Materials Needed

Large, flat rock with smooth surface
Acrylic paints in 5-8 colors
Black acrylic paint (for outlines)
White acrylic paint
Fine detail brush
Medium flat brush
Pencil (for sketching)
Clear sealant spray
Paper plate (for palette)
Cup of water (for rinsing brush)

Step-by-Step Instructions

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Step 1: Prepare and plan your design

Wash and dry the rock. Using a pencil, divide the rock surface into irregular geometric shapes — triangles, squares, diamonds, and trapezoids. The shapes should fit together like tiles with small gaps between them.

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Step 2: Paint the base white

Paint the entire rock surface white as a base coat. This helps the mosaic colors appear brighter and more vivid. Let it dry completely, then redraw your mosaic lines with pencil if needed.

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Step 3: Fill in the tiles

Choose a color scheme — warm colors, cool colors, or a rainbow palette. Paint each tile shape with a different color, making sure no two adjacent tiles share the same color. Use your flat brush for larger shapes and the detail brush for small ones.

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Step 4: Add black outlines

Once all tile colors are dry, use your fine brush and black paint to carefully outline each tile. Keep the lines thin and consistent. The black outlines create the classic mosaic "grout" look that makes each tile stand out.

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Step 5: Add highlights and seal

For a polished look, add a tiny white highlight dot to the corner of each tile. This creates a 3D glass effect. Let everything dry fully, then apply clear sealant spray to protect your mosaic masterpiece.

Step 6: Add RoxGeo Code

On the bottom or back of your rock, write ROXGEO.COM followed by a slash and your rock’s unique code (e.g. ROXGEO.COM/ABC123). This lets the finder go directly to your rock’s profile page and log their discovery. If the rock is too small for the full address, write #ROX followed by the code without spaces (e.g. #ROXABC123) — it’s short, easy to search on Google, and leads straight to your rock’s journey page. Use a fine-tip permanent marker or acrylic paint pen, and seal it with clear varnish so the code stays readable through rain, sun, and adventure.

Helpful Tips

Use a large, flat rock to have more space for detailed tile work.
Plan your color scheme before you start painting — warm and cool color combos work great.
Keep the black outlines thin and even for the most realistic mosaic look.
Try making a mosaic picture like a flower or heart shape using the tile pattern.
White highlight dots in the corners of tiles add a beautiful glass-like shine.
For the RoxGeo code on the bottom, use a waterproof permanent marker (like Sharpie) or an acrylic paint pen. Apply 2–3 coats of clear sealant over the code — this keeps it readable through rain, sun, and handling for months.
Writing #ROXCODE (e.g. #ROXABC123) on your rock makes it easy to find via Google search. We actively optimize for this hashtag, so anyone who searches for it will find your rock’s profile page quickly.
The full address ROXGEO.COM/CODE takes the finder directly to your rock’s card, where they can see its full travel history, previous finders, and photos from every stop on its journey.

Paint this rock and track its journey with RoxGeo!

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