Here’s how I use my Spidy-Skills to create a Superhero Themed, Spider-Man rock
The other day, I was going through my unpainted rocks searching for something for a project. I came across this one. It struck me how nice it was shaped and the flatness that it has. I quickly abandoned my other project because I just had to come up with something to use this rock for. Here’s how we paint Spider-Man on a rock.
My 9-year old son saw me holding on to this rock and asked what I was doing. I told him that I was trying to figure out what would be the perfect thing to paint since this rock was so pretty. He glanced at the rock and immediately replied that it looked like Spider-Man’s head. I thought he had a pretty good eye. The symmetry in the rock would be great for something like Spider-Man where you follow a pattern all the way through the painting. I set to work, gathering supplies, and told my son that when I was finished he could have this one as his special rock since it was his idea.
Paint Spider-Man on a Rock – Supplies Needed
For this project, you will need red and yellow acrylic paint. I used Apple Barrel colors in bright yellow and Anita’s craft paint in true red. Yes, I know, Spider-Man is not yellow. He does not have any yellow on him anywhere. So what’s the yellow paint for? Do you really need it? The yellow is what I am going to use as a primer coat on the rock before I put down the red, and yes I highly recommend it. Red acrylic paint has a tendency to dry a little lighter than what you see on the bottle. That vibrant red can easily end up being deep pink.
Spider-Man is not normally deep pink. The yellow is a bit of an illusion. It helps the red maintain its “red”. Other supplies I gathered were a black and a white fine-tipped paint marker, spray acrylic sealer, flat-tipped paintbrush, paper plate, cup of water, and some paper towels.
Start with the Base Coats for your Spider-Man Rock
First, I painted on two coats of the bright yellow acrylic paint. Let the paint dry thoroughly between coats. I also painted on one side, let dry, and then flipped to the other side. Then, I did two coats of the red paint in the same manner.
Layout you Spidey-Grid
Now we are going to start on the core of your painted Spider-Man rock, the web pattern. Begin by priming your paint marker. Give it a few shakes (you will hear the ball rolling around inside the marker) and then pump the marker a few times on your paper plate until the paint is flowing. If you notice that the paint has stopped flowing in your marker, shake and pump again. Always pump the marker on your paper plate and not your rock, it is not uncommon to get a blob of paint during this process.
To make the web, draw a vertical and a horizontal line that intersects in the middle of the rock.
From the middle, add 4 lines halfway in between each “wedge”. It is easier to start the line in the center and pull your marker toward the outside than to try to draw across the whole rock. The spacing will be better with the shorter lines.
Now, add 8 more lines half way in between each smaller “wedge”. Your rock should look something like the image below. It does not need to be perfect, but try to space the lines as evenly as possible.
Now Connect the Web
To start connecting the webs, draw a half-circle in between each section. The bottom of the circle should go toward the center of the rock. Go all the way around and keep your spacing as even as you can. This is what mine looked like after one round.
The number of half-circles you need will depend on the size of your rock and how much space you want to leave in between these layers. I ended up going around my rock 5 times (below).
Add some Highlight to your Web
To add some shading and depth, I outlined each of the half circles with my white paint marker. Remember to prime your marker before you use it. Give the web a few minutes to dry before moving forward.
Spidey-Eyes
Then, I started on Spider-Man’s eyes. Using my black paint marker, I outlined a triangle shape following the horizontal line and then 2 lines above. The triangle extended out about ¾ of the way across the face. I colored that triangle in with the black marker. Repeat the process on the other side of the face and let dry.
For the inside of the eyes, I used a white paint marker to outline a white triangle inside the black triangle, leaving about a 1/8 inch border. Fill in that area with a white paint marker. Do this for both eyes.
Seal your Spidey-Rembrandt
To protect the Spider-Man rock from rain and the sun, use an acrylic sealer. I used a gloss spray sealer by Modpodge. Place your rock in an old box to contain the mess. Spray lightly and follow the directions on the bottle regarding drying times. You may need to do more than one coat of sealer. Be sure to flip the rock over when it is dry and seal the other side. I recommend doing this step outside as it can get pretty fumy.
Paint Spider-Man on a Rock – Conclusion
My son was very excited for his new Spiderman rock. He helped me find a few places out in the garden to display it and take pictures. In the end, he brought the rock inside and put in on the shelf in his bedroom. He has taken it out and shown it to everyone that has stopped by the house lately. We will have to make some more and add to his superhero collection. Homemade gifts can be very meaningful and make lasting memories.
Next week I think we’ll try our hand at paint pouring.
Happy painting!
