How to Paint a Watercolor Butterfly Painted Rock

Watercolor butterfly rock painting ideas. I love this for garden art. This same technique would look great on stepping stones, too. #rockpainting #PaintedRockIdeas #paintedrocks #paintrock #paintedstone #rockart #stoneart #paintedstoneideas #ilovepaintedrocks #crafts #rockcrafts

Do you love butterflies? My local rock painting group recently did a butterfly rock painting challenge and this is one of the rocks I did!

I had experimented previously with using watercolor acrylic paints on rocks and loved how pretty the strokes looked for flowers and butterflies.

If butterflies aren't your thing, I've still got some great tips for how to paint rocks with watercolor paints below so read on!

This is an easy beginner watercolor painting project. Even if you have never painted with watercolors before, you can totally make this simple beginner project!

If you are inspired by this painted rock project and decide to make your own, would you share? 

I'd love to have you share your painted rock creations in the I Love Painted Rocks Facebook Group. If you are willing to let me feature your rock on this website, you can submit your unique painted rock creations here.



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Watercolor Butterfly Painted Rock Idea

best butterfly rock painting ideas

Before we jump straight into the rock painting tutorial, here are some frequently asked questions about this project that we can get out of the way first!

Can you paint rocks with watercolor paint?

YES!! There are a few ways you can get watercolor effects on painted rocks.

The first is by using a modified watercolor acrylic paint like the Martha Stewart Watercolor Acrylic paint I use in this tutorial. 

The secret to getting it to stick nicely to the rock (since most rocks don't absorb water like watercolor paper does) is to give the rock a nice coat of chalk paint first. I like the FolkArt Home Decor Chalk paint for this.

You can also get a watercolor effect with Posca Pens. Check out how to get a watercolor effect with a Posca pen on Rock Painting 101.

How do I make this rock waterproof to hide outside?

To seal a rock painted with both chalk paint and watercolor paint, use two coats of a clear spray sealer to make it weatherproof. 

I have detailed instructions for sealing painted rocks in this article >> What Should You Use to Seal Painted Rocks.

Supplies needed for this project:

Some of the links below may be affiliate links where a purchase made after clicking will support this website without costing you extra!

Video: Watercolor Butterflies Painted Rock Project

In this video, I show you how to paint a rock with watercolor butterflies! Enjoy!
(if the video doesn't load in the space below this paragraph, you can see it on the I Love Painted Rocks facebook page instead)


How to Paint a Watercolor Butterfly Rock Step 1: Base coat

Even if you don't normally base coat your rocks, you need to for watercolor rock painting.

Use a chalk paint for the base coat since this type of paint is lightly absorbent and will help the watercolors to stick.

Allow the chalk paint to dry all the way before moving on to the next step!

Pro Tip: In a hurry? Use a blow dryer!

How to Paint a Watercolor Butterfly Rock Step 2: Set up the watercolors

Set up the watercolors by adding a small blob to a plastic plate (or other reused plastic container lid).

Pro Tip: If this is the first time you are using your watercolor brush, wash it with soap and water to remove the sizing and make the bristles soft.

Dip your clean brush into a cup of water and mix the water into the paint. Continue dipping and mixing until the paint is smooth, creamy, and diluted.


How to Paint a Watercolor Butterfly Rock Step 3: Practice watercolor strokes

Use a piece of watercolor paper to practice your butterfly shaped strokes.

Start by loading your brush with paint. Move to the paper and press the tip of the brush down. As you stroke down at an angle, slowly lift the brush.

This should create a flower petal shaped stroke. Once you get this motion right, try making butterflies.

Press down more when starting the larger upper wings and less when doing the smaller lower wings.

Once you have the hang of it, it's time to move to the rock!


How to Paint a Watercolor Butterfly Rock Step 4: Paint the rock

Load your brush with yellow paint. If desired, you can also dip the brush lightly in the pink to give the wings a multi-tone effect.

Using the same technique you practiced on paper, paint a set of butterfly wings on the rock.

Add more yellow butterflies before changing to shades of pink and purple.

Allow to dry completely.


How to Paint a Watercolor Butterfly Rock Step 5: Add butterfly bodies and antennae

Use an extra fine tip black Posca marker to draw bodies in the middle of the butterfly wings along with antennae coming from the top of their heads.

Allow to dry completely.


