Best Paint And Supplies For Rock Painting | Eco Friendly Options

Rock painting is exploding all around the world. It's a fun and relaxing pastime for both children and adults. We had a chance to interview Megan Murphy, the founder of the Kindness Rocks Project. In that interview, she mentioned LNT (Leave No Trace). After speaking with her, we did some more research eco-friendly rock painting supplies.

Are you looking for Eco-friendly rock painting supplies? Here are our top choices.

Painting rocks is a pleasurable pastime. Here's your ultimate eco-friendly guide to be sure that we are all leaving painted rocks in appropriate places and using materials that are earth-friendly. Tag the back of your rocks with the hashtag #ecofriendly if you use eco choices.

Update - Since the release of this post, reports are coming in from wildlife and rehabilitation experts letting the community know that they are seeing an increase of animals that have sequins stuck to them as well as ingesting them. If you are leaving rocks outside, please do not glue on gems or plastics. Just stick to the eco-friendly options. Please share this post with all of your groups.

1. Rocks

Not everyone has the ability to walk outside and collect rocks so you might want to check out your local hardware store, craft store or garden center first. I did see some choices on Amazon but the reviews were not consistent enough for me to feel totally comfortable to suggest them to you. If you can, it's always best to go out and inspect the rocks in person so you can pass on the ones that are chipped or not good enough for painting on.

2. Non-Toxic Paints

Acrylic paint is best when it comes to rock painting. It cleans up easily and can be diluted with water for fine lines. Here are some choices for you.

This Set Of Non-toxic Paint By Cematron

Find this set here on Amazon

Certified by the ACMI (Art and Creative Materials Institute) and complies with ASTM D-4236 Safety Standards. This brand is one of the safest paints for rock painting as water-based and odorless. This paint collection is made of 100% acrylic resins, rich in vivid pigments so your rocks will turn out fantastic!

Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint Set

Find this set here on Amazon

Apple Barrel paints are non-toxic and formulated for use on all surfaces. They can be brushed, stamped, stenciled or sponged and clean up easily with soap and water. These acrylic paints dry to a soft matte finish.

SpaceBeams Glow In The Dark Paint

Find this here on Amazon

Get your rock painting glow on with this nontoxic water-based glow in the dark paint. This paint will glow all night long. For best results be sure to apply thickly. This paint works best on lighter backgrounds. If you are leaving your rocks outside, it will need a top coat or sealant.

Scribbles 3D Paints

Find this here on Amazon

This pack of nontoxic 3D paints includes 20 vibrant colors. The easy squeeze bottles are equipped with precision tips for fine lines. They require a top coat or sealer or the paint will pop off. At least two coats.

3. Paint Pens

Artistro Paint Pens

Find this here on Amazon

These pens are premium quality. They have a water-based formula that will dry quickly. You can use these paint pens on light and dark surfaces. The fine tips make them perfect for detailed work.

4. Brushes & Dotting

Xubox Paintbrush Set

Find this here on Amazon

This set comes in a pack of 10 assorted brushes which is a nice combination of sizes. It a good economical choice.

D'Artisan Shoppe Detailing Brushes

Find this here on Amazon

Fine tipped premium miniature brushes allow you to create fine details on your rocks. This brush set is especially good for wording, botanicals, and micro detailing on your painted rocks. You will love the ergonomic triangular handles. Very comfy for long rock painting sessions.

Dotting 5 Pack

Find this here on Amazon

Ideal for mandala painting and dotted areas on your rocks.

5. Glitter

The good news about glitter is that there are eco-friendly options! We are happy to see that many crafters are going the eco-glitter route to use on their rocks and more companies are making eco-glitter so that it's more accessible to crafters. It's nice to see this change happening so quickly! It's important to use non-plastic glitter. So we are not even going to suggest anything but eco-friendly options.

Biodegradable Holo Glitter

Check price on Amazon

This eco-glitter is biodegradable, all natural and is eco-friendly! Get your sparkle on because this company donates a portion of their proceeds to ocean conservation efforts! So what is eco glitter made from anyway? This particular brand is sourced from cellulose found in Eucalyptus trees, so it degrades naturally! This glitter comes in several colors to add to your bath bombs like aquamarine, blue lagoon, coral, violet and silver.

Wink Of Stella Shimmer Pens

Find this here on Amazon

I went ahead and emailed Kuretake Co and asked them about the Wink Of Stella shimmer pens to make extra sure they are nontoxic. I'm happy to let you know that they replied back (extremely quickly!) and told me that these glitter pens are water-based, and carry the SOP (Approved Product) Seal. For those who love glitter and shimmer, these shimmer pens are a great choice.

6. Sealant

Mod Podge Outdoor

Find this here on Amazon

Before sealing your rocks, be sure to try a test rock. Some coatings will smear different paints and markers and your work will be ruined! It was difficult to find a spray sealant that was nontoxic, So I'm only going to recommend Mod Podge Outdoor. Some of you who live in humid areas might not be able to get this to set so that it's not tacky so just be aware of that. You only need a very light layer. I live in a less humid climate and this dries to a rock hard finish for me. Order the smallest bottle to try first before committing to the larger size. We have a helpful guide about Mod Podge formulas here.

I hope this list helps you out with your rock painting. Have fun and if you have more suggestions or want to show off your painted rocks, feel free to comment and leave your links.

Here's an eco-friendly printable sticker sheet that you can Mod Podge onto the back of your rocks to show everyone that you use eco supplies!

Did you find this list helpful? Please Pin it to your Pinterest to save for later.

9 Responses

Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.