Tomorrow my family and i are going to be painting rocks, and note we are VERY competitive people, i feel like i am definitely going to have the best rock. Thank you for giving me a head start Kristin!!!
Hi Kristin,I'm having a bit of a problem finding good pebbles,I've looked in the dry river beds here in Spain,but think I need to get to the beaches! However the ones I have found,I've really enjoyed painting. Now doing friends Initials,and surrounding it with dots! It's very effective if you use a gold or silver paint for the initials. You have opened up a new world of creativity for me,and I thank you.
Thank you so very much for this one. I had figured my only choice for rocks would be plaster of paris moulded rocks. They are beautiful, good choices, but my heart was set on also doing natural rocks. I had no idea I could buy a small bag of rocks from a rock store! I know I cant do that at the big box stores - and I was very frustrated. I had to stop myself from just picking up a rock in some landscaped area someplace. I could not imagine giving up being what I felt was honest for a rock!! Now I know I do have options, and you have not just skill and talent, but a kind heart! THANK you!
Check out your local home improvement stores (Home Depot/Lowes etc) you can get bags of smooth river rock for a low cost. My local stores charge about $8 for a 20lb bag and they are good quality. Hope this helps.
Lovely, and well produced. Looking forward to viewing more of your tutorials. 🌼 Lots of thanks from Huntington, WV. We're right on the Ohio River, so there's access to lots of great rocks!
Thank you, Michelle Epstein! My hope is that I can share the process as I'm learning from my own mistakes, and troubleshooting, so that others can move forward in their exploration of this type of art. Blessings!
Beautiful! I especially love your use of certain terms to describe the processes- "Walking the dots" is now in my mandala vocabulary. I too was unable to find any good rocks to paint, but instead of going to a rock place as you did, I tried the local Lowes and Home Depot. Neither had any stones. I realized that glass slugs sometimes came in really large sizes, and found so the size of fifty cent pieces. I have been painting on them, using both acrylic paints and clear shades of Gallery glass. They make nice necklaces. I wish I could show you a photo of them!
Me too! One of the ladies who came to my mandala painting class is now making her own mandala ornaments our of glass. She has small, beveled glass panes that she dots with transparent acrylic and they are beautiful!
I just added a few photos to my flickr page, under the name JoAnn Abbott. I would link to it, but UA-cam doesn't like that :). I didn't realize how few finished pictures I had of them, I need to get out my camera and update the process
I think I found your Flickr page and I saw a few beautiful portraits and a great Tea Party poster ;) but I didn't see any of your art work. I may be doing something wrong...never used Flickr before.
Bother! I wish youtube would let me link to my page! I did look under my photos on my facebook page and saw that I had posted a bunch of them on August 21 2016, maybe you can see them there. There are some good ones looking through the glass piece and seeing the gallery glass effects, as well as my flat backed gem mandala box. Mostly my flickr page has costumes and grandchildren and some old political pics from the start of the tea party in 2009. I was the main organizer of the Washington DC tea party, April 15 2009. I am not doing as much with politics just now though. .
Thank you Kristin for sharing this beautiful work... I just started to paint mandalas in dots and you really help me with your videos. Congrats!! 💋💋 Happy new year from Brazil!!!
I tried my 2nd mandala rock and it wasn't successful it didn't turn out great I used nail dotting tools I need to buy the the actual dotting tool for the rocks. Your videos are my absolute favorite helps me out a lot!
Thank you so much for sharing! I'm glad I found you; this is the first of your videos I've seen. I really want to collect rocks to paint. Big Thumbs Up! I will be subscribing 😊 I'm off to watch your video, it looked like advise for beginners, on needed supplies and tips and stuff 😊
Good Morning Kristen ! I am Brazilian, and I would like to know which paints you use in the stone and can expose yourself to the time without varnish? Congratulations on the gift God gave you. A hug! Translated into Google Translator
These are craft paints like FolkArt, Americana and Martha Stewart. I almost always use Martha Stewart black satin to paint the base layer on the rocks because it is a thick, smooth paint. Then, to dot, I mix up some of the cheaper craft paints with the more expensive artist quality paints from Golden Fluid acrylics, which you can buy on amazon. That gives great color. Then after they have dried overnight, I spray them with a clear acrylic finish, like Rustoleum clear satin. Though not necessary to keep the paint "on the rock" is does help prevent fading in UV light.
