Dotting tools

So here are my first two attempts at dotting. They haven't been painted yet; they're still drying on the balcony.

I'm still practicing.

But you’ve already done a great job with these!

They already look great. Once they’re painted, the pattern will really pop.

In our neighborhood, there used to be some slightly larger stones painted to look like hedgehogs in the garden. The garden was redesigned, and now they’re gone, unfortunately. Too bad—it was an original idea, and I always got a kick out of seeing them whenever I walked by.
Woolly regards
Irene

Dear Andrea, they already look great! I’ve tried this technique myself. You need a steady hand to get them perfectly round. And you have to be disciplined when painting.

There are also molds for round stones in various sizes on Etsy. They all have a dot in the middle so you know where to start. There are also stencils for dividing them into eighths. If you have to do all of that freehand, you really need an extremely good eye.

I think your stones—these stones—are great. If you’re excited about painting stones with dots or mandalas, this could become a great new hobby. Oh, just writing about it is making me want to try it myself. In any case, it’s still on my to-do list, and I’ve already looked into it in theory.

Best regards, Ina

Those look great.

Can you draw such nice circles freehand, or do you use a stencil?

Thank you all so much.

As Ina already mentioned, there are various tools and supplies available for this. I’ve already done some research on that. I already have all the casting powder and tools I need; I’m still planning to get this stone-shaped silicone mold, or an old container for mixing the mixture.

I have these acrylic rods—they all have different diameters—and these little pricking needles for the tiny dots. They work great.

I just started painting this pattern here on a whim. They’re varnished now; this matte varnish doesn’t shine too much, but they’re still weatherproof and smooth. So you can wipe them down with a cloth—nothing sticks.

It’s fun and relaxing.

Thanks

I varnish my stones with boat varnish.

OK, I don’t have that one here right now. It’s definitely weatherproof.
I’m currently using Marabu Aqua silk/satin varnish.
There’s also a really glossy one; I’ll get that later when this one is used up.

Do you use acrylic paints for the stones, too?

I’m using whatever I have on hand.

Felt-tip markers from Biene Brändle, chalk paint from Aldi, furniture paint, and tinting paint for woodchip wallpaper. 

I moved my crafting to the balcony today—the weather is gorgeous 🌞😎.
These are my tools.

There are great silicone stencils for painting stones.
They make it easier to arrange the dots in a circle and space them out evenly. 

Those look AMAZING! 

Thanks for your feedback.

Thanks, Petra—I’ve already spotted those, too.

Here are some more ideas.
My brother is getting a little beetle as a birthday present.

What do you think?