Broccoli floret on a stone with a stalk end, sponged topDark green, light green. Sponge dark green over the wide end in dabs; the narrow end stays light as the stalk.
Garden hose coiled around a round stone, brass nozzle on topGreen, dark green, yellow. Green coat; one dark spiral line from the rim to the middle, a brass nozzle where it ends.
Jalapeño on a curved green stone, a stem cap at one endGreen, dark green, white. One green coat, a darker cap and a short stem at the thick end, one long white shine.
Blocky stone as a clipped hedge, an arch doorway cut inGreen, dark green, black. Green coat, short leaf ticks all over, a black arch at the base as the way through.
Broccoli floret on a stone with a stalk end, sponged topDark green, light green. Sponge dark green over the wide end in dabs; the narrow end stays light as the stalk.
Celery stalk along a long stone, ribs from end to endPale green, green. A pale coat, darker rib lines from end to end, a few leaf flicks at the top.
Chameleon on a green stone: an eye, a mouth, a curled tailGreen, black, white. The green coat is its skin: add only a ringed eye, a mouth line and a tail curled in a spiral.
Dill pickle on a long lumpy stone, pale swab-dot bumpsGreen, pale green. One coat of green; pale swab dots for the bumps, a darker stripe or two along its length.
Garden hose coiled around a round stone, brass nozzle on topGreen, dark green, yellow. Green coat; one dark spiral line from the rim to the middle, a brass nozzle where it ends.
Jalapeño on a curved green stone, a stem cap at one endGreen, dark green, white. One green coat, a darker cap and a short stem at the thick end, one long white shine.
KEEP OFF THE GRASS in white capitals on a grass-green stoneGreen, white. Grass-green coat; the four words stacked in white pen capitals. Set it in the lawn it guards.
Leaf-green stone with caterpillar bites left as bare stoneGreen, dark green. Paint a leaf to the rim, leaving round bites bare along one edge; veins in the darker green.
Sea serpent of four green stones: a head and three humpsFour stones, one for the head. Green, yellow, black. Scale arcs on each hump, an eye on the head; set in a row.
Stuffed olive pebble: green all over, a red dot at one endGreen, red. Green all over a small oval pebble; the red dot at one end is the stuffing. Paint a bowlful.
Whole watermelon on an oval stone, dark jagged stripesGreen, dark green. One green coat; jagged darker stripes from end to end, a small tan stalk scar at one tip.
Black 12
Black pebbles as music notes laid on five chalked linesFive or more small dark pebbles. White. A white shine dab on each; chalk five lines on a path and lay them as notes.
Black stone zebra: only the white stripes are paintedBare black stone, white. White stripes curving around the stone, forking here and there, thinner toward one end.
Blackberry pebble: round bumps all over, a shine on eachBlack, dark purple, white, green. Purple swab dots packed over a black coat, a white tick on each, a green cap.
Clapperboard on a blocky black stone, slanted white stripesBlack, white. Slanted white stripes across the top strip; white pen lines and a scene number on the board below.
Dog's nose pebble: two nostril curves and one white shineBare black stone, gray, white. Two comma nostrils and a line down between them in gray; one white shine above.
Flock of five white pebbles and one black one, pen facesSix pebbles, five pale and one dark. Black and white pens. A sheep's face on each, wool curls in the other color.
Mole at the narrow end of a black stone, two digging pawsBare black stone, one pale color. The stone is the mole: a small nose at the narrow end, a wide paw on each side.
Road stones: flat dark stones with a yellow center dashAny number of flat dark stones. Yellow, white. A dashed yellow line down each, white edges; lay them end to end.
Sunflower seed on a black teardrop stone, cream stripesBlack, cream. Thin cream stripes from the point to the round end, widest in the middle of the stone.
Tuxedo stone: a white shirt front, a bow tie, three buttonsBlack, white, red. A white V from the top rim to the middle, a red bow tie at its top, three black buttons below.
TV remote on a long black stone, button dots in rowsBlack, gray, red. Rows of gray swab-dot buttons down the stone, one red button at the top, a ring of four arrows.
Wood stove on a blocky black stone, a glow behind its doorBlack, orange, yellow, gray. A door with a glowing orange window, gray hinges and handle, a pipe line to the top.
White 12
Bar of soap on a white oval, three bubbles at one cornerWhite, pale blue. White coat, a pale blue line just inside the rim, SOAP in thin capitals, three ring bubbles.