I love watching you paint these rocks but could you have one video to show what tools you use and how to use them. I have subscribed to your site and will be enjoying watching all of these.
Kathy, I made a video just for you today! Tutorial #7 shows the tools I use, and where to get them, and how to use them. If you have any questions, let me know. Blessings!
You can salvage any rocks with cracks or little pits in them, all you do is get dry wall spackle to go over the cracks or hole and then lightly sand the stone smooth , let it dry and then put a base coat on the rock and you are ready to go. 😁
Very helpful thank you for sharing your knowledge. I would love it if you could share some more videos on mixing paints. Also how do you like to finish your products if they’re on different surfaces what would you recommend? If you already posted this video and I missed it please excuse me and maybe suggest where I can find it. Thank you very much fabulous work you are such an inspiration.
Obscenely BEAUTIFUL! Watching and listening to you is very soothing. I was wanting to know what tool you used for the bigger dots? Do you only use Acrylics? Thank you for sharing...🌺
Kristin, thank you for taking the time to make these videos. Such beautiful, colorful, cheerful results! I just love them! I have some manicure dotting tools to use for "walking the dots", but nothing that makes the larger (perfectly round) dots. Is there a tool you recommend? I've tried pencil erasers, the butt end of a paintbrush, etc but I don't get that beautiful, perfect circle like you do. Any guidance you can provide would be greatly appreciated. :) Hugs from Colorado. Tiffany
I'm so intrigued by this, I attempted to do one yesterday, on a flat canvas to begin, I purchased dowels, in various sizes, trimmed them to a manageable size and began; I started with a black circle, then emulated one of your patterns, my dots were very different in size, I suppose practice makes perfect, but I'm wondering, what type paint is best, and do you mix your paint with a medium? I found that I also got too confused with where my dots went-- I think I began with too difficult a pattern for my first time, it made me want to stop, but I didn't. I kept going, it wasn't perfect by any means, but it was a start. I think these are so beautiful, and the meaning behind the mandala itself is so mystical and soothing. I am definitely going to keep going, if you could answer my paint question and give me a few tips I'd appreciate it. I've watched all of your videos and find you very inspirational. Thank you, your creations are magnificent. Lori
Hi Kristin!! I love all your videos, esp. your video with your dogs peeping through the window in the background:) Your videos are insightful, natural, and my favorite part relatable. I have watched all of your videos and tried most of your designs, thank you! My question is about paint bumps. I'm not sure if I am using the correct water to paint ratio and possibly pushing down on the dowel too hard but it creates ripples in the paint and dries very bumpy, unlike your videos with the center lump in the center ,mine looks more like ruffles chips! I don't have this issue with smaller circles with the nail stylus just my larger wooden dowel for bigger circles. Any recommendations? Thank you for all your help!
Thank you so much for watching and giving this painting technique a try. I am still learning, so I really appreciate the feedback on my tutorials. The paint needs to be about the thickness of cake batter, maybe just a smidge less dense. I fins that Americana brand acrylics have good texture and color, but you really don't know how thick they are until you purchase it and squirt the bottle. I do add water and mix well with a small paintbrush to get the right consistency, and I always put a small piece of plastic wrap over the wells in my paint palette to keep the colors from forming a "skin" while I work. The best paints I've used thus far are Golden Fluid acrylics, but they are expensive, artist quality paints. The results, however, are unsurpassed in color intensity. They also pool out perfectly and form perfect bumps as they dry without any pointy peaks or ruffly edges. You can get a set of 8 small bottles on Amazon for about $24.00.
Hi Kristin, Thank you so much for your response! My Americana sample set came today from amazon. Excited to test them out. Your tips have been so helpful! I appreciate the time you take to respond back to your followers. Look forward to seeing more of your journey. Peace and love to you and your family.
to fillin the cracks I have used gesso. I've also used wood filler to fill in cracks and then sanded down, painted with gesso and then paint black. Just an idea.
Dear Kristin, I love your rocks they are so beautiful and your art is inspirational. I have tried painting some myself but am struggling with the consistency of the paint, spacing and correcting errors. Have you any tips that may help? kind regards
Hi Karen! Every bottle of paint is unique, even if you get the same brand and finish and color. I suspect it may have something to do with shelf life, and how often certain colors are actually bought. In my experience, Americana brand satin acrylic is the most consistent, but occasionally needs a little water mixed in to make it more like cake batter. Martha Stewart paints are thicker, but they work great for putting dots on top of dots if you want to the mandala to have a more "quilted" look after the paint has dried. Golden Fluid acrylics (avalyaibe on Amazon) are more expensive and thinner, but have VERY intense color, and are great to mix together with less expensive craft paints. I correct my errors using a point Q-tip like this www.amazon.com/Q-tips-Cotton-Swabs-Precision-Tips/dp/B005XIM6J2?th=1. to lift up paint off a rock or canvas, then paint over the spot with black, and try again. Sometimes, I end up scrubbing an entire rock and starting over because I either didn't like the color combination, or the symmetry was off. And spacing/symmetry just takes practice. In my Christmas design tutorial, I show how to draw guidelines on a 6x6 canvas, and how those give you a visual grid for spacing. Once you've used penciled lines again and again, you can kind of "see" them in your mind and dot without a grid. Hope this helps!
Tomorrow my family and i are going to be painting rocks, and note we are VERY competitive people, i feel like i am definitely going to have the best rock. Thank you for giving me a head start Kristin!!!
That is awesome! I am a year late but how did it go?! lol
You are such a talented, calming and empowering teacher. I'm very grateful for your demystification of mandala stone art for me. Thank you.
What a lovely way to use rainbow colours and in so many different ways. Thanks for sharing.
Because of your videos, I'm getting my 11 year old grand daughter dot painting supplies for Christmas! I'll get myself some after. lol
Hi Kristin,I'm having a bit of a problem finding good pebbles,I've looked in the dry river beds here in Spain,but think I need to get to the beaches! However the ones I have found,I've really enjoyed painting. Now doing friends Initials,and surrounding it with dots! It's very effective if you use a gold or silver paint for the initials. You have opened up a new world of creativity for me,and I thank you.
Fantastic, Carole! Initial rocks are a great idea.
Thank you for sharing where you can get your rocks. Your tutorials on the rainbow rocks are wonderful!
I love all the different rainbow effect
Love this video, thanks for sharing. I like the idea of the pits and cracks. It feels more... real, as none of us are perfect.
Quantas pedras!
Pedras maravilhosas! Perfeitas!
Natal/ RN-Brasil.
Very very beautiful, I loved all, how creative, I would live near a place like this, with stones to choose from. Wonderful. Thank you!!!
I appreciate your encouragement, Mary. Thank you!
This is absolutely beautiful. I am a Crafter and I just love finding new things to try. You do wonderful work thank you for sharing.
Thank you so very much for this one. I had figured my only choice for rocks would be plaster of paris moulded rocks. They are beautiful, good choices, but my heart was set on also doing natural rocks. I had no idea I could buy a small bag of rocks from a rock store! I know I cant do that at the big box stores - and I was very frustrated. I had to stop myself from just picking up a rock in some landscaped area someplace. I could not imagine giving up being what I felt was honest for a rock!! Now I know I do have options, and you have not just skill and talent, but a kind heart! THANK you!
Check out your local home improvement stores (Home Depot/Lowes etc) you can get bags of smooth river rock for a low cost. My local stores charge about $8 for a 20lb bag and they are good quality. Hope this helps.
Lovely, and well produced. Looking forward to viewing more of your tutorials. 🌼 Lots of thanks from Huntington, WV. We're right on the Ohio River, so there's access to lots of great rocks!
Thank you for the education on how to xhoose stones & where to go...So very helpful.
Love your videos could watch these all day thank you for sharing x
Oh my! Just discovered this......they're gorgeous! The patterns and colors are stunning. Thank you so much for sharing. Consider me a new fan!
I'm so happy I found your channel. I love visiting and seeing your work. ♡
That was so fun to watch. Thank you Kristin ❤️
Another great tutorial Kristin. Thanks so much for taking the time to make them and inspiring us beginners. Happy New Year from Colorful Colorado.
It's my pleasure, Ellen. Thank you for taking the time to watch!
You've definitely reached another level of pure creativity! Exquisite work!
