The stones are often not considered objects of great importance or great value except those that are considered jewels, that is, precious crystals. However, stones or rocks can also be beautiful decorative ornaments that we can use to decorate our pots, a fish tank or a garden. So we want to teach you how to paint stones easily.
In the case of decorative stones that we will not introduce underwater, we can paint them and give them a personalized touch using our creativity to decorate them. To achieve this we just have to learn how to paint stones. The truth is that painting stones is not a really difficult task, we just have to learn what type of stones are best for us and prepare them to be able to paint them.
The best stones to paint are river stones, this is because they are quite smooth stones and have very different figures, in this way, depending on the shape of the stone, we can make a figure with a certain touch of realism. Using our imagination and talent, we can paint anything we want on a stone.
The best thing about painting with stones is that we can express our imagination in an unlimited way when painting on them. It is good to learn how to paint stones because in this way we take advantage of a material that nature has left within our reach and with which we can make a vast diversity of decorative works.
That is why we recommend you read the instructions and tips found throughout the guide that you can see below.
Instructions for painting stones with Colors
- The first thing we must do is select the stones that we are going to use to make our paintings. It is important that you choose the stones according to the size and shape that suits the figures you want to create. Some stones have a shape a bit similar to that of some animals, so we can draw animals on them. We can also draw other types of beings, objects or other things on them. This will depend on our criteria and what we want to paint on them.
- Once we have the stones, it is very important to wash them perfectly. The reason why we wash the stones is because when the stones are dirty, when painting them, not only will we collect bacteria and dirt, but this dirt will prevent the paint from adhering properly on the stone. In addition to that, the dirtier the stone, the more opaque the colors will be once we paint it. For these reasons it is extremely important that the stones are perfectly clean.
- To clean the stones, all we have to do is place them in warm or hot water. The dirtier the stone is, the hotter the water in which we place it should be. By submerging the stones in water, we are allowing the dirt adhered to them to come off more easily. When the water is not too hot, we can use a brush to carve the stone in a circular way to remove the rest of the residues that may be attached to it.
- Dirt can sometimes be very difficult to clean. You may find yourself needing to use a cleaning detergent to properly clean the stone. Your regular dish cleaner can be a perfect tool to wash the stones, but you can also use laundry detergent, or scrub the head of the brush into a bar of soap and use it on the stones later. Then you just need to rinse.
- The movement that we will make with the brush must be circular so that the bristles can clean all the possible holes and clear the dirt. It is quite similar to the movements that are made when brushing teeth. It really is not very difficult, the important thing is to clean and polish the stone very well, it is even better that the brush is a hard brush, in this way we will obtain the best cleaning result.
- The next thing will be to let the stones dry very well, for this we only have to put them on top of some paper without paint and put them under the hot sun, or we can use the hand dryer with the stones to eliminate any trace of moisture. The humidity of the stones can cause dust or some type of dirt to stick to them, or prevent the paint from adhering well later. That is why the cleaner and drier the stone is, the better the results will be.
- Once our stones are dry, we can start painting them. For this you must be clear about what kind of figures are the ones you want to paint on the stones. You can determine this by observing the shape of the stone and visualizing in it the image you want to capture. It is also worth improvising, although it is advisable to have a basic idea of how to start.
- To make the colors appear stronger, you can start by covering the entire stone with white paint. You can apply this using a spray, or with a brush and paint. Solvent acrylic paint in water is a good option, but you can use the product you always have as long as it is liquid paint.
- On this white base, we can place the colors we want. In this way, we will have turned our stone into a blank canvas on which we can apply any color that occurs to us without it losing its essence or charm since its contrast and brilliance will be reinforced by the white base that we applied previously.
- It is very important that we do not add too much paint. Depending on how runny the paint is, it could run on the stone, affecting the figure we were drawing. That is why you must take special care that the density of the paint is adequate for the drawing you are making. It is also important that you be careful when applying the paint and that you use the right brushes to avoid discontent when painting. It is also possible that you need to let the paint dry before putting more paint on your work.
- After painting the figure we wanted, you can now apply the sealing enamel or gloss lacquer. The reason why we apply this last layer is to make sure that the drawings last longer attached to the stone, and in addition to prolonging the durability of our paint, we will also be able to clean our stones more easily since the enamel allows a better cleaning when using a damp cloth.
What do you need to paint stones with Colors?
- Stones or river rocks
- Acrylic or vinyl paint
- Water
- Soap
- Toothbrush
- Brushes
Tips for painting stones with Colors
- It is not recommended to try to paint the stones with pencils. Colored pencils generally do not provide enough pigmentation on the rocks, which is why we recommend using liquid paints, as these are often more pigmented and allow for greater durability.
- Because painting is an art and art is a means of expression, you don’t have to follow any rules. You can paint whatever you like on the stone.
- If you still do not know what type of figure you would like to paint on the stones, you can base yourself on one of the images found throughout the article. In this way you can have a basic shape or image that can guide you to start painting your stones.
- If you liked this article, keep reading this one that will be just as interesting: How to Paint Stones