I have been painting pebbles and exploring inks and supplies.
Some of the tools and inks I used for painting and drawing these pebbles: Black Faber Castell Pitt artist pens, Staedtler 0.4 technical pen with white Staedtler ink, Royal and Langnickel Clear Choice 00 round synthetic brush with white Daler-Rowney acrylic ink or white Pergamano indelible drawing ink.
Some of my unique pebbles are available at my Etsy Shop
how lovely - found a photo of your work on pinterest!
ReplyDeletereally beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI saw these too on Pinterest. They are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThey look realy great :) Would like to do the same
ReplyDeleteJust lovely! I'm going to look for the pens today ~ you've inspired me! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteVery eye catching. I love the designs. Would love to see if my shaky hands can draw something similar to you pebble Mandala.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your comments, you made my day!
ReplyDeleteStunning. Thank you for posting. Can you please email me if any of the inks you use or know of work and are water proof? I'd like to leave one of these personalized on a grave and so it would be rained on etc.
ReplyDeleteThanks again.
Jessica, the Pergamano ink and the Pitt pens are really waterproof, the Staedler and the Daler-Rowney are sold as such but they bleed a little bit. Sometimes to be sure I apply a finishing coat with Golden matte acrylic medium, the thing is it changes the smooth texture of the pebble. I now some people use some kind of varnish but I haven't tried. Good luck with your beautiful project.
ReplyDeleteWhere can we buy these plain pebbles to paint? I would like to try my hands oh these..
DeleteWhere can we buy these plain pebbles to paint? I would like to try my hands oh these..
DeleteSweta I don't buy them, I collect them is some beaches in New Zealand ;)
DeleteYou could try in a garden supplies shop.
These are looking awesome. What can we use these for? Apart from using them as paper weight?
DeleteThank you Madiha. I just use them as decoration, I like to look at them ;)
DeleteWow, how beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteGreetings Viola
These are beautiful. Such lovely designs.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Viola and Brenda!
ReplyDeleteThese are so pretty! You are very talented. I added a link to my Rock Crafts article at Squidoo.
ReplyDeleteThank you Peg, will check your article!
ReplyDeleteJust discovered your blog and love it. Your work is amazing. I am following you. I look forward to seeing you at My Dream Canvas.
ReplyDeleteOh Anu, thank you so much for your kind comment and for following my work! I will be visiting you at My Dream Canvas very soon.
ReplyDeleteThese rock mandalas are wonderful. I also found you via Pinterest. I have posted your blog link on my FB page for a friend who creates mandalas as well.
ReplyDeleteLovely Mandala's!!Your work is really beautiful...thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteJacquie, thank you for your visit and for your lovely comment. I appreciate you sharing my link.
ReplyDeletebarbi15ca, you are very kind, thank you for your visit!
Wonderful! I love mandala's and rocks. Great combo!
ReplyDeleteYou rock!
Shanti, thank you! I love them both too.
ReplyDeletewonderful. I love your work!
ReplyDeleteThank you Nicole! I'm glad you like my work.
ReplyDeleteFaz coleção de pedras...agora tenho motivo maior para continuar a colecionar...Vou descobrir qual material temos disponível aqui no Brasil para fazer "o mesmo" trabalho com as minhas. Obrigada por partilhar seu dom. Deus ti abençoe.
ReplyDeleteGracias Angela! y empieza a pintar tus piedras.
DeleteEsmu no LATVIJAS
Deletepaldies par tik skaistiem darbiņiem.Meklēšu pildspalvas
Jūs esat laipni Strelicija :)
DeleteThese painted pebble mandalas are so gorgeous! I love artwork that manages to be both simple and complicated at the same time - there's something endlessly fascinating and oddly calming in all the little details.
ReplyDeleteDo you happen to know if either the Faber-Castell pens or the Staedtler technical pen and ink work well on glass?
