• 72 ideas
  • Checked October 2026

Gnome Rock Painting Ideas

Three ideas, each a gnome to paint on a stone, a canvas or a bought figure, with its colors.

Gnome Rock Painting Ideas

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  1. Stone gnome holding a tiny lit lanternGreen, white, peach, yellow, black. Paint the lantern last and glaze thin yellow around it for glow.
  2. Gnome peeking around the edge of a painted round doorBrown, green, red, peach, white. Paint the door over most of the stone, half a face at its edge.
  3. Stone gnome with a ladybug riding on its hatYellow, white, peach, red, black. Dot the ladybug with a cotton swab once the yellow hat is dry.

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All 72 ideas

On one stone 12

  • Cone-shaped stone as a red hat, nose peeking out below Red, white, peach. Paint the top two thirds red, then a peach nose and a white beard under the brim.
  • Egg-shaped stone gnome hugging a spotted toadstool Red, white, peach, blue. Paint the toadstool first so the gnome's arms can wrap over its stalk.
  • Flat stone gnome seen from behind, hat and boots only Green, brown, tan. Fill the hat to the middle, leave a tan coat, add two brown boot ovals at the base.
  • Gnome face filling the stone, rosy cheeks and one wink Peach, pink, white, red, black. Base the face peach; blush with a nearly dry brush before the beard.
  • Gnome peeking around the edge of a painted round door Brown, green, red, peach, white. Paint the door over most of the stone, half a face at its edge.
  • Heart-shaped stone, the point as the tip of a beard White, red, peach. Hat across the two lobes in red, a nose in the dip, white beard down to the point.
  • Long narrow stone as a gnome asleep under a leaf blanket Green, red, white, peach. Lay the stone flat; hat at one end, leaf veins in a darker green.
  • Pointed stone gnome whose blue hat ends in a pom-pom Blue, white, peach. Coat the stone blue, dab a white pom-pom at the point, nose at the bottom edge.
  • Round pebble that is only a nose and a beard Peach, white, gray. Paint a peach oval at the top edge and pull white beard strokes down from it.
  • Stone gnome holding a tiny lit lantern Green, white, peach, yellow, black. Paint the lantern last and glaze thin yellow around it for glow.
  • Stone gnome with a ladybug riding on its hat Yellow, white, peach, red, black. Dot the ladybug with a cotton swab once the yellow hat is dry.
  • Tall stone gnome in a teal and white striped stocking hat Teal, white, peach, gray. Stripe the top half, set the nose mid-stone, drag beard strokes to the base.

Sets of stones 12

  • Big hat stone made to balance on a small face stone Purple, peach, white. Pick a flat-bottomed hat stone; paint the hat band where the two will meet.
  • Gnome and wheelbarrow on two stones side by side Green, gray, brown, peach, white. Line the stones up first so the handles meet the gnome's hands.
  • Gnome band on three stones: drum, fiddle and horn Red, yellow, brown, peach, white. Paint the three instruments first, then fit hands and beards around them.
  • Gnome parents and child on a big, a middle and a small stone Red, blue, green, white, peach. Same face on each stone, a different hat color for each size.
  • Gnome stone and a snail stone for it to ride Green, tan, brown, peach, white. Spiral the snail shell from the center out with a liner brush.
  • Gnome stone beside its toadstool house stone Red, white, brown, green, peach. Give the house a door and one window; match the gnome's hat to the roof.
  • Gnome stone leading a trail of footprint pebbles Red, white, peach, brown. Paint the gnome once, then two tiny brown ovals on each small pebble.
  • Row of five hat stones in rainbow order Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, white. One hat color per stone, the same white beard on all five.
  • Seven small gnome stones lined up in an egg carton Seven hat colors, white, peach. Keep every face the same so only the hats change down the row.
  • Three stacked stones: hat, nose and boots Red, peach, brown. One flat color per stone; glue the stack when every piece is dry.
  • Tic-tac-toe set: five gnome stones against five toadstools Red, white, blue, peach. Blue hats for the gnomes so they read apart from the red toadstool caps.
  • Two gnome stones sharing one long striped scarf Orange, cream, green, peach, white. Push the stones together and paint the scarf straight across both.

