For your first project, start by shopping for stone or monument paint made for granite, such as Lithichrome’s Lithco Colors. This range is intended for coloring stone designs and includes brush-application instructions.
Before ordering, confirm that it will work with your shallow laser etching and the cleanup method you plan to use. See the Lithichrome color guide.
Buy small containers of red, yellow, blue, and white to start, choosing colors from the same range that can be mixed together. For a portrait, ready-made browns and skin-tone shades can make matching your photo easier. If the piece will go outside, confirm that the paint is suitable for outdoor use, and purchase the recommended cleaner or thinner and clear coat only if the instructions call for them.
Try the paint on a spare engraved granite tile before using it on a memorial.
This lets you check the color, how well it stays in the engraving, and how easily the extra paint comes off.