Thank you, Michelle Epstein! My hope is that I can share the process as I'm learning from my own mistakes, and troubleshooting, so that others can move forward in their exploration of this type of art. Blessings!
Great work Kristin!! My name is Marcela Cristina, from Argentina I've learned a lot watching your videos. Thank you for sharing. You are lovely.
Thank you, so much! Another tutorial coming soon!
I loved this episode! Your videos have helped me learn how to paint these beautiful rocks. Thank you!
I'm so glad these tutorial are helpful!
Love this tutorial! You have a great way of making the designs look easy!
So beautiful! I'm always mesmerized watching you paint. I'm just starting out and your tutorials have been a great inspiration. Thanks so much.
Thank you for your mind words, Michelle! Please post some pictures of your work when you have the time. I'd love to see your progress and ideas.
Beautiful! I especially love your use of certain terms to describe the processes- "Walking the dots" is now in my mandala vocabulary. I too was unable to find any good rocks to paint, but instead of going to a rock place as you did, I tried the local Lowes and Home Depot. Neither had any stones. I realized that glass slugs sometimes came in really large sizes, and found so the size of fifty cent pieces. I have been painting on them, using both acrylic paints and clear shades of Gallery glass. They make nice necklaces. I wish I could show you a photo of them!
Me too! One of the ladies who came to my mandala painting class is now making her own mandala ornaments our of glass. She has small, beveled glass panes that she dots with transparent acrylic and they are beautiful!
I just added a few photos to my flickr page, under the name JoAnn Abbott. I would link to it, but UA-cam doesn't like that :). I didn't realize how few finished pictures I had of them, I need to get out my camera and update the process
I think I found your Flickr page and I saw a few beautiful portraits and a great Tea Party poster ;) but I didn't see any of your art work. I may be doing something wrong...never used Flickr before.
Bother! I wish youtube would let me link to my page! I did look under my photos on my facebook page and saw that I had posted a bunch of them on August 21 2016, maybe you can see them there. There are some good ones looking through the glass piece and seeing the gallery glass effects, as well as my flat backed gem mandala box.
Mostly my flickr page has costumes and grandchildren and some old political pics from the start of the tea party in 2009. I was the main organizer of the Washington DC tea party, April 15 2009. I am not doing as much with politics just now though. .
Excellent tutorials! They are all so beautiful!!
I love your art work. It's so beautiful and peaceful! I just ordered some supplies and can't wait to give it a go with your inspiration.
It is very addictive, but in a good way. I've sort of taken over our dining room table to make these videos. Ha!
Like it very much. Happy to see this. God bless you. 🙏🙏
I am just a beginner to this rock painting and love your work. Thank you for sharing
Sua pintura é belíssima!
Muito linda! ! !
Natal/RN-Brasil.
Thank you Kristin for sharing this beautiful work... I just started to paint mandalas in dots and you really help me with your videos. Congrats!! 💋💋 Happy new year from Brazil!!!
Brazil! I love how far UA-cam can reach. I feel like I have friends all over the world. :)
Thanks! Beautiful, and I love the guitar music at the end too
I tried my 2nd mandala rock and it wasn't successful it didn't turn out great I used nail dotting tools I need to buy the the actual dotting tool for the rocks.
Your videos are my absolute favorite helps me out a lot!
They look fantastic by the way.
Found my answer, went back to rewatch videos.... landscape places..... Thank you.
They are all lovely,,,xx
Absolutely stunning x
Thank you! They are so beautiful!!!
gorgeous, gorgeous i love them thanks for sharing this with me
Thank you so much for sharing! I'm glad I found you; this is the first of your videos I've seen. I really want to collect rocks to paint. Big Thumbs Up! I will be subscribing 😊 I'm off to watch your video, it looked like advise for beginners, on needed supplies and tips and stuff 😊
Beautiful, you make it seem so easy, I'm not so sure I could be a quick as you, when I try
I LOVE your work...well taught!
Thank you, Wendy!
Wow--these are wonderful--will try some tomorrow!!
Just ordered some tools can't wait to get painting
Wow first time have watched any thing like this and really Fabulous makes me want to have a go.
beautiful creative and gorgeous you have a great talent your work looks perfect!
So beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
Good Morning Kristen ! I am Brazilian, and I would like to know which paints you use in the stone and can expose yourself to the time without varnish? Congratulations on the gift God gave you. A hug! Translated into Google Translator
These are craft paints like FolkArt, Americana and Martha Stewart. I almost always use Martha Stewart black satin to paint the base layer on the rocks because it is a thick, smooth paint. Then, to dot, I mix up some of the cheaper craft paints with the more expensive artist quality paints from Golden Fluid acrylics, which you can buy on amazon. That gives great color. Then after they have dried overnight, I spray them with a clear acrylic finish, like Rustoleum clear satin. Though not necessary to keep the paint "on the rock" is does help prevent fading in UV light.
Beautiful !
Beautiful as always...
Just beautiful!
Those are beautiful
Absolutely beautiful
I love watching you paint these rocks but could you have one video to show what tools you use and how to use them. I have subscribed to your site and will be enjoying watching all of these.
Kathy, I made a video just for you today! Tutorial #7 shows the tools I use, and where to get them, and how to use them. If you have any questions, let me know. Blessings!
beautiful as all your work tks Kristin for share
I appreciate the feedback, Rose. Thank you!
Gyönyörűek! :)
great videos, new to mandala and find your videos very inspiring. and you have very useful tips very well explained. thanks for sharing
love it. I subscribe and will be notify of all your new videos! Thanks so much for teaching us!
My pleasure, Sophie. I love trying new crafts. It is like being a child again!
FAntastic ....best that I have seen
superb...great video on New year day....Thank you so much for such a lovely video.
Such kind words. Thank you.
You can salvage any rocks with cracks or little pits in them, all you do is get dry wall spackle to go over the cracks or hole and then lightly sand the stone smooth , let it dry and then put a base coat on the rock and you are ready to go. 😁
Muy bonitos gracias por enseñar a hacerlo.
Beautiful work!!!!
fabuloso trabajo quedo hermoso saludos desde Puerto Rico☆☆☆
Lovely!
Very helpful thank you for sharing your knowledge. I would love it if you could share some more videos on mixing paints. Also how do you like to finish your products if they’re on different surfaces what would you recommend? If you already posted this video and I missed it please excuse me and maybe suggest where I can find it. Thank you very much fabulous work you are such an inspiration.
Obscenely BEAUTIFUL! Watching and listening to you is very soothing. I was wanting to know what tool you used for the bigger dots? Do you only use Acrylics? Thank you for sharing...🌺
We have the same last name 😊💛
Beautiful job!
Beautiful!!!
Wow! Your videos are wonderful
A wonderful Tut. Thank you so much!!!
wspaniale...bardzo mi sie podoba...
Gorgeous!
this is just what i needed see today, gracias
Great eye for color.
Kristin, thank you for taking the time to make these videos. Such beautiful, colorful, cheerful results! I just love them! I have some manicure dotting tools to use for "walking the dots", but nothing that makes the larger (perfectly round) dots. Is there a tool you recommend? I've tried pencil erasers, the butt end of a paintbrush, etc but I don't get that beautiful, perfect circle like you do. Any guidance you can provide would be greatly appreciated. :) Hugs from Colorado. Tiffany
Very pretty. When you walk the dots do you use the side of the tool? I'm have so much trouble with walking the dots.
So pretty. What kind of tools are you using and where did you get them from? They look nicer to hold then the plastic rod ones that I have
Sublime !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TY!
I'm so intrigued by this, I attempted to do one yesterday, on a flat canvas to begin, I purchased dowels, in various sizes, trimmed them to a manageable size and began; I started with a black circle, then emulated one of your patterns, my dots were very different in size, I suppose practice makes perfect, but I'm wondering, what type paint is best, and do you mix your paint with a medium? I found that I also got too confused with where my dots went-- I think I began with too difficult a pattern for my first time, it made me want to stop, but I didn't. I kept going, it wasn't perfect by any means, but it was a start. I think these are so beautiful, and the meaning behind the mandala itself is so mystical and soothing. I am definitely going to keep going, if you could answer my paint question and give me a few tips I'd appreciate it. I've watched all of your videos and find you very inspirational. Thank you, your creations are magnificent. Lori
Sistah Cool maybe check out her Facebook page she has more tips on there
Beautiful! I just wish you would show us what the paint brush tips you are using look like.
