Getting Started with Rock Painting
Your complete beginner’s guide to painting, hiding, and tracking rocks with RoxGeo.
Rock painting is one of the most accessible, rewarding, and family-friendly creative hobbies you can start today. Whether you’re an experienced artist or picking up a brush for the first time, this guide walks you through every step — from choosing the perfect stone to watching your creation travel the world with RoxGeo. No expensive supplies, no prior experience, no rules about what “good art” looks like. Just grab a rock, some paint, and let your imagination lead the way.
Steps
Choose Your Rock
Look for smooth, flat stones about the size of your palm. River rocks, beach pebbles, and landscaping stones from garden centers work great. Avoid porous or rough rocks — smooth surfaces hold paint better and make your designs pop. Wash and dry your rock before painting.
Gather Your Supplies
You need acrylic paints (any brand works — even craft store basics), a few brushes in different sizes, a cup of water, and paper towels. Optional but helpful: a white base coat, paint pens for fine details, and a palette or paper plate for mixing colors.
Paint Your First Design
Start simple! A ladybug, a heart, a rainbow, or abstract dots are perfect beginner designs. Apply a white base coat first for brighter colors. Let each layer dry before adding the next. Don’t worry about perfection — every rock is unique and beautiful in its own way.
Seal Your Rock
Once your paint is fully dry, apply 2–3 coats of clear sealant (polyurethane spray or Mod Podge). This protects your artwork from rain, sun, and handling. Let each coat dry completely. A well-sealed rock can last years outdoors.
Register and Hide Your Rock
Open the RoxGeo app and register your rock to get a unique code and a 4-digit secret PIN. Write the code, PIN, and ROXGEO.COM clearly on the back of your rock (use a paint pen for best results). The PIN ensures only real finders can log the discovery. Then hide it somewhere fun — a park bench, a nature trail, a library garden, or a playground. Log the hiding location in the app.
Watch It Travel the World
When someone finds your rock and enters the code and PIN on RoxGeo, you’ll get a notification. Watch your creation’s journey on the live map as it travels from finder to finder. Track its lifecycle status — from active to at-risk if it goes quiet. You can reactivate, retire, or reset the PIN from your collection anytime.
What You Need (Shopping List)
- Smooth river stones or craft rocks (3–5 to start)
- Acrylic paint set (basic colors — you can mix any shade)
- Brushes: one flat brush, one round detail brush, one fine-tip
- White acrylic paint for base coating
- Clear polyurethane spray or Mod Podge (outdoor formula)
- Paint pens or permanent markers for writing the code
Pro Tips for Beginners
- Paint on newspaper or a plastic bag to protect your workspace. Rock painting can get messy!
- Use a hairdryer on low heat to speed up drying between layers.
- Watch YouTube tutorials for inspiration — search “rock painting for beginners” for hundreds of ideas.
- Join a local rock painting group on Facebook or Instagram to share your creations and find rocks hidden by others.
Helpful Resources
- Rock Painting Templates & Ideas — Browse creative painting designs and inspiration
- Painted Rock Rules — Learn the guidelines for safe rock hiding
- Painted Rock Tracking — Understand how GPS tracking works
- Detailed supplies guide on our blog
- Step-by-step: Setting up your first rock
Discover Campaigns
Once you have your first rock in play, level up with community campaigns. Campaigns unite rock painters around a shared goal — from charity drives and school challenges to city battles and creative themes. Every rock you hide can count toward a campaign leaderboard.
Browse campaigns