From washing to priming, here’s what I do to make sure all my rock painting projects are prepared to provide years of enjoyment.

There’s nothing worse than the look of disappointment on your child’s face. I recently encountered that look when my son showed me a rock we had painted last year. The paint on the rock was peeling and the image he had worked so hard to complete was almost illegible. I remembered this project was a spur-of-the-moment idea, and we hadn’t taken the time to give the rock the attention it needed before painting. Lesson learned – now I make sure I take the time to prepare all my rocks for my rock painting projects.

I can’t tell you exactly how many rocks I’ve painted but I can tell you each one had its own characteristics that required different approaches when it came to preparation. Shape of the rock, smoothness of the rock, foreign objects on the rock (dirt, etc.), colors planned for the project and size of the image detail are all considerations when preparing rocks for painting.

How to prepare rocks for painting? Here are a few tips to get you started.

1. First and foremost you have to ensure you have a clean surface, no matter what you will be painting on the rock. I like to use dishwashing soap for its ability to remove most dirt and oils. I use a scrub brush or toothbrush, depending on how porous the rock is. After cleaning, pat the rock dry with a paper towel and let it dry completely. It’s very important you don’t start painting a damp stone. You can use a hairdryer if time is an issue.

2. This next trick I learned from my woodworking husband. If your rock has some large imperfections or pours, and you need it to be smooth for detail work, try some wood filler – it works great. It will require some sanding after application, but not a big deal.

3. Whether your rock is porous or smooth, dark or light, I like to apply a base coat of primer to most of my rock painting projects. This step isn’t always required but I find it tends to lead to better results. Primer serves three purposes – it decreases the amount of paint needed for good coverage, provides a smooth surface for detail work and protects your brushes and pens from damaging surfaces.

Keep in mind, adding a base coat adds time to your project (you have to make sure it’s completely dry before proceeding). I’ve included an infographic that explains the color of primer I use on most of my rock painting projects. I’ll usually rely on black, white, or some combination of those two. For instance, if I need a grey or any other muted tint, I add black or a specific color to the white and, voila!

Happy painting!

Corie