Last Updated on January 22, 2022
Looking for a hobby to do with your kids? Or maybe you want a simple craft to do on weekends without a lot of commitment? Enter rock painting art therapy.
For years, lots of folks have enjoyed painting stones and rocks as an activity. In fact, there are plenty of resources online – from tips, tricks, materials, to ideas, and gift items. For those who have never heard of it, it may seem somewhat strange to be painting…rocks.
But once you begin, you will find that it’s pretty addicting!
Why paint stones and rocks?
Whether you’re more of a left- or right-brained person, everyone needs a creative outlet. From cooking, journaling, sewing, to modelling, pottery, and painting, there’s a wide variety of hobbies to let your imagination take over. However, not everyone has the time or energy.
Rock painting is simple, relaxing, and perfect for all age groups.
Improves motor skills.
Handling brushes is great practice for young or frail fingers. Every time you hold a brush, you’re developing small muscle control, which is important for accomplishing everyday self-care tasks, such as feeding, writing, and grasping.
It relieves stress.
Painting can be therapeutic. When your body and mind are engaged, it helps take away your mind from stressors. When supervised by a licensed professional, painting pursuits can be healing for the heart and soul. When you sit down to work on your rock, you’ll find your worries slowly melting away.
A form of self-expression.
For parents, it’s a fantastic opportunity to introduce your little ones to art. Let their imagination fly as to how they’re going to design their rocks. Maybe it’s going to be a black-and-yellow bee. Or perhaps a small baby blue house with a brown tiled roof. The possibilities are endless.
It can be done in groups.
Don’t like painting by yourself? Get a group going and paint the town! Sort of. Rock painting is recommended for seniors as it’s quite inexpensive and super easy to do. Plus, they can do it with friends, grandchildren, or their caretakers. They can look forward to weekends or painting dates.
Cute Rock Painting Ideas
Relatively inexpensive, easy to start, and a great pastime for families, why not pick up rocks today?
The fun begins before you even paint. Finding rocks alone is a wonderful activity, especially if you live near the woods or a lake. You’ll be surprised to find all kinds of stones and rocks that will benefit with a fresh coat of blue, red, yellow, or green.
Excited to start? Here are several pictures of painted rocks for inspiration.
1. Poured
Credits to Happy Hooligans via Prudent Penny Pincher
Create abstract art quickly and easily when you pour acrylic over smooth stones.
2. Alphabets
Credits to The Shirley Journey via Sustain My Craft Habit
This is an awesome and entertaining way to teach toddlers the alphabet.
3. Rock Burger
Credits to Decor Home Ideas
For advanced painters, why not turn rocks into your favorite food or snacks?
4. Caterpillar Chase
Credits to Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
Have a bunch of rocks lying around your garden? Make a fun scene to make guests green with envy!
5. Spy Cat
Credits to Yvette via Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
Cat lovers everywhere will think this is the real thing!
6. Modish
Credits to Frieda Theres via Chic Pursuit
Create something that will beautifully adorn your home as a chic, modern décor.
7. Holiday Vibes
Credits to Decor Home Ideas
Deck your porch, backyard, living room, or bathroom in these adorable Christmas rock designs!
8. Lemon and Lime
Credits to Sustain My Craft Habit
This summer rock painting idea will be perfect on your kitchen countertop.
9. Couples
Credits to Decor Home Ideas
A very fine brush will help you achieve the tiny detailing in these delightful couple designs.
10. Snowflakes
Credits to Decor Home Ideas
Let your kids help you decorate your home for the holidays with these white-and-gold painted rocks.
11. Emojis
Credits to Decor Home Ideas
Love social media? Keep up with modern times in these cute emoji-inspired stones.
12. Faces
Credits to Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
Charming or chilling? These rock faces can embellish your gardens, patios, or porches to greet guests.
13. Little Blue House
Credits to Decor Home Ideas
Elves or fairies will surely love their new abode when it’s painted with love.
14. Rock Dolls
Credits to Jennifer Perkins via Sustain My Craft Habit
Why not make one for each member of your household?
15. Fish Bowl
Credits to Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
This is a wonderful way to decorate a home office, or as a way to remember a beach vacation.
16. Koi Pond
Credits to Joanne Osband via Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
Want a koi pond but can’t have one? Get the next best thing: a painted koi pond!
17. Flower Power
Credits to Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
Sweet, simple, but beautiful, let your garden be in full bloom all year round.
18. Guardian
Credits to Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
This giant green rock frog can guard not only your precious plants, but also your little ones.
