Can You Spray Paint Concrete Statues
Aerosol spray paint is great for concrete statues because its thin and can be applied in very fine layers, so it doesnt muddle delicate details. You can achieve similar results using standard house paint if its thinned with water. As with sprays, choose an exterior acrylic latex paint rated for outdoor applications.
How To Care For Concrete Statuary
For best results, do NOT set your painted concrete piece directly on the ground. Instead, use pea gravel, set it on your porch or patio, or other well drained moisture barrier. The concrete can wick up moisture from the ground and can push the paint off the concrete.
Cleaning the statue keeps it looking like new. Concrete garden art accents your landscaping with designs that express your style, but those concrete statues need care just like your plants. Over time, weather elements wear away at the concrete, especially if it isnt sealed. Extreme temperatures also affect the integrity of the concrete.
Cold winter temperatures in particular can cause cracking in concrete art. Preserving concrete statues doesnt require a lot of effort but the payoff comes in a piece that stands up over the years.
Protect Statues From Harsh Weather Conditions
Once you allow your statue to air dry until it’s completely dry, you can consider adding a seal to your yard ornaments and statues so they’ll look better and last longer!
The right waterproofing techniques can really help your statue last years and years, so don’t skimp on this process.
Apply a UV / water sealant as directed, then place the concrete statue on a ventilated surface to dry. Again, it’ll need to sit 24 hours to dry.
You can also add a clear sealer enamel spray for a glossy look! A concrete sealer will do the trick, too. If you’re unsure how to finish your statue, you can always chat with your local craft store about the best practices for your particular craft and climate.
You’ll also want to keep an eye on your painted statues during the coldest months, especially after it rains. Once again, concrete is porous, and even the past of paint jobs won’t keep water out. If it’s very cold and rainy, you may want to consider bringing your garden statues inside to prolong their lifespans!
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The Easy Way To Age A New Cement Statue
BY Kevin Lee Jacobs |
The Easy Way to Age a New Cement Statue. TO GIVE THE NEW STATUES in my Pool Garden an old-world patina, I turned to my friend Michael Laudati . Michael is a professional make-up artist. Would you like to see how he transformed my Satyr and another cement figure into works of antiquity? His process, which takes only 10 minutes, is surprisingly simple:
Materials:
A spray bottle, filled with plain water
A bucket or a large bowl
1 pint clear water
1/2 pint concrete bonding adhesive
2 tablespoons charcoal-colored, water-soluble pigment
Disposable gloves
1 lint-free rag
In the bowl or bucket, mix together water, bonding agent and pigment.
1. Spray a small area of the statue with water. Pre-wetting will keep the color-solution from soaking in too fast, and causing blotchy areas.
2. Dip the paintbrush into the color-solution, and apply the color to the area youve just wet.
3. Using the rag, immediately wipe any protruding, or high areas.
Continue steps 1-3 until the entire statue is colored.
4. Step back and look at your work. Are details sufficiently pronounced? Michael and I thought certain low points, such as the Satyrs eyes, and also the indents between torso and arms, required accentuation. Consequently we applied a second coat of color to these areas.
Before treatment. This 300-pound, five-and-a-half foot-tall cement statue was glaring white and devoid of details.
After treatment. The charcoal wash brought out the Satyrs intricacies.
How To Prep Concrete Statues For Painting
When preparing to paint a concrete sculpture, you can’t simply begin painting. There is important work that happens before you can start adding color and character to your statue. In these “prep steps,” you’ll have the chance to select a statue, clean it thoroughly, and then paint it with a base coat.
This will lay the foundation for a genuinely gorgeous finished product, so don’t skimp on this process!
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How To Paint Concrete Garden Statues Like This Goose And Cactus
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Did you know you can paint concrete garden statues? Or in the case of this concrete goose re-paint the statue? Sunlight and rain will fade or wash the paint from these pieces over time. I found out it’s an easy job to repaint them. The concrete goose never looked better! And I have a bonus concrete cactus project I painted using watercolors!
