Rock Art Handbook: Techniques and Projects for Painting, Coloring, and Transforming Stones

Rock art is showing up everywhere—on Etsy, at craft shows, online and on hidden “kindness rocks” around your neighbourhood. And the good news is you can do it yourself! Just look in your own back garden, a nearby beach or the local gardening centre to find the perfect rock. Then with the help of a few colourful craft supplies and the tutorials in Rock Art Handbook, you’ll be on your way.
Author Sam Sarles shares her favourite tips and techniques for transforming the humble rock into a work of art. Discover how to get great results with puffy paint, acrylics, oil pastels, alcohol inks, gelatos, art pens, embossing, stamping and more. With more than 30 step-by-step projects, this book is the comprehensive rock art resource.

• ISBN13: 9781565239456
• Publish Date: 14 August 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 160
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Rock Art Handbook by Samantha Sarles is an exuberant how-to DIY for turning found stones into small works of art. Due out 13th August, 2018 from Fox Chapel Publishing, it's 160 pages and available in paperbound format.

I already used 'exuberant', but it's the best descriptor for this book. The photography is lovely and full color throughout. The author writes in an easy to follow style and the book is simply packed with good tips and techniques. The introduction does a good job of showing the available tools and necessary supplies. She even describes what makes a rock easy or difficult to paint. Preparation and priming are covered in the intro chapter with more advanced techniques having the necessary additional steps included inside the individual project chapters.

The step by step tutorials are clear and easily followable with photographs and supporting text. The included techniques are broadly varied, from marbling to decoupage, painting with acrylic, puffy paint, markers, metallic pens and more. There's something for everyone. I especially love the mandalas and zentangles.

The author says something quite profound in her introduction also:

Here's the best thing about creating art on rocks: rocks are not intimidating. There's something quite different about looking at a simple, natural rock compared with staring at an overwhelming blank canvas or piece of paper.

This is just a really fun (exuberant!) colorful do-able art book. The final chapter includes rock art with (and for) kids. I really loved the story rocks. What an awesome idea!

Five stars. This book does what it aimed to do very well. Fun fun fun!

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes