All Activities
Draw some rocks

Draw some rocks
Green highlight

Draw a collection of rocks using simple shapes, shading, and texture techniques to practice observation, light direction, and creating realistic stone sketches.

Orange shooting star
Start Drawing
Collect Badge
Background blob
Challenge Image
Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to draw some rocks

What you need
A small rock or photo of rocks for reference, blank paper, colored pencils or crayons for coloring, eraser, pencil, sharpener, tissue or cotton swab for blending

Step 1

Lay out your paper pencil eraser sharpener and colored pencils or crayons on a clean workspace.

Step 2

Put the small rock or photo in front of you so you can look at its shapes and shadows.

Step 3

Lightly draw a simple outline of your rock using one basic shape like an oval circle or rounded triangle.

Step 4

Draw a small arrow on your paper to show where the light is coming from.

Step 5

Add a curved contour line or two on the rock to show its rounded planes.

Step 6

Shade the side of the rock that faces away from the arrow using the side of your pencil to make a dark area.

Step 7

Make lighter strokes in the middle areas of the rock to create midtones between dark and light.

Step 8

Gently blend the shaded areas with a tissue or cotton swab to smooth the transitions.

Step 9

Use the eraser to lift tiny highlights where the light hits the rock to make it look shiny or rough.

Step 10

Add texture by drawing small dots short lines and tiny cracks with quick pencil marks.

Step 11

Draw a soft cast shadow under the rock on the side opposite the light to ground it on the page.

Step 12

Color your rock with colored pencils or crayons keeping darker colors where you shaded and lighter colors near the highlights.

Step 13

Take a photo of your finished rock drawing and share it on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

Complete & Share
Challenge badge placeholder
Challenge badge

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have the small rock, colored pencils, or a tissue?

If you don't have a small rock use a printed photo or a phone picture as your reference, swap colored pencils for crayons or washable markers for coloring, and use a clean fingertip, soft cloth, or cotton ball instead of a tissue or cotton swab for blending.

My rock drawing looks flat or the shading is messy — what should I check in the steps?

Check that you shaded the side away from the arrow with the side of your pencil for a solid dark area, made lighter strokes for midtones in the middle, and gently blended those areas with a tissue or cotton swab before lifting highlights with the eraser.

How can I change this activity for different ages?

For younger kids simplify to drawing one big oval and coloring it with crayons without blending, while older kids can add extra curved contour lines, detailed texture marks, stronger cast shadows, and layered colored-pencil shading as in the steps.

How can we make the rock drawing more creative or advanced after finishing the basic steps?

Extend the activity by redrawing the same rock under different light directions (draw a new arrow and adjust shading), adding a colored background or glued sand for texture, and then photograph each version to share on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to draw some rocks

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How to Draw Rocks Step by Step #drawingtutorial

4 Videos

Facts about drawing and sketching for kids

✏️ Pencil grades run from 9H (very hard, very light) to 9B (very soft, very dark) — B pencils are great for rich rock shadows.

🔍 Careful observation reveals tiny textures like cracks and grain — artists often study an object closely to capture believable detail.

🎨 Chiaroscuro is an art technique meaning "light-dark" that helps turn flat shapes into realistic, 3D-looking stones.

🌞 Light direction is a superpower for drawing: change the light and a stone's highlights and shadows will swap sides and mood.

🪨 Rocks come in three main types — igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic — so your sketchbook can become a mini rock museum!

How do I teach my child to draw a realistic collection of rocks step by step?

To draw a collection of rocks, start by observing shapes and light direction. Lightly sketch simple ovals and irregular shapes for each stone, placing some overlapping for depth. Mark the light source, then add contour lines to suggest volume. Shade with graded pencil tones—darker on shadowed sides, lighter toward highlights—using hatching, cross-hatching or smooth blending. Add textures like speckles, cracks, and grain. Finish with erased highlights and small adjustments for realistic stones.

What materials do I need to draw realistic stone sketches with my child?

Materials you'll need: a pad of drawing paper (medium weight), a range of pencils (HB, 2B, 4B), a kneaded eraser and a regular eraser, a blending stump or tissue for soft shading, a sharpener, reference photos or real stones, optional charcoal or Conte for deeper darks, and colored pencils or watercolor if you want color. Keep small items supervised and use thicker paper for heavier media.

What ages is rock-drawing practice suitable for?

Suitable for children ages 4–12, with adjustments: ages 4–6 can trace or draw simple rounded shapes and color them to learn form; ages 7–9 work on basic shading and noticing light direction; ages 10 and up can practice detailed textures, layered shading, and composition. Tailor guidance, tools, and time to the child's attention span, and provide supervision for younger kids with sharp pencils or small reference stones.

What are the benefits of drawing rocks and are there safe variations for kids?

Sketching rocks teaches observation, fine motor control, understanding of light and form, and patience. It improves concentration, hand–eye coordination, and vocabulary (texture, highlight, shadow). Variations include drawing from life on a nature walk, trying watercolor washes, or making a texture rubbing with thin paper. Safety tip: avoid small loose stones for very young children and supervise use of sharp pencils or charcoal.
DIY Yeti Character
Join Frame
Flying Text Box

One subscription, many ways to play and learn.

Try for free

Only $6.99 after trial. No credit card required

To create a safe space for kid creators worldwide!

Discovery Tools

DIY Wiki

DIY TV

Creativity Tools

How to draw

Teacher Tools

SafeTube

DIY Blog

2025, URSOR LIMITED. All rights reserved. DIY is in no way affiliated with Minecraft™, Mojang, Microsoft, Roblox™ or YouTube. LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO® Group which does not sponsor, endorse or authorize this website or event. Made with love in San Francisco.