Best Paint for Rocks – Reviews and Buyer’s Guide [March 2022]

Most yard owners purchase garden ornaments (e.g., garden gnomes), which may not be necessary to their liking, causing them to color their rocks for beautification. Consider the pigment to use based on its durability, how and where one can use it, as well, as its curing time for exceptional results.

Besides choosing the best colorant, the kind of stones to craft also needs to be considered. These rocks need to be cleaned and smoothened (priming) before painting. In this feature, we will be discussing:

1. The best paint to use for craft painting on rocks
2. The type of pigment for stones
3. Protocols when coloring rocks with acrylics
4. The number of stones colored with one bottle
5. Preferable paint pens for rocks
6. The typical problems with stain markers and pens

Best Paint to Use for Craft Painting on Rocks

Parameter	Jar Melo Rock Painting Kits	Paint Pens Acrylic Markers	Pintar Acrylic Paint Pens	Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set	Moxix Acrylic Paint Markers
Available sizes(lbs)	2.24	0.75	0.675	7.08	0.969
Toxicity	Non-toxic	Non-toxic	Non-toxic	Non-toxic	Non-toxic
Waterproof	+	+	+	+	+
Nature of the pigment	Translucent	Opaque	Opaque	Translucent	Opaque
Assortments	Two brushes, ten smooth river stones, one transfer sticker, 12 acrylic colors, one booklet, a scratching tool	12 ZSCM acrylic markers	24 Pintar markers	36 tubed colors, one palette, three brushes	Eight metallic colors, 22 primary colors, two striking colors

Jar Melo Rock Painting Kits – Best Paint for Painting Rocks

Jar Melo is a kit that parcels all the tools needed in rock craft, including ten smooth river stones, 12 acrylic opaque pigments, two brushes, a transfer sticker, and a scratching tool. It is entirely non-toxic and non-detrimental to humanity.

Its durability allows its exposure to any weather conditions. Furthermore, it dries after 48 hours, after which one can apply a transparent sealer. The stones do not require any priming whatsoever since they come ready for painting. However, the colors may prove too thick for the availed brushes depending on the user.

Pros

• Waterproof
• Non-toxic, guaranteeing safety
• Tools are readily available

Cons

• Too thick for the availed brushes

Paint Pens Acrylic Markers – Best Paint Markers for Rocks

Paint Pens Acrylic Markers are the best consideration for stone crafting thanks to their 2-3 mm tips with unchallenging control and sufficient coverage. They boot detail and touch up and ultimately ensure a highly hued opaque outcome that gives the stone a smooth texture.

Besides, the color’s non-toxic trait makes the kit kid-friendly. The rocks can stay outside since the pigment is weatherproof and therefore durable. Priming of the stones is mandatory before crafting the stone. The paint dries fast within 24 hours, after which sealing is necessary, preferably with urethane.

Pros

• Quick-curing
• It is long-lasting
• Vivid pigments

Cons

• Markers run out of ink quite fast

Pintar Acrylic Paint Pens – Best Paint Pens for Rocks Ratio

The stones we choose to color have differences in their rock ratios. These ultra-fine pens are easily compatible with any stone ratio, avoiding the rough feel on their staining tips while crafting. Therefore, they are flawless on any facet (e.g., Metals, wood, canvas). It is slightly translucent and water-repellent, hence its permanent effect. Moreover, it is non-hazardous. 

The pens manifest an opaque hue, ornamenting the rock with a shiny finish. The pigment can dry quickly overnight but preferably under insolation to enhance its durability. This colorant is 100% guaranteed on newly cured surfaces; hence priming of the stone is mandatory. To prevent smearing of the varnish, seal with resin or clear gloss.

Pros

• Multi-purpose
• Waterproof
• Vivid color varieties
• Permanent

Cons

• Improper storage dries the ink

Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set – Best Paint to Use for Kindness Rocks

Kindness rocks are painted stones intended to convey messages to loved ones. This kit’s latex nature serves as a perfect base coating and design for your craft. This assortment harbors tubed shades of 2oz each, which the user can blend to obtain a translucent or opaque shade  depending on density of the paint.

Further, this non-hazardous set of colorants ensures artistic quality resulting in a lush pigment with commendable coverage. The kindness stones can stay in outdoor gardens since the hue is waterproof and thus durable. Rocks require priming before crafting. The pigment dries very quickly and needs to be sealed with polyurethane to avoid leaking.

Pros

• Thick and rich pigmentation
• Non-hazardous to the user
• Water-repellent

Cons

• The colorant is thin and almost watery

Moxix Acrylic Paint Markers – Best Painting Kit for Rock Craft

This complete kit accommodates a set of opaquely pigmented colorants over the rocks, therefore defining its artistic quality and lushness. Its markers use a non-toxic pigment that quickly cures, and one can use on a variety of facets other than stone(e.g., Plastic, mugs, fabric). 

The markers have outstanding airtightness averting volatilization of the colorant. Its waterproofing displays its durability. Sufficient priming of the stone is mandatory, preliminary to sealing of the cured pigment with resin.

Pros

• Superb pigmentation
• Non-hazardous
• Odorless
• Waterproof

Cons

• The colors cannot be blended

Buyer’s Guide

What Type of Pigment Should one Use on Rocks?

Acrylic type is the way to go in rock crafts. Not only is it guaranteed durability, but it is also non-hazardous and thus poses no detriments to the user. Further, it manifests a thick, lush hue on the stone. It has no need for base coats, provided the rock has undergone priming.

How Should Acrylic Paints be Painted on Rocks?

Acrylic pigments manifest outstanding results on smooth stones with even edges. Select grey rocks since they will exhibit the acrylic hue best. Priming of the stones is mandatory for all pigments. Watercolor brushes are the best alternative to guarantee detail while painting.

How Many Rocks Can One Bottle Colour?

One bottle can contain at least 2oz of acrylic paint. One can use this quota on as many as ten small rocks (pebbles).

Which Paint Brush or Marker is Best to Color Rocks?

Watercolor or acrylic brushes are the number one consideration for coloring stones. Different shapes like the round, liner, and rigger brushes will ensure good detail in your craft. Pens with light tips release the ink evenly over the rock, making the go-to option when selecting the best marker. 

What Are the Typical Problems With Paint Markers and Pens?

The distinctive complication users experience with markers and pens is inadequate storage. The mistake is to store the markers vertically, causing the ink to settle at one side while the other dry out. It is prudent to keep the pens and markers horizontally.

Conclusion

Stone coloring proves to be a simple, effective way of ornamenting your garden. The stain used has to be non-hazardous and resistant to especially water and solar. The best sealant for acrylic paint is resin. With the most guaranteed tools for use in stone crafts, high-quality artistic design is sure to be well defined in the garden’s vibrancy.