Rock it and shock it, (here is my stimulus package!) Painting Garden Rocks!
Ok, Will Ferrell is one of my tribe and I do get carried away at times with quotes from~ like any of~ his movies or comedy skits.
I love turning things into my expression of art, If I happen to find a particularly fantastic picture anywhere I will reproduce it on literally anything I can find to paint on. So here are my fabulous Garden Rocks, which often get used to prop open doors, very utilitarian aren't they? Right, so I will go into the process step by step in my tutorial video very soon, I am hunting for a special rock to begin my next project.
I found these rocks around my property and or in the garden as I was digging to plant.
The first step is to wash the rock with soap and water and a rag, I did this several times then let it dry in the sun. Next I sanded it with a fine grit wiped it off then applied a base coat, yup my trusty ole beige house acrylic paint... Then I applied the drawing and proceeded to create magic...lol . After the final brush stroke and the drying process, I applied a coat of varnish. The first few rocks were an experiment so I used my water based varnish hoping it would suffice in the elements. It didn't. So now I use an oil based varnish I get from my local mexican paint store (small hole in the wall tined, so wonderful what they pull out of their magic storage space. )
I apply the varnish to the whole rock. Bottom first, then after its dry completely I turn it over and cover the top.
The gloss is fantastic and really brings out the colors.
Some of my rocks have now been in the sun and rain for two seasons and are still doing well. If they need a second coat I will give them one but so far so good.
As far as the rocks go I pick out the smoother ones like you find in a river bed, tumbled smooth, but really anything goes, experiment and have some fun, let the inner child play!
The Little Mona and Terrier
Poppa Pepper this ones for you!!
The Awakened Rooster
Love the Frida
My Husband is writing a book on Universal Truth and Rock Music, so of course Frank Zappa is one of his Hero's so I painted this for his birthday.
I love Chickens and their mannerisms. If I didn't have 10 dogs and two cats (most of them are rescues) I would definitely have some chickens scratching around the garden!
These are a few of water based varnish and you can see they do not have as much shine and will need to be revarnished with the oil based varnish pronto.
Namastaynpaint....love and light to you all!!
Those sure are great rocks, the way that you painted them! They are perfect for a garden.
I know you foraged these rocks, but I'm going to add the #gardening tag, too, because you are using these so nicely in your garden. If you add the Gardening tag to your posts, it will be easier for curators to find it and consider it for the SteemTrail @gardening-trail. You can find out more here.
thanks for the advice, I will check out @ gardening-trail, you Rock Haphazard!!
I think you rock -- and your rocks rock! : )
These are truly wonderful.
thank you ophelia, that means a lot coming from you! enjoy the day!
The Zappa and Frida ones are sick!! props.
Hi there!! @namastaynpaint you lovely people. Me encanta que ustedes van aprendiendo el Espanol, Tengo 10 anos viviendo en Venezuela y les puedo ayudar con eso, solo me tienes que preguntar :D
I love the rocks! They're fun, my favourite is Frank Zappa, you got him spot on! Keep it up. Upvoted and followed
Thank you Handsolo !!I have been SLOWLY learning this beautiful language, I am actually surprised at how difficult it is for me to figure it out...lol I have not taken formal classes, as I am a hermit crab who spends most of my days with my painting, my animals, my daughter is the more social bunny...lol but I do spanglish quite well...:P I want to be fluent in 2 years!! lol Which country do you live in now?I bet Venezuela was beautiful! love to hear about it!
You are welcome @namastaynpaint. There are a few tricks I could show you. The beauty of Spanish is that once you know the verb, and how to conjugate it, it is a relatively simple task to communicate. For example:- The verb to walk is caminar so it goes-
I walk - Yo camino
You walk - Tu caminas
He walks - El camina
She walks - Ella camina
We walk - Nosotros caminamos
They walk - Ellos caminan
Note the way the verb changes at the end, well it pretty much changes in exactly the same way no matter which verb you are using. I hope that I am not repeating stuff you already know, and hope even more that you find this useful.
I have plenty more tips and help I can offer, just let me know.
I still live in Venezuela, despite the troubles, on the island of Margarita. I love it here and you can certainly read more about it as I write. Nice to meet you my fellow artist, keep up your lovely work :D
thank you so much my fellow earth traveller:) I love your advice with spanish and I eagerly await all help you can or wish to send, I do struggle with past present and future, and being a scattered artist it seems my brain doesn't logically store things, maybe I need to defrag my brain...lol Gracias por ayudame....corrections are also strongly advised. I am not ashamed to be corrected, it is necessary! HAHA ha [por favor]
You are most welcome my fellow artist. I understand your struggle and will send more tips as they come to mind. I will be sure to check your blog regularly my friend :D Que tengas una feliz tarde!