Wow pure heaven ❤️❤️❤️
I love yours tutorial
Thank you so much, Lourdes.
I love this! Do you use any paint thinners for your paints? Thank you for the tutorial :)
bellissime!!!!, brava!!!!
Love it!
Thank you, Karen!
absolutely beautiful where I live people paint rocks and hide them in a park so other people can find them
Just wanted to thank you for your generosity in sharing, I love your eye for colour. Do you spray or paint on a sealant when you're finished?
Do you?
MONICA FINCH Spray sealant in a can. She has done this on other rock videos
excellent tutorial, ive liked and subscribed!
Hi Kristin!! I love all your videos, esp. your video with your dogs peeping through the window in the background:) Your videos are insightful, natural, and my favorite part relatable. I have watched all of your videos and tried most of your designs, thank you! My question is about paint bumps. I'm not sure if I am using the correct water to paint ratio and possibly pushing down on the dowel too hard but it creates ripples in the paint and dries very bumpy, unlike your videos with the center lump in the center ,mine looks more like ruffles chips! I don't have this issue with smaller circles with the nail stylus just my larger wooden dowel for bigger circles. Any recommendations? Thank you for all your help!
Thank you so much for watching and giving this painting technique a try. I am still learning, so I really appreciate the feedback on my tutorials. The paint needs to be about the thickness of cake batter, maybe just a smidge less dense. I fins that Americana brand acrylics have good texture and color, but you really don't know how thick they are until you purchase it and squirt the bottle. I do add water and mix well with a small paintbrush to get the right consistency, and I always put a small piece of plastic wrap over the wells in my paint palette to keep the colors from forming a "skin" while I work. The best paints I've used thus far are Golden Fluid acrylics, but they are expensive, artist quality paints. The results, however, are unsurpassed in color intensity. They also pool out perfectly and form perfect bumps as they dry without any pointy peaks or ruffly edges. You can get a set of 8 small bottles on Amazon for about $24.00.
Hi Kristin,
Thank you so much for your response! My Americana sample set came today from amazon. Excited to test them out. Your tips have been so helpful! I appreciate the time you take to respond back to your followers. Look forward to seeing more of your journey. Peace and love to you and your family.
to fillin the cracks I have used gesso. I've also used wood filler to fill in cracks and then sanded down, painted with gesso and then paint black. Just an idea.
Oh! I will try that!
Kristin, can you please show what the tips look like of your dotting tools? How does it make those peaks? Thanks.
What kind of color is please? Great tutorial Kristin
Uauu!!!! Perfeito!!
Got your email, thanks soooo much Kristin. will reply in the morning. xxx
Kristen great to see the dors!! What for tool do you use for the big dots ? Greetings anita
Dear Kristin, I love your rocks they are so beautiful and your art is inspirational. I have tried painting some myself but am struggling with the consistency of the paint, spacing and correcting errors. Have you any tips that may help? kind regards
Hi Karen! Every bottle of paint is unique, even if you get the same brand and finish and color. I suspect it may have something to do with shelf life, and how often certain colors are actually bought. In my experience, Americana brand satin acrylic is the most consistent, but occasionally needs a little water mixed in to make it more like cake batter. Martha Stewart paints are thicker, but they work great for putting dots on top of dots if you want to the mandala to have a more "quilted" look after the paint has dried. Golden Fluid acrylics (avalyaibe on Amazon) are more expensive and thinner, but have VERY intense color, and are great to mix together with less expensive craft paints. I correct my errors using a point Q-tip like this www.amazon.com/Q-tips-Cotton-Swabs-Precision-Tips/dp/B005XIM6J2?th=1. to lift up paint off a rock or canvas, then paint over the spot with black, and try again. Sometimes, I end up scrubbing an entire rock and starting over because I either didn't like the color combination, or the symmetry was off. And spacing/symmetry just takes practice. In my Christmas design tutorial, I show how to draw guidelines on a 6x6 canvas, and how those give you a visual grid for spacing. Once you've used penciled lines again and again, you can kind of "see" them in your mind and dot without a grid. Hope this helps!
Thank you for all the advice, I will take it all on board and put plenty of practice in. Kind regards Karen.
Hi from France. My english is not so good i'm sorry. What is that for tools? Its very beautiful what you make. I will try too 😊
Wonderful!