One of a Kind Painted Rocks

I started painting rocks many years ago when Lin Wellford's wrote a book on it. Looking at rocks and their shapes, incorporating a painted animal to match, there wasn't a place I went to that I didn't bring a rock home, from Germany, Austria and every state I have visited, even going shopping the landscape rocks could not escape my interest.

Above are the smaller rocks approximately 1" to 2" diameter. They all have been sold, one of a kind featuring mostly animals or personal pets, even two pets on one rock

These medium sized rocks sold well at local stores and Fairs...only problem was they were also easily stolen off the table.

I did well on commissions of this size, they made great paper weights or for ornamental purposes.

These are some of the commissioned Pet Rocks for various clients.

I took about 20 of these rocks to a show and sold them for $6.00, this is before I realized how inexpensive I was selling them for. My time on each rock was none less then two hours...so you figure that out!

I kept on telling my husband, they are only rocks! and he said, they are painted by you!

I lost my shirt on eBay, after taking out all the fees and costs of shipping. But I got wise real fast, doing only commissions after that.

Of course I will have horses on my rocks! After all they are the main subjects that I paint.

In this photo are a variety of sizes of rocks with different breeds of horses, including foals.

Here again large rocks used for door stops or decoration in a garden.

The cat rock I kept, and the dog rock sold the minute I put it on display...I had another one that was huge with a racoon on it.

Most of these rocks have been sold either through a store or on the internet. I have many of these in different parts of the world.

Too bad these rocks are so heavy for shipping, but if there is a request and the person is willing to pay, Hey I'm game!

This large rock was a gift for a friend, she had three dogs, and they are all featured here...all the dogs are gone now, but she can still enjoy them on this painted rock.

This particular heart shaped rock was painted for the friend above who I painted the dogs for, this one was for her mother.

My friend asked me, can you paint on this 1 1/4" heart shaped rock I found? I said, yes what would you like? she replied, well, can you paint my mom and dad walking hand in hand in their woods? I answered, is that all? ha ha

I can't believe that I actually did exactly what she wanted...she gave it to her mom in memory of her father that had just passed.

I also painted a lampshade for this friend, she wanted their Barn and House on it, it was also a challenge since the shade had a shape that fluted out and I had to compensate to make everything look in perspective, even the cows

It would not be complete for me if I did not do at least one Jesus rock...this was done for an Easter gift.

First off, I look for rocks that lend themselves for painting. The large ones have to have a good bottom to sit well and not fall over. The smaller ones are easier, because you have choices in shapes, and that's what's fun for me because of how I incorporate into the shape, this allows me to paint the animal with a form (I don't know of any other rock artist that does that) I like some of the flat rocks, they make good paper weighs.

The less porous or less rough the rock the better, in other words smooth rocks are better. I first wash the rocks with a scrub brush and allow them to dry thoroughly. I draw out the animal with pencil and then use acrylic paint in layers of colors, using the small detail brush for the tiniest details...making sure to sign on the bottom of the rock, sealing with either spray or brush-on...allow to dry.

goo2eyes 2/12
skiesgreen 2/12
DANCINGCOWGIRLDESIGN 12/11
miaponzo 11/11
AlleyCatLane 10/11
Pastiche 10/11
KimGiancaterino 6/11
moonlitta 5/11
foovay 2/11
artbymichelle 1/11
hotbrain 12/10
ohcaroline 10/10