19. Northern Lights
Credits to OlechkaDesign via Chic Pursuit
Landscapes and natural phenomena can be immortalized in smooth stones to keep forever.
20. Gold Rocks
Credits to Country Hill Cottage via Sustain My Craft Habit
This project is done using gold leaf to create stunning stones that will look good on anywhere.
21. Winter
Credits to ChristysCornerShop via Chic Pursuit
Hand-paint your own winter wonderland scene to display on your coffee tables or fireplaces.
22. Surprise Egg
Credits to Decor Home Ideas
Surprise your little ones with peeking critters from stone eggs!
23. Pumpkin Patch
Credits to Decor Home Ideas
The best things about stone pumpkins are: they never rot and you can keep them until next Halloween!
24. Hedgehog
Credits to Easy Peasy and Fun via Love and Marriage Blog
Who doesn’t love hedgehogs? They’re small, cute, and pretty easy to paint on stones.
25. Mandala
Credits to Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
Let bright and colorful mandala circles adorn your garden or patio steps.
26. Mother Hen
Credits to Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
Advanced painters can re-create farm animals for kids (or even adults!) to play with.
27. Rainbow Striped
Credits to I Love Painted Rocks via Sustain My Craft Habit
This painted rock is not only fun to make, it’s useful for holding memos or photos, too.
28. Jawa Rocks
Credits to Crafts by Amanda via Prudent Penny Pincher
Re-live the epic space saga using cute little stones hand-painted to represent beloved Star Wars characters.
29. Lilypads
Credits to Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
Complete a gorgeous garden scene with ladybugs, frogs, and of course, lily pads!
30. Mermaid Scales
Credits to NaturePlusPigment via Chic Pursuit
You can tell your kids that you picked these up by the beach.
31. Pokemon
Credits to Chic Pursuit
Let your kids have more fun pretending to be Ash or Misty as they try to catch ‘em all!
32. Succulents
Credits to Stonzie via Love and Marriage Blog
These look just as good as the real thing. Bonus: they don’t require water or maintenance.
33. Doors
Credits to Love and Marriage Blog
What do you think these doors lead to? Only one way to find out – paint them!
34. Groot
Credits to Love and Marriage Blog
Who doesn’t love this guardian of the galaxy? This time, he’ll be protecting your home from invaders.
35. Rock Candy
Credits to Love and Marriage Blog
These candies don’t melt in your hand, but please don’t put them in your mouth.
36. No Peeking
Credits to Love and Marriage Blog
Spice up your plant pots or gardens with these mysterious creatures.
37. Under the Sea
Credits to Decor Home Ideas
Can’t have a marine aquarium? Make a temporary one using rocks and stones in vivid hues.
38. Shark Week
Credits to Sustain My Craft Habit
Oh no, these sharks are trapped in the sand! Rescue them and give them a good home.
39. Snowmen
Credits to Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls via Prudent Penny Pincher
Give your kids something fun for the holidays by having them assemble adorable rock snowmen!
40. Heroes
Credits to Decor Home Ideas
Almost everyone has a superhero they look up to. Immortalize their favorites using acrylics on rocks.
41. Tic-Tac-Toe
Credits to Christine via Sustain My Craft Habit
Make your own instant fun on-the-go with this simple DIY painted rock tic-tac-toe.
42. Trolls
Credits to The Keeper of the Cheerios via Prudent Penny Pincher
Remember those vintage troll toys from the 90s? You can re-create them using stones and paint.
43. Turtle Power
Credits to Ernestina Gallina via Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
They don’t have ninja powers – but they are adorable and would make a great addition to your home or garden.
44. My Valentine
Credits to Janine via Sustain My Craft Habit
This quick and easy craft project will surely make your loved ones blush.
45. Vegetable Basket
Credits to Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
Encourage healthy eating with a decorative veggie basket right on your kitchen table or countertop.
46. Tiny Village
Credits to Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
This darling little town is made from hand-painted rocks and pebbles. Easy to make for hours of fun!
47. Beetle Car
Credits to Decor Home Ideas
Have a dream car? Watch it come alive using your own hands.
48. Weather Rock
Credits to Love and Marriage Blog
This amusing project will certainly break the ice when guests read what’s written on it.
49. Motivational
Credits to Decor Home Ideas
Give friends and family their own little reminders of how much they mean to you.
50. Brains!
Credits to Chic Pursuit
Perfect for Halloween – or for zombie fans – these adorable un-dead creatures will brighten any spot you place them on.
