1. Clean your rock.
For more details on this, see here
2. Start with a half heart shape.
Imagine a love heart shape with the bottom missing. Draw this outline on your rock. Trust me on this lol
You can use a pencil, I have used a paint pen so the outline shows up on the photograph.
You can use a pencil, I have used a paint pen so the outline shows up on the photograph.
You can, if you wish, draw the whole heart shape as you will be colouring the shape in later.
3. Turn your rock upside down, and repeat.
Once you have done the one half, turn your rock around 180° or upside down, and repeat the same half heart shape on your rock
4. Colour this shape in.
With red, paints, Sharpies or paint pens, colour/fill in the outline that you have made.
5. Paint in a leaf (optional).
There are two 'schools of thought' as to the positioning of the leaf on a Remembrance Day poppy ...
- If the poppy was a clock, then the leaf should be positioned at the 11 o'clock position on the poppy - symbolic of the time the end of WW1
- It matters not where the position of the leaf is
The choice as to where you place your leaf, if you place one at all, is your choice.
You will note that the leaf is similar in shape to an Oak leaf, wavy sides, but if you can't manage this, then a basic leaf shape should suffice.
6. Colour in the leaf
Using green, colour in the leaf shape.
Now that you have the green colour in hand, you can, if you wish, add a little green stalk/tail to the bottom of your poppy (see image above).
7. Add a black centre.
In the middle of your poppy, where the two sets of 'petals' come together, draw and paint in a black centre.
8. Outlining
Using a thin paint pen, Sharpie or fine paintbrush, outline your work as shown in the images above.
Whilst outlining is optional, it does make the finished work look good.
9. Add text to image - optional
You can add 'Lest We Forget' or '# Thank you 100' or both
This part is optional, if you don't want to add the text, or similar suitable text, skip to the next step.
This part is optional, if you don't want to add the text, or similar suitable text, skip to the next step.
10. Write on the reverse of the rock
Now would be a good idea to write the Taff Rocks message on the reverse. To find out what to write, click here.
10. Seal with varnish
Now would be a good idea to write the Taff Rocks message on the reverse. To find out what to write, click here.
10. Seal with varnish
If you want your work to last, this is an essential step! Check out the FAQ Pages on this step.
Personally, I use spray lacquer. It's right for me, it may take a few tries to find out what's right for you and your budget.
Resources used when creating this rock!
- A rock found whilst out walking
- Posca Paint Pens and Pilot Pintor Pens
- Clear exterior lacquer
Should you find any errors on this tutorial, please join our Facebook Group and let us know so we can fix it asap!