Dog bone on a long white stone, two knobs at each endWhite, gray. White coat on a long stone; a gray notch at each end makes two knobs, a gray shadow along the lower edge.
Dumpling on a half-round white stone, pleats along the topWhite, pale tan. White coat; short curved pleat lines along the humped edge, a soft tan shadow under each fold.
Flat white stone as a pillow, a sleeping face pebble on itA flat blocky stone and a round pebble. White, black. A piping line and a dent on the pillow; shut eyes on the pebble.
Golf ball pebble: rows of gray dimple dots on whiteWhite, pale gray. White coat on a round pebble; pale gray swab dots in tight offset rows, fainter toward one side.
Peaked white stone as a swirl of cream, a cherry on topWhite, pale gray, red. One gray spiral line from the base up to the peak, a red cherry dot and a pen stalk on top.
Popcorn on a lumpy white stone, yellow in the foldsWhite, pale yellow, tan. White over every lump, pale yellow brushed into the dips, a tan fleck of hull or two.
Salt and pepper pair: a white stone and a black one, S and PTwo upright stones, one white, one black. Gray, white. Three dots on top of each, a big S on one, a P on the other.
Sugar cubes: blocky white pebbles with gray sparkle specksTwo or three blocky pebbles. White, pale gray. White coats, fine gray specks, one sharp edge line; stack them.
Tall white stone as a fridge: two doors and a kid's drawingWhite, gray, bright colors. A line across for two doors, gray handles, one tiny bright drawing under a dot magnet.
Tea bag on a square white stone, its string over the edgeWhite, tan, black. White coat, a tan shadow of leaves in the middle, a pen string over the top edge to a paper tag.
Tooth on a two-bump white stone, the bumps as its rootsWhite, black, pink. White coat; the two bumps point down as roots. A pen smile, two eyes, fingerprint cheeks.
Red 12
Apple core on a pinched-in stone, red skin at both endsRed, cream, brown. Red skin at both wide ends; the narrow middle cream with bite marks, two seeds and a stalk.
Ball cap on a domed red stone, the brim over one long endRed, white, dark red. Seam lines from a button on top down to the rim, a curved brim at one end, a white letter.
Fire extinguisher on a tall red stone, black hose and gaugeRed, black, white, silver. Red coat, a black handle and hose from the top, a small round gauge, a white label band.
Fire hydrant on an upright red stone, a cap on each sideRed, dark red, silver. Red coat; a domed top band, a round cap painted on each side, silver bolt dots at the base.
Playground ball on a round red stone, crisscross grip linesRed, dark red, white. Red coat, darker crisscross lines over the whole ball, one white shine on the upper side.
Red bell pepper on a blocky stone, a green stalk in the dipRed, dark red, green, white. Red coat, curved crease lines from top to base, a green stalk on top, one white shine.
Red brick on a blocky stone, three holes in the top faceBrick red, dark red, cream. Red coat, three dark ovals on top, cream mortar smears on one end, darker speckles.
Tomato pincushion pebble: stitched sections and pen pinsRed, green, white. Red coat, thin green stitch lines dividing it in six, a green star on top, round-headed pen pins.
Toy wagon on a blocky red stone, four wheels and a handleRed, black, white. Red coat, a white line along the rim, black wheels at the base, a pen handle folded over the top.
Upright stone hero: an eye mask in front, a red cape behindRed, black, white. Paint the back and sides red as a cape, tied at the top; in front, a black eye mask and a grin.
Wax seal pebble: one initial pressed in, a lumpy drip rimRed, dark red. Red coat on a round pebble; a darker ring just inside a wobbly rim, one initial in the middle.
Yo-yo pebble: a gold star in the middle, a string to a loopRed, gold, white. Red coat on a round pebble, a gold star in the middle, a white pen string from the rim to a loop.
Yellow and orange 12
Carrot coins: small round orange pebbles, a lighter middleA handful of small round pebbles. Orange, pale orange. One coat each, a paler disc in the middle, fine lines outward.
Croissant on a crescent-shaped stone, bands to both tipsGolden orange, brown, cream. Orange coat; curved band lines narrowing toward each tip, darker along every ridge.
Elbow macaroni on a short curved stone, a hole at each endYellow-orange, brown. One coat; a dark oval at each end as the hollow, a lighter line along the outer curve.
Fries: long thin yellow pebbles above a red carton stoneSix thin pebbles and one wide stone. Yellow, tan, red, white. Tan tips on the fries; white stripes on the carton.