This is my first time at painting a concrete or statue. My neighbor has a vintage concrete goose statue thats been in her yard for as long as I can remember and it was in bad need of a makeover. My neighbor, Evelyn, told me one day she was probably just going to have to get rid of it. Nope, not on my watch. I like seeing that goose from my workshop door and I know she would miss it.
Painted Concrete Goose Garden Statue
I told Evelyn I would try to paint the goose but not to have any high expectations. After all, Im not a decorative painter or artist. Although weve been neighbors for close to 30 years Ive just gotten to know her really well over the past 3 or 4 years. Evelyn’s husband was killed in the Vietnam War and she never remarried.
She is super funny and smart and tells the most amazing stories. She keeps me laughing. We have a lunch date once a week but sometimes she doesn’t feel up to having lunch. She gets around great for an 80 year old and she is always running here and there, shopping and visiting with friends. I think it’s great.
What Paint Are Weather Resistant For Outdoor Mural On Concrete
For mural painting, acrylics are among of the most weather-resistant and durable paints on the market, making them popular with many painters. They also have exceptional adhesion to concrete and brickwork. Using alkyd or oil paints on these surfaces is a bad idea because of the concretes high alkalinity.
An great and lasting bond may be achieved using ethyl-silicate paints, but this method is time-consuming and expensive and requires a strong working understanding of the materials as well. In terms of longevity, solvent-based enamels are an excellent option, but the manufacturers pigment concerns are typically not the same as with a high-quality artists acrylic.
There are a number of Golden Artist Colors, Inc. mural paints to choose from. The surface to be painted and the artists own style both go into the decision of what kind of paint to use. Murals may be created using any of the following:
GOLDEN Heavy Body, Matte, MSA, Fluid, and Airbrush Colors: In order for an artist to paint well, he or she must consider the texture. Using the Heavy Body Colors as-is on a rough surface such as brick will make it difficult to achieve a smooth line.
For best results, the artist should thin them with GAC 200 . The paint will be able to get into the nooks and crannies of the brick because of the thinner consistency.
If you combine Fluids with Heavy Body Acrylic, youll obtain a paint-like consistency for covering huge areas on most surfaces.
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Decide On A Type Of Paint
When choosing paint, you have a few options:
- latex concrete paint
Helpful employees at craft stores and paint shops can help you pick the right paint for your concrete statue and the weather conditions in your city. Here at Happy Gardens, we prefer water-based acrylic latex paint. It’s easy to use, holds up well, and is bright and beautiful.
Whatever you do, avoid oil-based paint. It’s sure to dry out and crack over time!
The same goes for spray paint. While a nice shortcut, spray paints will never paint concrete perfectly. It simply won’t look as nice, and paint applied with a brush lasts longer. If you do insist on using spray paint, you can improve the outcome by painting a base coat and using a topcoat. But again, we really don’t recommend it!
How To Repaint Or Touch Up Ornaments
If you have ornaments that are already painted and just need touching up , you can still follow the instructions above. You just need to decide if you will be painting the entire ornament or just doing a little touch-up.
- Touching Up: Touching up an already painted ornament is simple. Just make sure the ornament is clean. Then, address the areas that need it. Once done, cover everything with a sealer.
- Repainting: Repainting an ornament is like starting from scratch. Just make sure the ornament is clean, then cover the existing paint with a base coat. Follow all instructions above as if the ornament was never painted. Once done, cover with a sealer.
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How To Preserve A Concrete Statue
Concrete garden art accents your landscaping with designs that express your style, but those concrete statues need care just like your plants. Over time, weather elements wear away at the concrete, especially if it isn’t sealed. Extreme temperatures also affect the integrity of the concrete. Cold winter temperatures in particular can cause cracking in concrete art. Preserving concrete statues doesn’t require a lot of effort, but the payoff comes in a piece that stands up over the years.
1.
Blow dirt off the statue using an air hose. Spray the statue with a garden hose to remove additional dirt or debris. Clean the statue every few months so the dirt and debris don’t build up on the surface.
2.
Apply a thin coat of Portland cement to cleaned and dampened areas that are cracked or chipped. Wet your finger to smooth out the cement. Allow the cement to dry for two hours. Mist the repaired area gently with water and wrap with plastic wrap. Mist the repaired area every day and replace the plastic wrap for five days.
