Short answer
Pick a smooth stone with some character, paint a base coat (or leave it natural grey), then add two big eyes with white highlights, a small mouth and pink cheeks. Add yarn hair, ears or a tail for a cat or dog. Use water-based acrylic paint pens: a medium tip for the eyes and an extra fine tip for pupils and mouths. Indoor pet rocks can wear googly eyes; outdoor rocks should not.
A short history of the pet rock
The original Pet Rock was a 1975 novelty from advertising executive Gary Dahl. The stones were sold in a cardboard box styled like a pet carrier, with air holes and straw bedding, for just under $4 each, and nearly 1.5 million sold in the first run (Wikipedia). The originals were plain stones; painting a face on yours is the modern twist.
Pet rock painting ideas, step by step
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No. 01Easy
Classic pet rock face
- Level
- Easy
- Tips
- Medium, extra fine
- Colors
- Natural grey, white, black, pink
- Rock
- Round or egg-shaped
- Leave the stone natural grey, or base coat any color.
- Paint two big white circles close together for eyes.
- Add black pupils looking the same direction, then a white highlight dot in each.
- Paint a small smile and pink cheeks.
- For indoor pets, glue on a tuft of yarn hair.
Markers for this design: rock painting markers in color, plus a white paint marker for highlights.
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No. 02Medium
Cat pet rock
- Level
- Medium
- Tips
- Medium, extra fine
- Colors
- Orange, pink, yellow, black, white
- Rock
- Round
- Base coat orange, grey or black.
- Paint two triangle ears rising from the top edge, pink inside.
- Add almond eyes with slit pupils and a pink nose.
- Finish with whiskers and a curled tail around the side.
Markers for this design: a medium and an extra fine marker from the paint pens for rock painting list.
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No. 03Easy
Happy blob pet
- Level
- Easy
- Tips
- Medium, extra fine
- Colors
- Any bright color, black, pink
- Rock
- Smooth, palm size
- Base coat a bright color.
- Paint two small black eyes set low and wide.
- Add a tiny smile and pink cheeks.
- Optional: two dot feet on the bottom edge.
Markers for this design: a medium and an extra fine marker from the paint pens for rock painting list.
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No. 04Easy
Monster pet
- Level
- Easy
- Tips
- Medium, fine
- Colors
- Pink, green or purple, white, black
- Rock
- Smooth, palm size
- Base coat any bright color.
- Paint one big eye with a black pupil.
- Add a wide mouth with white pointy teeth.
- Add horns or spots for extra character.
Markers for this design: rock painting markers in color, plus a white paint marker for highlights.
Painting eyes that make a pet rock look alive
- Big and close together. Large eyes set close together read as cute; small eyes far apart read as odd (which can be fun too).
- Pupils look the same way. Place both pupils toward the same side, and the rock looks like it is watching something.
- Always a highlight. One white dot in the same spot in each pupil brings the face to life.
- Mouth low. Keep the mouth closer to the eyes than you think, low on the face.
- Use the stone. A bump becomes a nose, a crack becomes a mouth.
Make a pet rock adoption kit
A pet rock is a better gift with a little ceremony. Put the painted rock in a small box lined with shredded paper or straw, punch air holes in the lid for the joke, and add an adoption certificate with the pet’s name, “birthday”, favorite food and care instructions (“needs no food, enjoys sunny windowsills, sits very well”). In a classroom, each child paints a pet, names it and fills in the certificate, which doubles as a writing exercise.
Googly eyes, yarn and glue: indoors only
Googly eyes, pom poms, felt ears and yarn hair suit pet rocks that live on a desk or shelf. Keep them off rocks that go outside: the Kindness Rocks Project asks painters not to add stickers or googly eyes to rocks left outdoors because they can harm animals (project guidelines). For outdoor pet rocks, paint the eyes instead and seal the rock.
Supplies for pet rocks
Markers, stones, eyes and sealer, each listing checked by hand. More on paint pens for rock painting.
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Posca PC-5M paint markers, 8 count
Medium tips for base colors, eye whites and ears.
- Medium reversible tip
- 8 colors
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Posca PC-1M paint markers, 8 pack
Extra fine tips for pupils, highlights, whiskers and mouths.
- 0.7 mm extra fine
- 8 colors
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UPINS 300 black wiggle googly eyes, self adhesive
Self-adhesive googly eyes in mixed sizes, per the listing, for pet rocks kept indoors only.
- 300 pieces
- Self adhesive
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Simetufy river rocks for painting, 25 pieces
Smooth 2 to 3 inch stones per the listing, a good size for a pet that fits in a hand.
- 25 stones
- 2 to 3 inch
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Mod Podge spray acrylic sealer
A clear spray sealer for pet rocks that get handled. Spray light coats in a ventilated area.
- Spray
- Clear
Each pick links to an Amazon listing we checked by hand. Prices, colors and pack sizes change on Amazon, so check the listing before you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
More face and animal rocks
For more expressions, see painted rock faces; for small characters, cute rock painting ideas; for animals by rock shape, rock painting animals. Every theme is on the rock painting ideas hub.
Questions people ask
What is the best type of paint for painting pet rocks?
Water-based acrylic: acrylic craft paint for the base coat and acrylic or pigment paint pens for the face, because pens make the small, crisp eyes and mouths that give a pet rock its character. A pump-action pen such as Posca covers stone well. Seal with a clear spray if the rock will be handled a lot.
How do I paint a pet rock?
Wash and dry a smooth stone. Paint a base coat or leave the stone natural. Paint two large white circles for eyes, add black pupils looking the same way and a white highlight dot in each, then a small mouth and pink cheeks. Add ears, hair or a tail, name it on the bottom, and seal it.
What are some easy animal rock painting ideas?
A ladybug, a cat face, a frog, a penguin, an owl, a fish and a mouse are all one base color plus a face. Match the animal to the rock shape: round stones for ladybugs and cats, upright ovals for owls and penguins, long stones for fish and mice.
Where did the pet rock come from?
The Pet Rock was a novelty created by advertising executive Gary Dahl and introduced in 1975. Each rock came in a cardboard carrier box with air holes and straw bedding, sold for just under $4, and nearly 1.5 million were sold during the original craze.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-10-14. Specs and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
