In the gardens some gardeners stones come to life. Wizards, armed with brushes and paints, turn ordinary cobblestones into charming seals, cute ladybugs, sleeping deer… but ladybugs:
But how do they do that? Do I need to have the talent of an artist to create something like this?
Draw on stones, for various reasons unsuitable for use in rockery, curb or retaining wall, everyone can learn – this is my opinion. I never learned to draw, but I was able to revive the cobblestones of my garden! And you can, I’m sure, and for this I hasten to share some of the techniques and subtleties of the fascinating process.
Three main steps
First: do not be afraid of brushes and paints, do not be afraid that nothing will happen, try to treat the upcoming action not as an art, but as a needlework.
Second, be sure to ground your stone. What’s the meaning of that? If you do everything by the rules, then you have to paint the stone with a special compound, which is sold in any art store called “acrylic primer”.
My advice: don’t waste your money on dirt. For the same purpose it is possible to use perfectly water-emulsion latex paint for a ceiling.
So you’ve covered the stone with two layers of primer and wait to dry. Third and most importantly: proceed directly to drawing. Draw with a simple pencil.
How to draw?
If you have small skills, you can draw a cat (dog, tiger, rabbit, Guinea pig, – anyone) from a book illustration, magazine, photo or postcard. You can even use children’s coloring books, only then your pet will be stylized, cartoon.
If you are afraid that you can not cope-use the method of copying the cells. A description of this fairly common method can be found on the Internet or in tutorials. If you think it is too difficult, you can translate the picture through the copier. But in this case you need to choose the exact proportions, based on the size of your stone.
The most difficult and expressive is the muzzle of the animal. Pay great attention and effort to it. Don’t be afraid of the extra lines – they are all the same then will disappear under the paint. Eraser use is not forbidden.
When the pencil image will satisfy you, it is possible to start work with paints. Constantly check with the original picture.
Paints are best used acrylic-they do not require special thinners (you can use plain water), they dry quickly, and after drying, do not wash off with water and are not lubricated with wet hands. Be sure to revive the eyes glare – thin strokes of white paint.
The character dictates the rules
Sometimes the character turns out not the way it was originally intended. But it doesn’t spoil him at all. Here’s a look at the process of creating this cat.
At first I wanted to paint a vivid bully, but later it turned out that the expression of his face is not very suitable to the definition of “red bully”. Had to add dark lines to dull red color, soften all that white and gray strokes, depicting individual hairs, as long as the color of the skin did not blend in with the expression.
The fourth stage: the product must be protected from rain. I use for this purpose a glossy yacht varnish for external works not less than in two (and it is better in three) layers. Matte varnish is not recommended as this is a matte additive gives a clear and absolutely unwanted dull yellow shade product.
Dry ready-made work in the fresh air, but under a canopy — for example, on the porch.
If you believe an animal to represent you, try to draw flowers, fruit, berries. A lot of small oval stones we just throw away or use as drainage in the planting holes, and in fact they make excellent “strawberries” (or bugs, turtles, fish – it all depends on your imagination).
If you find a curve, an uneven stone, but it has at least one flat side — use this side! How many I gave away such stones with the inscription “WELCOME to MY GARDEN!” framed by painted flowers, spikelets and twigs…
Include imagination, do not be afraid to experiment and do not forget to pre-paint your stones in two layers of acrylic soil or paint for the ceiling.
Dear friends, keep in mind a simple rule: it turns out the one who wants, and who wants – he does. And everything will be fine!