30+ Easy Rock Painting Ideas Anyone Can Make
The only thing better than one easy painted rock idea is lots of easy rock painting ideas! I’ve collected a variety of simple designs to give you a place to jumpstart your own creativity. From dot painting to decoupage, you’ll find an idea you can’t wait to try.
Sure, you can paint complicated, time intensive designs on smooth stones. But sometimes you’re just looking for some quick, down-and-dirty crafting time, a way to relax, or want to practice some rock painting techniques.
Having some easy stone painting ideas handy when you’re just starting out and getting used to rock art is also a great idea. You can skip that “what should I paint” dilemma and start your painted rock projects right away. In fact, some of the best rock painting ideas are the easiest to create.
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How to Paint Rocks for Beginners
As a rock painting beginner, its common to get overwhelmed by all the possibilities. Instead, keep these fun ideas saved and choose a creative idea from the list when you’re ready to paint. All the ideas on this list have fantastic tutorials, so you can follow along step-by-step.
For best results, I recommend starting out simple when you’re buying stone painting supplies for beginners. Then, as you discover how and what you enjoy painting, add in more of the best rock painting supplies that fit your style. To start, you will only need the basics:
- acrylic paints in a variety of colors
- paint brushes, for base coat and details
- smooth rocks (check out my handy-dandy guide to find perfect flat rocks for painting)
- clear sealer if placing rocks outside
Rock painting with Kids
Painting rocks is a great craft for kids of all ages! When painting flat stones with kids*, choose projects that let their imaginations run wild.
Let them choose their own colors or ideas within the design instead of a prescribed specific project. They’ll have a fun activity, and a great way to explore their own creativity.
For younger children, supplies may include inexpensive acrylic paint pens instead of a paint brush and bottled acrylics (to contain the mess.) Kids can have a great time gluing other crafty bits and pieces onto their rock crafts as well, but please be earth-aware when choosing your embellishments.
Instead of googly eyes, stick on gems, acrylic yarns, or other plastics that can fall off into the environment and cause harm, choose biodegradable options. Here are some great additions that are also environmentally friendly:
- smaller rocks or shells
- biodegradable glitter made from plants
- pasta shapes
- seeds, beans, and lentils
- cut paper or recycled magazine pages
- colored sand
*Please use proper supervision when crafting with young children
Easy Designs for Rock Painting
I made these fun little painted rocks using my favorite rock painting supplies at a girls’ crafternoon while I was chatting away.
Paint a blended ombre gradient on a heart-shaped rock to make a sweet surprise for someone to find. I used shiny 3D paint to add a dotted heart to emphasize the rock shape.
Draw a variety of arrows using paint pens to add some fun to a travel-themed design. Fine tipped markers are perfect for details and for writing words on rocks. I used these paint pens (my favorite for painting rocks).
Layers of paint sponged onto a dark navy background created this fun galaxy painted rock. I spritzed on white paint flecks for the tiny stars, then added my constellation using silver paint. See the full Galaxy Painted Rock tutorial.
Did I make up my very own crown constellation? Why yes I did!
I used a stencil to create this trio of mushrooms on a natural speckled rock. Stenciling on rocks can be difficult because of the irregular surface, so I just barely stippled paint to get the general shape of the design.
Once I removed the stencil, I went back with paint markers and brushes to paint details and fine lines.
Busy? No Problem!
Obviously you can’t make all these cute painted rocks at once. Make sure you pin these ideas to your favorite crafty Pinterest board so you can reference them when you’re ready for another idea.
More Easy Rock Painting Ideas For All Ages
I've collected some of the easiest rock painting ideas from across the internet. Each can be made quickly, with minimal supplies.
Skip the fuss and get painting right away using one of these easy dotting, painting, or decoupaging ideas to decorate your smooth river stones.
Dot Painting on Rocks for Beginners
There's something about dotted designs that just radiate happiness. Painted dots in different sizes are easy to make using a round paintbrush, a dotting tool set, or things you find around the house.
These little circles can create an adorable background or make up the design itself. Try these easy rock painting ideas using dots:
Painted Heart Rocks
Painted dot circles are an easy idea for embellishing heart painted rocks for Valentine's Day or gifting.
Painted Paisley Stones
Use dots as accents on this paisley design over a black background.
Puffy Paint Dots
Use puffy paint to make easy painted rock designs like stars and rainbows with extra dimension.
Dotted Garden Markers
Outline your painted stones with rings of coordinating colored dots like in these garden marker rocks.
Dot-Painted Flower Stones
Flowers are an easy idea to paint on rocks using dots. You can make the entire pattern using a paintbrush or dotting tools.
Easy Painted Animal Rocks
Painted animal rocks are always a good choice. Everyone has a favorite animal, and the design can be as simple as a solid white background with black panda face details.