I've recently been experimenting with back painting glass panels (with Pebeo Porcelaine to give an enamelled effect) but the pens I've tested so far either don't give a consistent, solid line, or worse, smear as soon as I put paint over the top. Sadly, the book I started with didn't give any details of what brand/type of pen (or ink) the author was using, so I'm rather stuck until I figure out the technical problems. When I saw these lovelies, I started to wonder if the pebbles' non-porous surface might be similar enough to glass to try the same pens...
Thank you very much for your kind comment!
DeleteSorry, I have no idea!!!! I have never tried them on glass.
Dear Mag, I have been painting rocks using acrylic paints and sharpies, but when I spray a gloss sealer on them, the paint runs. Is there a cure for that? I want them to last and be resistant to the elements.
ReplyDeleteDear Lotta, I always let dry the acrylic ink for 24 hours before applying the varnish. I haven't used paint or sharpie but I guess it would be the same. I only started using the varnish recently so I'm not and expert...
ReplyDeleteLotta Joy--I remember there is something about using water based (acrylics) with oil based pens and then water based pens with an oil based sealer or paint--when the two are the same they smear or run. Can't remember more than that, but it's a hint that may help.
ReplyDeleteMagaMerlina--have you tried any of the gold or silver pens? I think black stones with metallic inks could be amazing. I have collected oval rocks up til now--will be looking for circles from now on! Thanks. (See you on Pinterest too!)
No, I haven't tried them...yet... I'm obsessed with circles (mandalas) but you could try paisleys on the oval rocks :) thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI have just found your Blog and discovered your rock painting..I absolutely must try this...thank you for sharing your creativity..I am so glad I found you on Pinterest...will go today and look for the pens..you are so inspiring..I am new to Tangling and am also loving Mandalas..where do you find the pebbles??
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Tina
I am now following you as well!
Thank you Tina for your lovely message and for following me! I collect the pebbles when I go for walks or trips...different places, beaches, river banks, etc.
DeleteHi Maria, love your blog, your work is so inspiring! I'm interested in your Staedtler 0.4 technical .
ReplyDeleteDo you have any problems with it such as clogging? I'm after a good white pen and a technical pen seems like a great idea! Thanks x
Thank you Kaz!! You have to take care of technical pens. Than means using it constantly if it has ink on it, washing and "flushing" it frequently. The advantage is you can take the anywhere easily. To be honest, these days I'm using the dip pen which doesn't need special care. http://www.magamerlina.com/2012/02/two-painted-pebbles.html
DeleteHi your work is great! I also found out about it in Pinterest. I have one question. Do you use some kind of primer? The rocks I have collected are quite porous and the ink from the pen is absorbed and i'm getting a "guache effect". Or am I using the wrong pen...? Thanx. Keep inspiring us!
ReplyDeleteKonstantina- Greece
Hi Konstantina! Thank you for you nice comment about my work.
DeleteOn the pebbles on this post I didn't use any primer. In later ones you can see here http://www.magamerlina.com/2012/10/mandala-painted-pebbles.html I tried a mate outdoors spray varnish, to make the surface smoother when using a dip pen. Which pen and ink are you using?
I like the varnished ones even better! I used a regular marker, I'm very new to this... As I understand it should be with acrylic ink, so I'm going for the Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen. I'll practice with that and then try dip pens. Thank you very much for taking the time to reply.
DeleteYou're welcome Kostantina. They have varnish before and after painting them, you have to let them dry before painting and before varnishing.
DeleteYou have to use either acrylic inks or permanent markers. You can use the acrylic ink with a dip pen or a very fine brush.
It worked!! Thanks for sharing your ideas and techniques!
