Grinch Painted Rocks: Easy Grinch and Max Rock Painting Tutorial

There is something about the Grinch that makes Christmas crafting a little more fun. He is grouchy, mischievous, completely unforgettable, and when you add poor Max to the mix, you have the perfect pair for a Christmas rock painting project.

These Grinch painted rocks feature the Grinch and his faithful dog Max, complete with their recognizable colors, expressions, and holiday details. I painted them as a matching set, but you can easily make just the Grinch, just Max, or paint several rocks and create your own little Whoville-inspired collection.

You do not need to be an experienced artist to make these. I start with a simple pencil sketch, build the design with acrylic paint and paint pens, and finish everything with black outlines and small details.

They are a fun Christmas craft for adults, older kids, families, classrooms, or anyone looking for a festive rock painting idea to make during the holiday season.

Why You’ll Love These Grinch Painted Rocks

Christmas rock painting does not have to mean perfectly painted snowflakes and fancy winter scenes.

Sometimes the most fun projects are the ones with a little personality.

These Grinch and Max rocks are:

• Fun for Christmas movie night
• Easy to customize
• Great for older kids and adults
• Inexpensive to make
• Cute enough to display with your Christmas decorations
• Small enough to tuck into a stocking
• A fun handmade gift for a Grinch fan
• Perfect for adding to a collection of Christmas painted rocks

Plus, you can make the faces as simple or detailed as you want.

If your Grinch grin comes out slightly crooked, I would argue that it just makes him look more Grinch-like.

Supplies for Grinch Painted Rocks

You do not need a huge pile of craft supplies for this project.

You will need:

• Smooth, flat rocks
• White acrylic paint or white spray primer
• Pencil
• Acrylic paint
• Paint pens or fine paintbrushes
• Black fine-tip paint pen or marker
• Clear acrylic sealer

Paint colors I used:

For the Grinch:

• Bright green
• Dark green
• Black
• Yellow
• Red

For Max:

• Brown
• Beige
• Black
• Red
• Yellow
• Orange
• Gray

Larger rocks are easier to work with because they give you more room for the faces, outlines, and little details.

If you are new to rock painting, check out my Rock Painting Beginner’s Guide for more help choosing paint, brushes, pens, and sealers.

Tip: If you’re painting with younger kids, swap out paint pens for washable markers and seal when dry.

Check out our Amazon shop for our recommended art supplies!

Before You Start Painting

A little preparation makes detailed Grinch rock painting much easier.

Choose smooth rocks

Look for fairly flat rocks without deep pits or rough ridges.

You do not need perfectly shaped stones, but a smoother painting surface makes it much easier to draw facial features and create clean outlines with a paint pen.

An oval or slightly elongated rock works especially well for the Grinch.

Wash the rocks

Wash your rocks with soap and water to remove dirt and dust.

Let them dry completely before adding paint.

Add a white base coat

I like using a white base coat for these designs because it gives me a clean surface for sketching and helps the Christmas colors stand out.

Paint the front of each rock white and allow it to dry completely.

Depending on your paint, you may need a second coat.

Sketch before painting

Do not skip the pencil sketch.

The Grinch and Max have a lot more detail than something simple like a snowman rock, so lightly drawing the design first makes the painting process much easier.

Keep your pencil lines light. You only need enough of a guide to know where everything will go.

How to Paint Grinch and Max Painted Rocks

I painted both rocks at the same time, working through each stage before moving on to the next.

This keeps the project moving without rushing the paint-drying time.

Step 1: Sketch the Grinch and Max

Once the white base coat is completely dry, lightly sketch the characters onto the rocks with a pencil.

For the Grinch painted rock, I sketched:

• His Santa hat
• His head and face
• Long arms
• Hands
• Heart-shaped chest area
• Body shape

For the Max painted rock, I sketched:

• His head
• Three stacked body sections
• Floppy ears
• Raised paw
• Tail
• Antler
• Ribbon and accessories

Do not worry about drawing every tiny detail yet.

The goal is simply to get the main shapes and proportions onto the rock.

If something looks a little off, erase it gently and try again before you start adding paint.

Step 2: Outline the Main Shapes

Next, I began defining the pencil sketches with paint pens and a fine paintbrush.

For the Grinch, I used green around the main body and character areas.

For Max, I used brown and red around his main shapes.

This is also when I started adding some of the details that make the characters recognizable, including Max’s raised paw and antler.

Keep your lines fairly simple during this stage.

You can always add more details later.

Let the outlines dry before adding the larger areas of color.

Step 3: Add the Main Colors

Now the rocks really start coming to life.

For the Grinch, I filled in the body with bright green paint.

I used a darker green in some areas to add contrast and create a little more dimension around his fur and collar.

For Max, I painted the body a warm brown.

Then I added:

• Red around his belly
• Yellow for the antler
• Black for the ears
• Black for the tail
• Gray and yellow details for the sleigh rope

You may need two thin coats of paint in some areas.

I prefer thin layers rather than one thick coat because they dry more evenly and make it easier to add details later.