Or draw a rainbow unicorn head, sunning turtle, or bright ladybug on your stones. Check out these simple painted rock animal designs:
Harry Potter and the Painted Stone
Make an owl (and a pun!) to go with your favorite Harry Potter book.
Ladybug and Bumble Bee Tic-Tac-Toe
Cute rock ladybugs and striped bumblebee stones meet in this adorable version of a favorite game.
Unicorn Painted Rock
Painted rock animals can be the mythical kind too. Make a unicorn rock in bright colors using pearlized shimmer paints.
Pokemon Go Rocks
Paint animals from your favorite video game and bring your virtual characters into the real world.
Painted Rock Sharks
Let the shape of your stone decide the type of painted rock animal you make.
Simple Inspirational Rocks to Paint
With the enormous popularity of hiding and finding inspirational painted rocks, (and the Kindness Rocks Project) some of the most common things to paint are positive phrases on rocks.
Paint short one-word motivators or longer encouraging quotes. Inspirational painted stones are an easy rock art idea that also sends some love to the world.
Easy Stamped Kindness Rocks
Use your stamp stash to write your inspirational message and add decorations. Who says you need brushes to paint rocks?
Decorative Garden Stones
Decoupage positive messages from your coloring pages onto painted rocks for an easy decoration.
Gratitude Stones
Glue printed phrases onto smooth stones, paint over, and add doodles to make meaningful decorated rocks to share.
Motivational Painted Rock Paper Weights
Freehand write motivational phrases on painted stones to give as little gifts.
Feel Good Painted Rocks
Hand letter motivating phrases with a small round liner brush to make these tone-on-tone simple inspriational painted rocks.
Stone Painting Ideas for Kids
The best part about all these simple rock painting designs is that, with a few adjustments, they're easy, fun crafts for any age group or skill level.
Painted Monster Rocks – Halloween Crafts for Kids
Rock monsters are an easy idea when many age groups are crafting together. From basic paints to involved embellishing, there are unlimited possibilities!
Rock Mushrooms
Turn easy dotted red rocks into mushrooms with a little glue. These would make an adorable addition to a fairy garden or gnome home.
Nail Polish Rocks - Easy Rock Painting Ideas for Kids
These colorful swirled stones are made with nail polish! What a fun way to use up any extra colors you may already have at home.
Flower painted rocks, an easy kid or adult craft handmade gift idea
Decorate smooth rocks with flowers and leaves, then place them in a tiny pot for a gift of flowers that never wilt!
The Pet Rock Revisited
For a fun twist, tweens and teens can paint faces inspired by famous artists. What a fun way to tie into an art history lesson! Younger kids can turn their painted faces into pet rocks instead.
Painted Rock Art Tutorial
Few things are easier to paint on stones than simple geometrics. Older kids can paint the backgrounds and the designs, while base coats can be done in advance for the youngest. Using white paint to make all the different patterns ties the whole batch together.
Creative dot painting technique perfect for kids and beginners
From toddlers to teens, all kids can paint polka dots on rocks. Use specific dotting tools or use objects from around the house. These dotted rocks were made using pencil erasers.
Rock Art Idea Books
I've listed some suggestions for idea books filled with things to paint on stones. They're a great place to gather suggestions, learn specific patterns, or even pair with rock painting pens for a crafty gift idea. Whether you're 3 or 93, anyone can have fun painting rocks!
Mandala Rock Painting Made Simple: Step-by-Step Instructions for Timeless Designs
Recognize this author? Yep, this is the book I wrote. I teach you how to set up and paint easy rock mandalas, along with how to choose colors and the best paints to use. Start with the 25 easy stone mandala tutorials in the book, then branch out and design your own.
Rock Art Critters: Paint the Perfect Pebble
Create 40 cute painted rock animals, including woodland creatures, zoo favorites, garden creatures, and more.
Rock Painting For Beginners: Simple Step-by-Step Techniques
This book gives step-by-step instructions to create your own beautiful painted rocks. Beginners will learn how to make mini works of art―one simple and easy rock painting technique at a time.
The Little Book of Rock Painting
This portable-sized book is filled with creative exercises, art prompts, templates, and step-by-step projects. It's interactive and engaging, and covers techniques not seen in other rock painting idea books.
Rock Art Handbook
30 rock painting ideas, including how to use non-paint materials like puffy paint, acrylics, oil pastels, alcohol inks, gelatos, art pens, watercolors, and more.
Pin these easy painting ideas for rocks to make later:
Your shares are how this site grows, and I am genuinely appreciative when you do. Pin to your favorite Christmas Pinterest board or share this idea to a craft group on Facebook.
Thanks so much for including our stamped Kindness Rocks blog! Loving all of these awesome painting ideas.
I loved that idea, and the project is so pretty. Thanks for visiting!
Thanks so much for including my garden stones! I love this blog – so many cute ideas!
Your work is beautiful, thanks for stopping by!