Sunset on a Rock
I have always admired the great painters. The ones that create beautiful landscapes, portraits, and sunsets. We frequently have beautiful sunsets in Oklahoma. The land is clear of trees and tall buildings so you get a great view of the western sky. The colors are different every evening. I like the way the land and shapes become shadows in the evening – inspiration for painting a sunset on a rock.
Sunset painted rocks are very easy to create. I am going to show you four rocks, using three different techniques. Also, I am going to introduce a new supply: watercolor pencils. You would think that these pencils are only for paper, but they have vibrant effects on rocks and I can’t wait to share them with you.
Painted Sunset on a Rock Examples
Sunsets can come in a variety of colors. They can also vary in the width of the colors and the shapes they create. As you can see from the amount of inspiration below, the possibilities are endless.
Carissia at I Love Painted Rocks has a Halloween inspired design to share. She gives great detail on blending the acrylic paint to create the sunset effect.
I Love Painted Rocks – how to paint spooky Halloween sunset silhouette rocks
Adventure in a box used a gradient background to create different types of silhouette rocks. Some are of sunsets and some are at twilight.
Adventure in a Box – landscape silhouette painted rocks
JoElle at A Crafty Composition has some great examples of sunset rocks. She blended the colors on the rocks to create this effect.
A Crafty Composition – rock painting sunsets and silhouettes
Supply List for Painted Sunset on a Rock
- Smooth, flat Rocks
- Acrylic paint, I used Red, Yellow, Orange, and three shades of blue
- Acrylic paint markers, I used thin and wide black Posca markers
- Paint brushes, thin flat point brush and one brush about as wide as the rock
- DerWent InkTense Pencils, or any brand of watercolor pencils
- Acrylic sealer, spray or paint on
- Other supplies: table cloth, paper plate, cup of water
Painted Sunset on a Rock – Choosing & Priming your Rocks
Rocks are everywhere. But not all rocks are ideal for painting. You can go on a stroll through your neighborhood or park and pick up a few rocks. However, I have found that most of those can be too small or not have much of a flat surface. Purchasing rocks is also an option. You can find them at craft stores, home improvement stores, landscaping companies, or even order them online.
Each of the rocks that I used in this project is different. I looked for smooth flat rocks with a shape that would complement the design I was making. Each one had a different requirement as far as a background color went.
Here is some more information on priming rocks if you would like to read further.
Painted Sunset on a Rock Technique 1: Sponge Painting
The idea behind this rock is to blend the colors on the sponge and then apply. You are going to cover the entire rock before adding the shading and silhouette.
My rock was about 2 inches across. I decided not to put on a primer coat and just let the bright colors pop off of the rock. I started with the basic sunset colors of red, yellow and orange.
I put a generous drop of each on a paper plate and spread them apart a bit. The center spaces allowed me to make some blended colors so I had a total of 5 shades.
I applied the paint to a makeup wedge sponge from light to dark.
Then, I placed the sponge on the face of the rock and pushed the sponge from side to side, keeping everything level. I was trying to have definitive colors and not blend them all together.
If you feel you need a second coat, line up your paint-loaded sponge as best as you can with the existing color lines and repeat the process.
Then using a black Posca marker, I drew in the outline of the ground and the willows.
If you would like more information on paint markers, please click this link.
Painted Sunset on a Rock Technique 2: Gradient Background Using a Wide Brush
Let’s explore another technique for getting a similar effect. In addition to a rock and the basic paint colors of red, yellow, and orange, you will need a wide paintbrush. For the best effect, the brush needs to be about the same width of your rock. I placed a generous dot of each color on the far left of the rock.
Then, I took my wide brush and pulled the paint across the rock. Be careful to keep your brush strokes lined up, or your paint will blend together and not create quite as crisp a gradient.
It is starting to come together.
Once dry, I used a black Posca marker to add the shadowed background. I drew in the ground, palm tree, grass shooting up, and a couple of birds in the sky.
Painted Sunset on a Rock Technique 2: Double Gradient Background Using a Wide Brush
This rock is going to use a very similar technique as above. This time I am going to use two different sets of colors and created two different gradients. The top section used red, yellow, and orange for the sunset.
Then I added three shades of blue, light to dark, for the ocean. I felt that I needed a little better coverage, so I placed dots of paint on the far left and in the middle of the rock.
You can see that there is a definite bottom half and top half to this rock.
I used the barrier between the two sets of colors to draw in the shadowing. I used a black Posca marker to draw the shoreline and a sailboat.
Painted Sunset on a Rock Technique 3: Watercolor Pencils
I am going to introduce a new art product to you, I think it just might change your life. I am loving these InkTense pencils by DerWent. Watercolor pencils are not a new thing, but they may be new to you and I have not seen them used often on rocks. But the results are amazing! The InkTense pencils are deep and vibrant, just what we are looking for on sunset painted rocks.
The technique is pretty simple. You draw on the rock with the watercolor pencils (watch the edges, the color will run a bit) and go over that with a wet paintbrush. The water transforms the pencil marks and makes them more fluid (literally). Let’s see how it looks below.
On a white rock, I colored parallel sections for the sunset. I started with a deep blue, added light blue, purple, red and orange. I did not color the bottom, I have another plan for that section.
Once done, I swept over the pencil marks with a thin, wet paintbrush. Be sure to clean your brush between colors unless you want them to blend together. This was the result. I love the boldness. Experiment with different brands of watercolor pencils. Each will provide a different intensity.
To finish the rock, I colored the bottom with a black Posca marker for the ground and used a light orange Posca paint marker to make a sun outline. I smeared the paint a bit with my finger to create the streaky lines coming from the sun.
Painted Sunset on a Rock – Sealing the Rocks
I decided to seal the sunset rocks using a spray acrylic sealer made by ModPodge. I made sure to do this step outside. Spray sealer can give off some strong fumes and you don’t want to have that linger inside the house. I set the rocks on a protective surface so I didn’t get the sealer everywhere. Using a paper plate or plastic table cloth works perfectly for this step. I sprayed a light coat of sealer and let it dry. Be sure to follow the package instructions on your sealer.
Admiring the finished work
These sunset painted rocks are so pretty and vibrant. They each capture a different aspect of a sunset. As you can see, you have many different options with sunset rocks. Have some fun and see what inspires you.
Sunset Painted on a Rock – Top Take-Aways
- Sunset rocks are typically created using a gradient background. We learned three different techniques for this type of background.
- Get creative. Sunsets have multiple colors and shades you can work with.
- Watercolor pencils are fun and easy to use. They can create a bold look on your rock.
Happy painting!