How to Paint a Watercolor Butterfly Rock Step 6: Seal

Once the rock is totally dry, apply two coats of a clear spray sealer to seal the rock and make it weatherproof and outdoor safe.
Watercolor butterfly rock painting ideas. I love this for garden art. This same technique would look great on stepping stones, too. #rockpainting #PaintedRockIdeas #paintedrocks #paintrock #paintedstone #rockart #stoneart #paintedstoneideas #ilovepaintedrocks #crafts #rockcrafts

If you love this watercolor butterfly painted rock project, don't forget to share it!

Watercolor butterfly rock painting ideas. I love this for garden art. This same technique would look great on stepping stones, too. #rockpainting #PaintedRockIdeas #paintedrocks #paintrock #paintedstone #rockart #stoneart #paintedstoneideas #ilovepaintedrocks #crafts #rockcrafts #butterfly #butterflycraft

Printable Watercolor Butterfly Rock Painting Craft Directions


How to Paint a Watercolor Butterfly Painted Rock//video.mediavine.com/videos/ljrnt5p2s7l4cvlbg8ba.jsWatch Carissa Bonham from I Love Painted Rocks teach you how to paint a watercolor butterfly painted rockhttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOfAdeP4d17GoaF4WLj4vTDW4aufFHUASc2AH8XgEK_1Mg_OahPTP6ItJIgkZxvY2JBlYl7cPMfKT_FS7FtP3iYT1V4n0bNdEoTz5i7yVrtdl71KuF2pVXpQmTU5SjzHzfs5Mh37CKVo/s1600/butterfly+rock+painting+idea-min.jpg2019-06-15

Watercolor Butterfly Painted Rock

Yield: 1 rock
Author: Carissa B
Estimated cost: $5
prep time: 15 Mperform time: 15 Mtotal time: 30 M
Learn how to use watercolor paints to paint a rock and see step-by-step how to paint a rock with multiple watercolor butterflies on it.

materials:

  • Medium-Large rock with a smooth surface
  • Watercolor paper
  • FolkArt Home Decor Chalk paint in "sheepskin"
  • Martha Stewart Watercolor Acrylic Paint in "peony"
  • Martha Stewart Watercolor Acrylic Paint in "wild salmon"
  • Martha Stewart Watercolor Acrylic Paint in "meyer lemon"
  • Martha Stewart Watercolor Acrylic Paint in "wine"
  • Martha Stewart Watercolor Acrylic Paint in "periwinkle"
  • Martha Stewart Watercolor Acrylic Paint in "indigo"
  • Black, extra fine tip Posca paint pen
  • Clear spray sealer

tools:

  • Watercolor brushes
  • Paint palette

steps:

  1. Paint two coats of the chalk paint onto the rock as a base coat. Allow to dry completely (use a blow dryer if needed).
  2. Add blobs of paint to your palette or a plate.
  3. Dip your clean brush into a cup of water and mix the water into the paint. Continue dipping and mixing until the paint is smooth, creamy, and diluted.
  4. Use a piece of watercolor paper to practice your butterfly shaped strokes. Start by loading your brush with paint. Move to the paper and press the tip of the brush down. As you stroke down at an angle, slowly lift the brush. Press down more when starting the larger upper wings and less when doing the smaller lower wings. Once you get the hang of it on your paper, move to the rock!
  5. Load your brush with yellow paint. If desired, you can also dip the brush lightly in the pink to give the wings a multi-tone effect. Using the same technique you practiced on paper, paint a set of butterfly wings on the rock.
  6. Continue painting yellow butterflies and then move on to doing the same thing with the pink and purple paints.
  7. Allow butterfly wings to dry completely.
  8. Use an extra fine tip black Posca marker to draw bodies in the middle of the butterfly wings along with antennae coming from the top of their heads. Allow to dry completely.
  9. Once the rock is completely dry, apply two coats of a clear spray sealer to seal the rock and make it weatherproof.

NOTES:

Watch the video to better understand the directions!
watercolor butterfly, painted butterfly rock, painted rock, rock painting idea, watercolor rocks
Created using Craft Card Maker


About the Author:

Carissa is a lifelong crafter and mom of two creative boys. 

The owner and lead writer of both I Love Painted Rocks and Creative Green Living, she has won multiple awards for her craft writing including the Craftys Award for the "Best Craft Blogger" category in 2016 and the ShiftCon award for "Best DIY blogger" in 2018. 

Her projects have been featured in magazines like Kids Crafts 1-2-3, Country Sampler Farmhouse Style and more.

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