How to Paint Cats on Rocks

Last week was a busy week for me, with many things that kept me away from "blogland".  I am actually in Colorado as I type this.  I flew back on Saturday and am enjoying being with Steve and catching up here.  I brought my camera this time around, so perhaps I can get some more blog posts done this trip; we'll see. I had this post almost finished on Friday, but just now got a chance to get the last little bit done.  It was definitely a fun activity.

My Grandsons got a book out of the library recently called "Pussycats Everywhere"  It is a cute funny little book that they loved reading over and over again.  Winston even memorized all the names of the cats in the book (about 30 if I remember right).  We decided to paint some cats…and decided to paint them on rocks. I googled "painting rocks" and wow what a lot of great ideas and tiny works of art. I was very inspired and  had so much fun when we began painting that I had a hard time putting the paint and rocks away when we were done and I am still thinking up ideas of how we could paint rocks.  So here is our little rock painting day.  Perhaps it will spark some fun ideas for you.

Lay out a little wax paper, or newspaper for a painting surface and gather some supplies.

I let each of the boys tell me which kind of Pussycat they wanted to paint and which rock they wanted to use. We painted together at first.

Then I let them paint.

 How to Paint Cats on Rocks

Supplies: 
smooth flat rocks
acrylic craft paint
paint brushes (don't get cheap kids brushes, get some detail brushes from the art supply store).
Q-tips
paper plates (to use as a paint pallet).
black Sharpie type marker (fine point)
wax paper
Mod Podge or clear acrylic spray paint

 You can search for rocks in your back yard or go to the dollar store and find a whole bag of them for "Guess how much?"… "haha, yes, just a dollar"; these were nice, smooth and clean; ready to go.

 Supplies

Here's how I painted the cats:
I found that starting with the tail helped me place face and paws better.

1. Dip a Q-tip in paint and swirl it down the side of the rock to make a  curling tail.

2.  Dip in paint again, then make  circles for cheeks.

3.  Dip again and make 4 smaller circles for paws that are tucked up under kitty.

4.  Paint triangles for ears.

5.  Fill in the ears with pink.

6.  Add a little pink triangle nose.

7.  Using the Q-tip again, dip it into the paint you want and make little circles for eyes.

8.  Allow to dry completely.

9.  Paint pupils with black paint using a very thin paintbrush.

10.  Allow to dry thoroughly.

11.  Put a tiny amount of white paint on a clean paintbrush, and add a dot of white to each eye and one to the nose, to create the shine accent.

12.  With the same brush, add fur and whiskers.

13. Use a paintbrush or a Sharpie type pen to add lines for toes, or any other details you like once all the paint has completely dried.

15.  Allow to dry several hours until completely dry to touch.

14.  Paint your creation with Mod Podge, or a clear Acrylic Spray to seal the paint and keep it from scratching or peeling off.

Tip:  If you don't allow the paint to dry completely before brushing on a sealer, it may smear a little such as happened to the kitty on the top right… he now has slightly green cheeks as well as eyes.

Pussycats Everywhere!

Here is the reason that the boys loved that little book so much.  He's Elizabeth's cat… well I should say He's Winston's cat (but we all sort of claim him).  He is a true work of art and a family friend… there are actually two family kitties around here, but this one always makes himself very available for photography :) Haha. Hope you all have a little fun with rocks and paintbrushes.  

Enjoy your week everyone!