3.
Brush a waterproof concrete sealer over the surface of a clean and dry statue. Allow the ornament to dry for at least 24 hours or per the directions on the sealant container. Apply another coat of sealant if necessary to fully cover the concrete. Leave the bottom of the statue unsealed to allow the concrete to breathe. Apply more sealer to a statue every other year.
References
Sealing Your Concrete Statue
Best bet is to use a spray on sealer to spray over the top of your painted statue. I use the Krylon clear enamel spray, it can be found on Amazon here, Krylon Colormaster
The clear gloss spray will add a shiny coat over the top of your paint and help protect your paint on the statue. Use it outside as it does have a strong smell.
Putting sealer over top your painted statue will help the paint last longer, plus itll give you peace of mind that your paint will hold up.
In the end, thats what you want, a great looking concrete lawn ornament that will last. One last tip, never put sealer on the bottom of your concrete statue, that way the concrete can breath.
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Return The Goose To It’s Home
Isnt she cute. Im glad I could do this for my Evelyn and she was so happy. She lives right next door to us and I see this goose everyday if I look out the garage door of the workshop or if Im working on a project outside.
Evelyn is always telling me stories about her family, the old days, and the history of the area we live in. She is one smart and well informed lady and so many subjects. Funny too. One of the stories she told me was about when the Aliens landed in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1955. Now, that is right up the highway from us and where my favorite junk shop is located. She started telling me that story and she had me in stitches. I just had to Google it after that and sure enough, the story she told me is true. You can read the alien story here. Little Green Men.
Concrete Goose Statue with Patriotic Bow Tie
I took this photo a couple of days after we returned the goose to its home. You can see it has a patriotic bow now. I was checking to see if the paint was holding up after a couple of days of rain. So far so good. This project first appeared on Petticoat Junktion is 2018 and I thought someone might need to paint a statue this Summer! Keep reading for another statue makeover…..
Next up is painting a cactus statue! After painting the neighbors goose I was ready to try another lawn statue project. The results were awesome if I do say so myself.
Paint Garden Statues With Watercolors Made For Outdoor Use
Cleaning The Concrete Statue
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Play Around With Painting Methods
There’s no rule that says you have to paint concrete statues one solid color or with a perfect coat of paint, either.
Try dry brushing a top coat
To finish your statue, you could try a dry brush method for the topcoat. To do this, dip a new, 2-inch brush in paint, then wipe off most of the excess moisture. Now that the brush is almost dry, wipe the color onto the statues with back-and-forth brushstrokes.
You’ll end up with a texturized, “fluffy” result that can bring outdoor concrete statues, especially those of animals, to life!
Or add a weathered look
You can also antique your painted statue for a vintage look. You can use a tea bag to blot paint onto the statue, try shabby-chic brushstrokes, or distress paint with sandpaper.
Add your own touch
Once you’ve got your preferred color all over your concrete statue, you can start adding details that make your heart sing. Use a small brush to add finishing touches, or use multiple colors of paint to create things like beaks, eyes, clothes, and more.
Or give the entire statue an abstract look by stenciling on geometric shapes, polka dots, or terrazzo blobs! You can even transform outdated garden gnomes into reimagined backyard friends.
There’s no limit to what you can create, and you can always paint over any mistakes or if you don’t like the finished look of your concrete statue, so don’t be afraid to have some fun!
What Type Of Paint To Use On Concrete Statues
Use acrylic paint on concrete statues. It is possible to use acrylic latex paint to stain and soak into concrete statuary.
Concrete statues should be painted with water-based acrylic latex paints since they penetrate the concrete and leave stains that extend below the surface. Acrylic latex, like oil-based paints, does not dry and break over time like a shell.
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How Do You Paint Eyes On Concrete Statues
How do you paint eyes on concrete statues?
Will Straight Bleach Harm Concrete
When applied to concrete, bleach does not harm the sturdy material. It also disinfects concrete. When using bleach, work in a well-ventilated area because the fumes from bleach can be overwhelming. Depending on your cleaning project, you might combine the bleach with detergent, dilute it with water or use it straight.
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