Hard hat on a domed yellow stone, a ridge over the topYellow, dark yellow, white. Yellow coat, three ridge lines from front to back, a short brim, one white shine.
Life jacket on a blocky orange stone, two black strapsOrange, black, silver. Orange coat, a V notch at the top for the neck, two black straps with silver buckles.
Mango pebble blushed from green through yellow to redGreen, yellow, red. Blend the three while wet, green at the stalk end, red on one cheek; a brown stalk dot.
Road-sign stone: a black duck family on a yellow diamondYellow, black. A yellow diamond to the rim with a black border; inside it, one duck and three ducklings in black.
Stick of butter on a brick-shaped stone, paper folded backPale yellow, white, gray. Yellow coat at one end; white paper with gray fold lines over the rest, peeled back.
Taco on a half-moon stone, fillings along the straight edgeYellow, green, red, brown. Yellow shell with darker speckles; lettuce, tomato and meat dabs on the straight edge.
Traffic cone on a triangular stone, two white bandsOrange, white, black. Orange coat, two white bands across the upper half, a flat black base along the wide edge.
Windsock on a long tapering stone, orange and white bandsOrange, white. Bands by turns from the wide end to the narrow one; a dark ring and a pen pole at the wide end.
Pink and purple 12
Coin purse on a half-round pink stone, a gold clasp on topPink, gold, dark pink. Pink coat, a gold frame line along the humped edge, two gold ball dots where it snaps shut.
Hot water bottle on a flat oval pink stone, a stopper endPink, dark pink. Pink coat, crisscross rib lines, a short neck and a stopper painted at the narrow end.
Long pink stone as a tongue under a big face stoneA long stone and a big round one. Pink, black, white. A center line down the tongue; eyes and a wide mouth above.
Macaron pebble: a ruffled cream band around its middlePink, cream. Pink coat on a thick round pebble; a cream band around the side, a ruffled edge above and below it.
Paint tube on a long stone, a purple blob pebble at its tipA long stone and a small pebble. Silver, purple, white. Crimped end, a label band, a cap line; the pebble all purple.
Pink eraser on a blocky stone, gray smudges on one cornerPink, gray. Pink coat on a blocky stone with slanted ends; gray pencil smudges on one corner, crumb specks beside.
Plum pebble: one crease line, a white bloom rubbed overPurple, dark purple, white. Purple coat, one curved crease, a short stalk; rub a little white on with a fingertip.
Red onion half on a round stone, purple rings to the middlePurple, white. On a pale stone or a white coat, thin purple rings from a purple rim in to a small middle.
Shrimp on a curved pink stone, bands across the backPink, dark pink, black. Six bands across the outer curve, a black dot eye, long pen whiskers off the wide end.
Spool of purple thread on a squat stone, tan rims each endPurple, tan, dark purple. Tan rims at top and base, close thread lines around the middle, one loose end hanging down.
Three-flavor ice cream block: brown, white and pink bandsBrown, white, pink. Three level bands around a blocky stone; a scooped curl missing from the pink end.
Turnip on a stone with a pointed end, purple top, white tipPurple, white, green. Purple over the wide half, white to the point, a root line off the tip, leaf stubs on top.
How it works
One pot of green is a pickle, a hedge or a chameleon. These green rock painting ideas are the first 12 of 72 designs sorted by base coat, for one color of paint or a stone already black or white.
Read the full guide
Black rock painting ideas and white ones
A stone that is already dark needs almost no paint. Gray and a dab of white are all that goes on Dog's nose pebble: two nostril curves and one white shine. For white rock painting ideas, the shape of a pale stone picks the design, as in Tooth on a two-bump white stone, the bumps as its roots.
Red rock painting ideas that are nearly all red
A darker shade of the same red draws the ring on Wax seal pebble: one initial pressed in, a lumpy drip rim. Red and a little cream make Apple core on a pinched-in stone, red skin at both ends.
Questions and answers
What are some black painted rock ideas that use one color?
Leave the stone bare and add white alone, as on Black stone zebra: only the white stripes are painted. Cream does the same for Sunflower seed on a black teardrop stone, cream stripes.
What are good pink rock painting ideas?
Pink and purple share a group. A pink coat with a few gray marks is Pink eraser on a blocky stone, gray smudges on one corner. The purple side runs from a plum to a spool of thread.
What are some yellow painted rock ideas?
Yellow gives Hard hat on a domed yellow stone, a ridge over the top. The orange painted rock ideas sit in the same group, among them Windsock on a long tapering stone, orange and white bands.