Let each color dry before painting directly beside or over it.

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Save This Christmas Rock Painting Idea

If you want to make these closer to Christmas, save or pin this Grinch painted rocks tutorial now so you can easily find it again when your holiday crafting begins.

It would be a fun project for a December craft night, Christmas movie marathon, or quiet afternoon at home.

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Step 4: Paint the Faces and Final Details

The final details are my favorite part because this is when the personalities really show up.

For the Grinch, I added:

• Narrow yellow eyes
• Black pupils
• Wrinkles
• Eyebrows
• His big mischievous grin
• Fur lines
• Black outlines

The expression does not have to be exactly the same as mine.

A slightly different eyebrow or crooked smile can completely change your Grinch’s personality.

For Max, I added:

• Large expressive eyes
• Eyebrows
• Nose
• Mouth
• Floppy ear details
• Fur details
• Black outlines

Max’s slightly worried expression is part of what makes this rock so cute.

Once the details were dry, I went back and cleaned up any areas that needed another little line of paint.

Seal Your Finished Rocks

Once your rocks are completely dry, you can protect them with clear sealer.

Make sure the paint has dried thoroughly before sealing.

Follow the directions on the sealer you are using, especially if you plan to display your rocks outside.

I recommend sealing painted rocks if they will be handled frequently, given as gifts, hidden outdoors, or stored with your Christmas decorations from year to year.

Grinch Rock Painting Tips

Character rocks can look complicated at first, but breaking the design into simple steps makes a big difference.

Here are a few things that can help:

• Start with a larger rock. More surface area gives you more room for the face and details.
• Use a pencil first. It is much easier to change a pencil line than painted eyes.
• Work from large shapes to small details. Paint the body colors before worrying about wrinkles and facial lines.
• Let paint dry between layers. This helps prevent colors from smearing together.
• Use paint pens for small details. They are especially helpful around the eyes, mouth, eyebrows, and outlines.
• Keep black outlines until the end. The final outline pulls the entire design together.
• Do not chase perfection. These are hand-painted rocks. A little variation gives them character.
• Keep a small brush nearby. You can use the background or base color to clean up a line that gets too thick.

Extra Idea: Make a Whole Grinch Rock Set

Once you have painted Grinch and Max, you do not have to stop there.

Try adding a few coordinating Christmas rocks to create a whole collection.

You could paint:

• A red and white Santa hat
• A Christmas ornament
• A heart
• A Whoville-inspired Christmas tree
• A wrapped present
• A sleigh
• A Christmas stocking
• A rock with a funny holiday saying

Display all of the rocks together on a tray or shelf for an easy handmade Christmas decoration.

Fun Ways to Use Your Grinch Painted Rocks

Once your Grinch and Max rocks are finished, there are plenty of fun ways to use them during the Christmas season.

• Use them as table decorations. Place the rocks around a Christmas centerpiece or holiday snack table for a fun handmade touch.
• Add them to your Christmas decorations. Display them on a shelf, mantel, tiered tray, or beside a small Christmas tree.
• Use them for a Christmas movie night. Paint your rocks while watching your favorite Grinch movie for an easy family craft night.
• Give them as handmade gifts. Tuck one into a stocking, gift basket, or small holiday gift for a Grinch fan.
• Write a message on the back. Add a short Christmas note, the year, or the painter’s name to make the rock a keepsake.
• Hide them as kindness rocks. Leave them in an approved public spot for someone to find during the holiday season.
• Create a family painting challenge. Give everyone the same basic colors and see how differently each person paints the Grinch.
• Make a matching Christmas rock set. Add painted ornaments, presents, hearts, candy canes, or Christmas trees to create a whole holiday collection.

More Christmas Rock Painting Ideas

If these mischievous little Christmas characters have you reaching for another rock, I have plenty more holiday painting ideas to try.

For something especially easy, make my Christmas Gnome Painted Rocks. The simple shapes make them a fun choice for beginners.

You can also browse 75+ Christmas Painted Rocks if you want lots of inspiration before deciding what to paint next.

Painting with kids? Take a look at these easy Christmas rock painting ideas for kids, including reindeer, candy canes, wreaths, elves, and gingerbread designs.

And if you want more than rock painting, my Christmas painting ideas collection has plenty of holiday inspiration to keep the paintbrushes busy.

Grinch Painted Rocks FAQ

Make a Little Christmas Mischief

And there you have it, your own Grinch and Max painted rocks ready for Christmas.

This project has a few more details than some beginner rock painting ideas, but take it one layer at a time. Start with the basic shapes, add your colors, finish the faces, and let those final black outlines do their magic.

Before long, you will have a mischievous Grinch and his loyal little sidekick staring back at you from two ordinary rocks.

That is one of my favorite things about rock painting. You can take something completely ordinary and turn it into a little piece of Christmas art.

If you are looking for even more easy crafts, drawing activities, and printables, stop by the Freebies Vault while you’re here. Free printables are for personal use only.

Happy painting and Merry Christmas!