Painting Rocks

~that's assuming you have some degree of skill Gillian....my son has the talent not me!What sort of paint are you using?

Oh they are lovely Gillian. You are clever. They look as if they are sitting there saying "pick me, pick me". LOL

HI Gillian, your earlier pics of painted rocks inspired me to by a book on the subject, I got the one for flowers,
this w/e i gathered some rocks, so dying to have a go,

I will wach with interest,your future blogs,

I find this very interesting.
Thank you Gillian.

I was one of those asking about the different stages of painting, so thanks for offering to take pictures when you next paint some flower rocks.

As Arlene so rightly says, you do need lots of talent to paint these.
Ff, you are good at art, so it will be fascinating to see your rocks. Maybe you'll also photograph each stage of your progress, please ? Thanks. :o)

Oh, Gillian - they all end up with a gleam in their eyes and slightly different expressions! I love them, but I think I'd need a sit-by-you-and watch every move to be able to do this!

~I think I would need that too unfortunately!

I'm glad you're inspired to have a go Ff !
Arlene, I use acrylic paint, then when finished spray with a waterproof matte varnish. This is a nice cheap hobby and can brighten up areas of the garden while you are waiting for things to grow.
Hope some of you try this and post pictures, I'll add them to this blog!

~are you going to do the flowers as well Gillian~do very simple daisies to start us off?
What size are your rocks?

I'll see if I can find a good rock to do something simple on. I have to work today so might be later this week, but I'll start looking!
Rock sizes vary but around six inches is a nice size to work with. Some things need more height than others or slightly different shapes, but for things like the primroses you can use a slightly rounded one with a flat base.

fantastic blog Gillian, i really want to give this a go

Loved the blog Gillian, what a lovely idea to brighten the garden, and while away the non~busy hours. I shall certainly give it a go, but I think you might need to be a little bit artistic, which I'm not but hey...you dont know til you try......

They look brill, but i could'nt do it, dont have a artist touch.

Love the owls, all of them. I would like to have a go at this sometime. Great idea to keep pictures etc. as reminders.

I like the owls at their first stage too. You're really talented Gillian :o)

Hywel, I think the owls at stage one look like they could turn into penguins! I like them too.
The reason I keep photos Gee19 is most of these go for sale and I like to see what I've done. Some I get quite attached to! I had a lot that I didn't take photos of in the beginning, like a whole bunch of squirrel ones, and really wish I had done.
If anybody wants to have a go at the flowers I should explain that the paint I use as a base coat is not black but actually a really dark green (mine's called wrought iron) that looks almost black. I leave a space on the base to sign usually (fine Sharpie works well and won't bleed when you spray with the protective varnish).
Ff, which book did you get? I started this after I picked up one from the library by Lin Wellford, I now own a few of hers. She explains everything so well ! In fact if you read her books you will probably recognise some of the rocks I have done! Once you learn the basics it is pretty easy to do your own variations.
Those of you that think you have no artistic talent, try it, you'll be surprised just how simple it is!

You are very clever and artistic Gillian .these are fabulous , so bright and cheerful . :o)

Hi Gillian, the book i got was Painting flowers on rocks by Lin wellford, As you say everything is so well explained to make each stage so easy,
And hey just seems like a great pastime to sit on a nasty day and paint all the sunshine you want,

Those are really good books! Got me hooked in no time.

Great blog and lovely photos you are very talented Gillian, but i may have a go myself don't know till you try!

I'd love to have a go at this but hubby says I already have so many hobbies on the go, I try watercolour very occasionally (I'm no good at it but enjoy messing around!) I'll have a go when he's not looking! LOL

I love them Gillian, are you going to sell any.......

They are only sold in Streetsville, Mississauga so next time you're passing through.....
I checked into how much it would cost to ship them and it's really not worth it.