Rock Painting Supplies
This page features the basic list of supplies I use to paint rocks, as well as my step-by-step process for how I clean them and prepare them for painting! There are shoppable affiliate links for the entire list of supplies that allow me to earn commissions on qualifying purchases, and each product you see is a product I own myself and use regularly for painting rocks!
Rock Painting Supply List
1. Toothbrush
Depending on where you source your rocks, a toothbrush can be very handy for cleaning them! Before painting, I wash my rocks with hot water and use a cheap toothbrush to scrub them clean. If they’re super dirty, sometimes I even use a bit of dish soap or rubbing alcohol. Depending on the surface of the rocks you find, scrubbing them can be pretty harsh on the brushes you use to clean them so I like to buy them in sets so I have some extras!
2. Paint brushes
Similar to the toothbrush when cleaning, the surface of your rocks can also be really harsh on your paint brushes. Because of this, I like to buy sets of cheaper brushes to use so I don’t have to worry about ruining my nice ones! This can also be helped by simply making an effort not to be too rough with your paint brushes
3. Gesso
Some rocks are extremely smooth, but lots of them can be pretty rough with lots of cracks, blemishes, and crevices effecting the surface. Gesso is the primer I use to cover up these imperfections and prepare the surface of my rocks for painting. I use a paint brush to apply 2-3 coats to the entire outer surface of my rocks, and another reason I do this is to help my paint colors ‘pop’
4. White Paint
Another alternative to gesso would be to prime your rock with white paint before adding other colors and designs. Paint won’t cover up imperfections on the surface as well as primer, but anything is better than nothing and the bright white still helps your others paints stand out that much more!
5. Craft paint
Any craft acrylic paint will work for painting rocks and it usually takes 2-3 coats to get full coverage, unless you ‘bubble’ it on thick like I do for smaller areas and details which is essentially just tapping your brush to the rock and allowing the paint to sit like a water droplet on the surface. DecoArt is by far my favorite brand to use because their paints tend to be pretty opaque and they offer some of the most vibrant colors!
6. Clear Varnish
After my painted rocks have had a change to fully dry, I seal them with a clear varnish. From spray paint, modge podge, resin, etc—there are several ways and products you can you to seal your rocks with a glossy, satin, or matte finish. Click the link below to check out the brand of varnish I use most often, which I apply using a paint brush and can safely use indoors without ventilation!
Step by Step Instructions:
1. Find or purchase rocks to paint
2. Scrub rocks clean with hot soapy water and a toothbrush
3. After rocks dry, coat with 1-3 layers of primer or white paint
4. Paint your rocks, drying between coats
5. Once paint is dry, seal rocks with clear varnish