Spirit Rock Painting Tips

  • The best paint to use is spray paint. You will probably need 2-3 cans for a good base coat and additional paint for your design. You will probably need to spray it a few times for complete coverage.
  • The quantity needed will depend upon the color you are using, the color already painted on the rock, and weather conditions.
  • Latex paint or paint that is rolled on will take longer to dry.
  • Premium spray paint works best (Rustoleum, etc) vs. a generic store brand.
  • Once you have the base coat done, use chalk to sketch out your design. Try to do large shapes so that it’s easy to see from a distance and so that you can use spray paint for most of it.
  • Stand back 15-20 yards from the rock to make sure you can see the design from there.
  • Spray paint your large areas. If you mess up, use your base coat color to fix the mistake.
  • For more detailed areas, use a can/tube of paint and a paintbrush. While outdoor latex is best, regular artists acrylic seems to work well too (even in rain).
  • If it’s raining you may want to bring a pop up tent to keep yourself and the rock dry.
  • Make sure to bring paper towels to wipe any drips.
  • Bring a cup of water if you are using a paintbrush.
  • Wearing rubber gloves will help keep your hands clean.