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The great outdoors avails itself of many opportunities for beauty – innately, as well as the capability for something beautiful to be drawn from it, or on it. Rocks and other natural surfaces offer a clean canvas for the creativity of kids and grown-ups to soar. Perfection and strict guidelines won’t be kept here – just messy, creative, imperfect and imaginative, colorful creations.
Rock Painting 101
Rocks are natural souvenirs. Consider collecting ones from vacation spots and painting them with a memorable icon or image to commemorate travels. First, check with where you’re taking the rock from. Certain places, such as national parks, prohibit taking anything from within the borders. A stepping stone collection adds a nice touch to the garden or a thoughtful gift for a relative or friend to brighten a day or cherish shared memories. Rocks with memorable shapes, like one of a heart or the shape of a state, are other fun finds.
1. Find an ideal surface. Depending on the project, smooth, flat stones are perfect for youngsters, while a larger piece of slate is a good choice for a bigger work of art. If local laws prohibit taking rocks from nature, check with a local landscaping shop.
2. Clean rocks. If it’s on the dirty side, use soap and warm water to clean it. A vegetable brush like one used for scrubbing potatoes can be used for particularly hard-to-clean dirt, and if needed, sandpaper is a remedy for rough patches.
3. Paint rocks. Acrylic paint is a solid choice for starting out. Paint pens and fine-tip markers are helpful for lettering and fine details.
4. Seal rocks. To make the work last without chipped paint, consider using a sealer. A spray-on or brush-on sealer will contribute to making the works last, or use resin for a glassy, smooth finish.
When in doubt, keep it simple. All that is needed are several sturdy rocks, paint and a brush. To make it even simpler, craft stores have kits that contain the essentials.
Ideas for rock painting are endless. Play around with colors, textures, silhouettes, meaningful quotes or hashtags, flowers, animals, color blocks, etc. After mastering the basics, consider trying your hand at creating an optical illusion. Countless how-to’s and videos online can lead the way.
Other Outdoor Painting Projects
Painting flower pots is a classic gift idea and an easy way to spruce up a porch or deck. For flower pot painting, consider that thinning paint with water may allow for a better adhesion and finish. Big, bold designs can make a statement among foliage or greenery. For a smooth finish, multiple layers might be necessary.
Pinecones are a surprising and successful gift of nature to paint. The structure of their “petals” allows for an illusion-giving painting of a flower to be a stunner in a faux “bouquet” of pinecones. To paint a pinecone one solid color, wrap wire around the top and dip in the paint for equal coverage.
Resin works as a beautiful medium to encapsulate flowers, ferns, pieces of petrified wood and other items. Although there might be a learning curve, it’s still a beginner-entry craft that is relatively simple with lovely results. Local craft stores offer different types of resin and resin tools, and, with a little research, resin crafts are fairly easy to learn and use with a variety of different outdoor elements.
Larger outdoor painting projects include stumps for outdoor seating, mailboxes, benches, small yard sculptures, bird feeders and fence posts. Be a little daring, colorful and wild for interesting results. Research town codes if living within city limits as to what visible items can and cannot be painted.
Other Natural Finds
Fairystone State Park in Stuart is just over an hour from the New River Valley. Cross-shaped stones are plentiful and can be used to make necklaces, earrings and other mementoes. The legend goes that once fairies inhabited the lovely area of the Blue Ridge Mountains. One day, when a messenger arrived with the news of Christ’s crucifixion, the fairies wept, their tears hardening into the structure of the famed fairystones. Raw and polished stones are also available for purchase.
Agates are small, shiny pieces of rock that translate spectacularly to craft projects like mosaics and collages. Many beaches have a large number of agates, and, if permitted to be collected at that location, can bring vibrancy and translucent radiance to brighten jewelry and décor.
Pinterest and other websites offer myriad painting ideas for any project that might strike your fancy. Small spots of vibrant color can brighten the day, break the boredom and add interest to your front steps and home landscape with a few simple elements ~ an object straight from Mother Nature, a little paint and a healthy dose of imagination.
Text by Caitlyn Koser
