Rock painting is a fun and creative way to bring animal designs to life.
Whether crafting with family or looking for a relaxing DIY project, follow these steps to create your adorable animal rock collection.
What You’ll Need
- Smooth, medium-sized rocks with flat surfaces
- Acrylic paint made for rock surfaces (e.g., DecoArt Americana Multi-Surface Satin paint)
- Fine-tipped brushes for detail work
- A bowl of soapy water and an old toothbrush for cleaning rocks
- Clear sealant for protection
Step 1: Choose and Prepare Your Rocks
Find rocks with smooth surfaces that are the right size for your design. Flat rocks work best for most animal shapes.
Wash the rocks with soapy water to remove dirt and debris. Use an old toothbrush to scrub them clean and let them dry completely.
Step 2: Gather Your Paints and Brushes
Choose acrylic paints designed for rock painting. Popular colours for animals include:
- Orange Sherbet for foxes
- Dolphin grey for owls
- Cocoa Bean brown for bears
- Yellow and black for bumblebees
Use fine-tipped brushes to detail features like eyes, whiskers, and stripes.
Step 3: Start with Simple Designs
Begin with beginner-friendly animal designs.
- For foxes, paint the entire rock with Orange Sherbet. Add a white triangle for the face and black details for the nose and eyes.
- Owls are easy to create by painting the rock Dolphin grey, adding large white circles for eyes, and adding a yellow beak in the centre.
- To make bears, paint the rock Cocoa Bean brown, then use black and white paint for the nose and facial details.
- Bumblebees can be made by painting alternating yellow and black stripes, finishing with small wings in white or grey.
Step 4: Add Details
Once the base paint dries, use fine-tipped brushes to add small features like eyes, noses, whiskers, or fur patterns. Take your time to keep the details neat and precise.
Step 5: Seal Your Animal Rocks
Once your animal rocks are dry, apply a clear sealant to protect your design and make the colours pop. This step also ensures your painted rocks will stay fresh and vibrant for a long time.
These animal-painted rocks make great decorations, gifts, or keepsakes. They’re also perfect for family crafting activities and encourage creativity for all ages.
