Some years ago we did a project at school where every person in the school painted a stone.
The finished stones were then set in cement in a big circle on the playground for all to see.
I thought these stones would make great door stops and garden ornaments and painted a few for more for home and a couple for friends.
I think this is the only one I have left now.
It was painted with household gloss paint , (not the easiest of paints to work with.) When completed it should have been varnished to help protect it. I never got round to varnishing any of my stones. This one has only lasted because it as been indoors used as a doorstop.
I know I should now be showing you photos of these project in pristine condition but it will take forever to find them as they were pre digital camera photos so I don't have them stored on my pc.
I did go a step further and painted cats on a paving slab. But I never got round to varnishing it, after years of being exposed to all kinds of weather the paint has started peel off.
I am not sure if I should try to repair the damage and varnish it or whether to just leave to peel.
Here is a photo of what it looks like now after 13 years in the garden exposed to the elements.While I was out in the garden I found two more painted stones which were painted even earlier I thought I would share.
They did look good before the sun and frosts got to them.
These are a great project for young and old.
I got my young nephew painting ladybirds and bugs on stones around the same time.
Hazel an old friend had a huge stone in her garden on which she painted the most amazing almost life size young deer on.
It was so realistic, so beautiful,
I wanted to take it home with me.
A good tip is to paint the stone white allow to dry then draw a basic design and paint blocks of your chosen colours in the areas you want them, paint on the detail when the blocks of colour are dry.
Don't forget to sign and date your work.
You never know when you might like to know how old your piece of work is.
I painted and dated these pieces 1999.
Don't forget to give several coats of varnish if it is go outside, re varnish every few years to protect your work.