On canvas 12

  • Giant hat filling the canvas, tiny boots at the bottom edge Red, white, brown, cream. One tall triangle edge to edge; beard and boots take the last strip.
  • Gnome artist whose own portrait sits on the easel Cream, red, blue, brown, peach. Leave the tiny canvas blank until last, then repeat the hat on it.
  • Gnome carrying a lantern through blue evening woods Navy, teal, yellow, red, white. Keep everything cool and dark so the lantern is the only warm spot.
  • Gnome fishing from a curled leaf boat Green, blue, red, white, peach. Blend the water in side-to-side strokes before the boat goes on.
  • Gnome in the saddle of a snail climbing a pebble lane Tan, brown, green, red, white. A lane narrowing toward the top makes the snail look as if it climbs.
  • Gnome leaning on the stalk of a toadstool twice its height Red, white, gray blue, green, peach. Wash the gray-blue sky first; dot the cap's spots with a cotton swab.
  • Gnome napping in a hammock tied to two tulip stems Pink, green, cream, red, peach. Paint the tulip stems as the posts and sag the hammock between them.
  • Gnome with a book in the shade of a dandelion puff Sky blue, green, white, red, peach. Dot the seed head with a cotton swab and let three seeds drift.
  • Gnome with only nose and beard showing under a striped hat Gray, white, peach, red. Fill half the canvas with hat; the beard is long white strokes off the bottom.
  • Round gnome doorway at the foot of a mossy tree Brown, moss green, red, yellow. Stipple the moss with a sponge; light the keyhole with one yellow dot.
  • Three gnomes from behind, only hats and beard curls showing Red, green, blue, tan, cream. Three tall triangles on a tan ground, a curl of cream beard at each side.
  • Two gnomes on a seesaw made from a wooden spoon Tan, red, blue, white, peach, green. Tilt the spoon across the canvas; one gnome up, one down.

On pots, wood slices and ornaments 12

  • Paint stirring stick gnome bookmark with a very tall hat Orange, white, peach, black. Hat down two thirds of the stick, then the nose, beard to the end.
  • Ring of gnome faces around the rim of a flowerpot Terracotta left bare, white, peach, red. Space the noses evenly first, then fit a hat above each.
  • Round ball ornament gnome: hat on the top half, beard below Red, white, peach. Rest the ornament in a cup, paint the top half, let it dry, then turn it over.
  • Row of plant markers, each topped with a gnome hat Red, yellow, blue, white, black. Hat at the top of each stick; letter the herb's name down the rest.
  • Terracotta saucer painted as a gnome's round front door Green, brown, yellow, black. Paint plank lines across, a ring handle, and a small window of yellow.
  • Upturned flowerpot painted as a hat with a face on the rim Red, peach, white. Turn the pot over; body of the pot red, nose and beard on the thick rim.
  • Wood block gnome house with a face at the window Cream, red, brown, yellow, peach. Roof and door first; the window gnome is a hat, a nose and no more.
  • Wood slice gnome with the bark edge left as a frame Red, white, peach. Keep the paint inside the rings so the bark stays bare all the way around.
  • Wood slice where the hat runs off the top edge Green, white, peach, pink. Start the hat outside the slice so only its lower half shows.
  • Wooden egg gnome with a beard that wraps all the way around Purple, white, peach. Hat over the narrow end; turn the egg as you pull beard strokes around it.
  • Wooden spoon gnome: the bowl a face, the handle a coat Peach, white, red, green. Beard across the bowl of the spoon; stripe the handle as a coat.
  • Wooden star ornament as a gnome with arms and legs out Blue, white, peach, brown. Top point is the hat, side points the sleeves, lower points the boots.

A gnome for each season 12

  • April gnome keeping dry under one big rhubarb leaf Green, gray, yellow, white, peach. Curve one big leaf over the hat and drip three drops off its tip.
  • Gnome beside a sunflower taller than its hat Yellow, brown, green, blue, white. Dab the petals in a ring around a stippled brown center.
  • Gnome carrying two pastel eggs, one under each arm Lilac, mint, yellow, white, peach. Keep the eggs flat pastel and stripe them once they are dry.
  • Gnome holding a red heart, hat dotted with tiny hearts Red, pink, white, peach. Paint the big heart over the beard; press the hat dots with a cotton swab.
  • Gnome in a sun hat with a bucket and a small shovel Straw yellow, blue, red, white, peach. Swap the pointed hat for a wide brim and keep the beard.
  • Gnome raking leaves into a pile taller than itself Rust, gold, brown, green, white. Dab the pile with a sponge in three leaf colors, darkest first.
  • Gnome sitting on a pumpkin, hat the color of fall leaves Orange, rust, white, peach, green. Curve the pumpkin ribs first, then seat the gnome on top.
  • Harvest gnome carrying an acorn as big as its head Brown, tan, mustard, white, peach. Crosshatch the acorn cap with a liner while the tan is dry.
  • March gnome, a shamrock pinned to its green hat brim Green, white, peach, gold. Three swab dots and a tail make the shamrock; rim the brim in gold.
  • Snow gnome with a long scarf and a snowball in each hand Gray blue, white, red, peach. Stipple falling snow with a swab after everything else is dry.
  • Summer gnome hugging a slice of watermelon Red, green, white, black, peach. Wedge first, rind in two greens, seeds with the tip of a swab.
  • Winter gnome on a sled, striped scarf flying behind Navy, white, red, peach, brown. Tilt the sled downhill and trail the scarf back in one long stroke.

