How to get started using stencils on rocks
I admit it, I am not a great drawer. If someone asked me to draw a picture of a bird, I would really struggle. The result would be cartoon-ish at best. I do pretty well if the picture can be broken down into basic shapes, but free-handing a bird would send me into anxiety overload. That’s why rock painting with stencils can be a bridge for your creativity. Stencils give a great foundation for a drawing and can help you create a true work of art. They are economical and can be used over and over again. Stencils are also great if you need to make several rocks that are the same.
Stencils come in a variety of designs and sizes. They can be found at craft stores and department stores. If you are skilled with a die-cutting machine or electronic cutting machine such as a Cricut or a Silhouette, you can even make your own stencils using downloaded images.
I recently purchased a few stencils at my local craft store and I am going to demonstrate for you how I used one to make a bird painting on a rock. I even fooled everyone at my house and let them think I actually drew it. (They really should know better than that!) A link to the bird stencil I am using can be found here:
Rock selection is very important when you are using a stencil. You need to make sure that the rock is relatively smooth and flat. The surface area of the rock should also be large enough for your stencil. Rocks are not completely flat by nature. You can use some blue painter’s tape to hold down the stencil if you need some assistance. I was surprised to find these great flat rocks at my local craft store. I actually found them with the mosaic supplies.
All the paints that I used in this project are Anita’s acrylic paint. The colors I used were white, café au lait, warm brown, royal blue, island blue, light turquoise, hunter green and black.
I decided to paint a background on my rock to help the colors show better. This step is optional, but I would definitely recommend painting a light background color if you have a dark colored rock. I used white acrylic paint and a flat ended brush to cover the top half of the rock. I let this paint dry and then did a second coat.
Line up the stencil as best as you can on the rock and use a pencil to trace the bird drawing onto the rock. If you are having difficulty with the stencil moving around on you, use blue painter’s tape to hold down the stencil. Masking tape would also work.
For painting the picture, I used a fine tipped brush for the entire bird. I started with café au lait (light brown) for the bird’s beak and feet.
Then, I filled in the branch using warm brown. Allow for some dry time.
Paint in the top sections of the bird using the darkest blue color. I used Anita’s royal blue.
Use the lightest blue color for the underbelly of the bird, that was light turquoise. Give this a few minutes to dry.
Stencils leave some negative space in the drawing. I prefer to color these in. I used the medium blue color, island blue, to fill in the areas around the head and between the wings.
For the leaf coming off of the branch, I painted with hunter green.
I used a dot of black acrylic paint for the bird’s eye. Allow plenty of dry time before sealing to prevent the paint from running.
To seal the rock, I used a spray acrylic sealer from Modpodge. I do this step outside to avoid the fumes from the spray. Place the rock on a paper plate or in an old box to keep from getting the sealer on things other than your rock. Follow the directions on the can for dry times. You can spray a second coat of sealer if desired. I did not seal the underside of the rock since I did not have any paint on that side. If you do paint on the other side, allow the sealer to completely dry before flipping the rock over and repeating the process on the back.
Rock Painting with Stencils – Conclusion
That was quick and easy and now you can show off your artwork in your garden or give away as a gift. If you’re looking for a different way to approach the background of your stencil art, check out this article on paint pouring. Rock painting with stencils is a great way to turbocharge your rock painting passion!
Happy painting!
