Brush Up On Your Supplies
The brushes need not be costly or even numerous. Craft brushes are appropriate for this kind of work, as the surface being painted is hard and may be rough. Bristles are delicate and cannot stand a great deal of abuse, so less costly brushes are an economical choice. Smaller brushes of one inch or less are probably all that are needed for the size stones the artist will paint. Both flats and rounds are useful and a small selection of sizes in both varieties will make painting uncomplicated.
Use disposable plastic pans, trays and bowls for palettes and mixing containers. This is a great summer activity for youngsters to do outdoors so spills and mishaps are non-issues, and using disposable containers makes cleanup effortless.
Rock-Solid Support
There are two main ideas for painting rocks. One is to use the rock surface as a support on which to create a painting. Painting a scene or subject upon a rock is much akin to painting on any typical support. It is just irregular in shape and probably smaller than the typical canvas. This is not the type of painting featured here.
However, many rocks are hiding a creature inside who is waiting to come out and join the world. There may be a bunny or dog, kitten or panda bear lurking just behind the surface, and all it takes is your creativity and a little paint to welcome him into your life.
Gather a selection of stones and spend some time getting to know them. Look for indications of who they are. Turn them over to get a good look from different angles. Look at all those bumps and hollows as potential ears, nose, head or paws. Who knows what might pop out?
Painted Pets
The rock has been chosen; the animal inside has been established and now comes the fun part. Mix the base color of the animal coat and paint the stone to establish a color starting point. Use a contrasting wax or chalk pencil to sketch the basic details once this layer has dried.
Eyes, ears, mouth and nose details are painted and allowed to dry. Use fine-line paintbrushes or fine permanent markers for tiny details like the rims around the eyes or whiskers. When using acrylic paint, if there is a mistake, it can be removed quickly with a paper towel moistened with water. However, this must be done before the paint dries.
If your creature has fur, use a fine round brush to lay in areas of contrasting hairs. Not every inch of the animal need have hairs covering it. Creases, such as the bend of a leg or arm, the tail wrapping around the body or the crease of the neck joining into the shoulders can be accented with brushstrokes to emulate fur.
Paint delicate feathers in a leaf-like fashion if your creature is a bird. Some larger feathers, perhaps those on the back or wings, may be painted in greater detail for effect and add contrast and impact to the little fellow.
Protecting The Wildlife
Once your little friend is completed, a clear final coat may be a good idea. His finish may be lack-luster or spotty, or his coat may not have the surface you desire. Apart from a healthy diet and regular grooming, the only other way to achieve the sheen to his fur is a clear coat of acrylic. This is available in high gloss, satin, and matte finish. The choice of finish is personal and will help protect your creation from damage.
Once you start painting animals, you will find a new face in every rock you happen upon. Creating a menagerie for yourself and other pet-less friends and relatives is a fun hobby and creative outlet. Children and adults will both enjoy the challenge of finding interesting rocks subjects and the fun of seeing who shows up once the painting is complete.
So whether you’re painting rocks or painting on rocks, it’s all fun…
Rock on!