A bought gnome figure 12

  • Autumn figure: rust hat, mustard coat, plum boots Rust, mustard, plum, peach, white. Hat rust first, coat mustard, boots plum, face, beard last.
  • Beekeeper figure in a yellow and black striped hat Yellow, black, cream, peach, white. Hat yellow first, stripes when dry, coat cream, beard last.
  • Classic colors with one swap: blue hat, red coat Blue, red, black, peach, white. Hat blue first, coat red, boots black, face peach, beard white last.
  • Classic figure: red hat, blue coat, white beard Red, blue, brown, peach, white. Hat red first, coat blue, boots and belt brown, face peach, beard last.
  • Figure in a toadstool hat with a moss-green coat Red, white, green, peach. Hat red first, white hat dots by swab, coat green, face peach, beard last.
  • Figure painted to look carved from granite Dark gray, mid gray, pale gray. Whole figure dark first, mid gray drybrushed over, pale on the edges last.
  • Fishing figure in a yellow raincoat and matching hat Yellow, navy, black, peach, white. Hat and coat yellow first, pants navy, boots black, beard last.
  • Gardener figure in green overalls and a tan apron Green, tan, brown, peach, white. Hat green first, overalls, apron over them, boots, beard last.
  • Night-sky figure: navy hat scattered with gold stars Navy, gold, gray, peach, white. Hat navy first, gold star dots when dry, coat gray, face, beard last.
  • Pastel figure: mint hat, lilac coat, cream beard Mint, lilac, pale pink, peach, cream. Hat mint first, coat lilac, boots pink, face, cream beard last.
  • Rainbow-striped hat above a plain gray coat Six rainbow colors, gray, peach, white. Hat stripes first from the tip down, coat gray, beard last.
  • Woodland figure: fern hat, chestnut coat, cream beard Fern green, chestnut, tan, peach, cream. Hat fern first, coat chestnut, trim tan, face, cream beard last.

How it works

Garden gnome figures traditionally wear a red pointy hat, which is why a cone-shaped stone already looks like one. The page opens on single stones; sets, canvas, pots, seasons and bought figures are in the list.

Read the full guide

Let the shape of the stone pick the gnome

A pointed stone is a hat: Cone-shaped stone as a red hat, nose peeking out below needs three colors. A round one is a face: Round pebble that is only a nose and a beard. Sets of stones holds 12 more, such as Three stacked stones: hat, nose and boots.

Gnome canvas painting ideas and bought figures

On canvas holds 12, among them Three gnomes from behind, only hats and beard curls showing. For a bought plaster, ceramic or resin figure, each idea lists the colors and the order, usually hat first and beard last. Acrylic becomes water-resistant when dry, but for anything kept outdoors check the labels of the paint and the sealer.

  • The beard goes on last, so its strokes can overlap the coat and the edge of the nose.

Questions and answers

What shape of rock makes the best gnome?

A cone or triangle, because the stone itself becomes the hat. Heart-shaped stone, the point as the tip of a beard and Long narrow stone as a gnome asleep under a leaf blanket use two other shapes.

What are some paint your own garden gnome ideas?

Choose A bought gnome figure in the list: 12 color schemes, from Classic figure: red hat, blue coat, white beard to Beekeeper figure in a yellow and black striped hat, each with the order to paint the parts.

Which gnome ideas are the easiest?

21 of the 72 are marked Easy, simple shapes, under More filters, Level. Row of five hat stones in rainbow order is five flat hats and five identical beards.

Is there a gnome for every season?

Yes, 12 of them: a heart, a shamrock, pastel eggs, a sunflower, a watermelon slice, a pumpkin, an acorn and a winter sled among them. Any of them fits a stone, a canvas or a wood slice.

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