DeleteThat is great Konstantina! Always welcome :)
DeleteVery beautiful! You must have a steady hand. Unfortunateluy now being in my late 50s I tend to shake a bit mow. I have an answer to some previous questions and/or oppsies. I paint rocks with acrylic and have used markers that are 'Permanent.' Very important. What Ive found sucsessful with sealers or clear coat coverage with no bleeding is onthe 1st coat MUST be very light. Let dry and then it will not bleed at all during the 2nd or 3rd coats. Which is sprayed norma coverage.I also use" 2xs ultra coverage clear coat by Rust-oleum". In any finsh you desire. Matte, satin or gloss they all work well no bleeding so far. :o). I haven't tried the inks you suggest that sounds fun, as I'm a doodle and detail artist. So thinner and white are what I've been wanting thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your comment, I don't have much experience with the sealers and varnishes so I really appreciate you input here!!!
DeleteHi Maria, I really like your work. I started to paint pebbles this year. It's hard to find the proper pen for them. I'll try calligraphy pens now and also keep your suggestions in my mind. I wonder if I paint the pebble with just acyrlic, will these pens and ink work again?(For drawing on the painted pebble) Once I tried to draw and paint just with the acyrlic paint but it didn't look so good. Colors seemed to be permeable. For painting it whole, do you also have a suggestion of a paint type?
ReplyDeleteAslı thank you very much for your words! I know you can use the Staedtler and Daler-Rowney acrylic inks on technical pens but you have to wash them properly afterwards if you are not using them everyday. I have never used acrylic paint on technical pens or dip pens mainly because they are to thick. As for acrylic paints I recommend the Golden Acrylics which are artist grade rather than regular student grade acrylics, they are more expensive but make a huge difference!
DeleteSo beautiful! I need to get the supplies and sit with my sweet 10 year old granddaughter who loves to draw and do these. Your work is fabulous and thank you so much for sharing with the world your talent.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Pamela!! You two are going to have great time painting ;)
DeleteI use clear acrylic spray. It works fantastic! only problem is, you have to test out inks and pens on a scrap pebble ( or piece of wood) 'cos sme inks do 'bleed' a bit!!
ReplyDeleteLove you work. very inspirational :-) Phill
Thank you very much Phill!! I've tried an outdoors spray varnish a couple of times, I was very lucky, didn't have bleedings... That would have been very annoying!!!
DeleteHello Maria
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower .....I was captivated by your art.....beautiful
keep well
Amanda :-)
Hi Amanda, thank you very much for following and for your nice words!! You are very kind :)
DeleteMaria! Have you seen this site? https://www.facebook.com/ISassiDelladriatico?fref=nf Didn't know if you taught her! ♥
ReplyDeleteYes Minerva I've seen her work... I would think she learned the techniques (radiograph and dip pen) from here but she doesn't say... mmmm...
DeleteMaria, she's also on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijRhbIZ_Z1I When I looked thru' her FB page I saw that she had one. Looked so similar just had to share! She mentioned, I think on her etsy shop that she uses dip pen, paint pen, isograph (which I never heard of!) and 3/0 brush and Lukas W & N paints...the label says FW. Can't remember the ink she uses, but she did say she covers them with layers of acrylic varnish. Anyway, thinking of you! ♥
ReplyDeleteIsograph is another name for rapidograph or technical pen.
DeleteWill u b able to post the link to buy these pens or may b photos please
ReplyDeleteI bought all the supplies pictured here a long time ago, all in different places. Sorry I can't be of much help here...
DeleteHi there!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your work. I am having a hard time finding the white Staedtler ink. I want to start drawing these on paper first. What do you suggest for paper? Thanks in advance.
Thank you very much Mare! You can use other acrylic inks, my favorite at the moment is Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic ink or you can also try Dr. Ph. Martin's Bombay ink. If you want to try on paper check this tutorials, you'll find a list there of what I've used for each one http://www.magamerlina.com/p/mandala-tutorials.html
DeleteFound you on pinterest.. gorgeous work!
ReplyDeletegood work .....continue ......
ReplyDeleteall the best...........
thank you very much Vijay Tank
DeleteYou are wonderfull
ReplyDeleteAww thank you so much!!!
Delete