Concrete statues are frequently used as garden ornaments or as interior decor items. Since concrete is a porous material, it is important to clean it, apply a base coat, paint and sealant to make it last in beauty. If cared for properly, your concrete statue will look unique and beautiful.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Cleaning the Concrete Statue
Step 1. Place the statue in a bucket full of water and scrub it with a brush
Do not use soap, as it may have a negative effect on the concrete and the entire painting process. Scrub the statue until the larger areas are as clean as you wish. Use a toothbrush for smaller nooks and crannies.
Step 2. Take the statue out of the bucket and let it dry in the sun
It should take a few minutes for it to dry, depending on how hot the air is. Drying in the sun will kill any remaining moss. The concrete statues look like new when they are air-dried and do not have moss on their surface.
Do not let the statue dry outdoors in the winter, as moisture will build up in its pores, causing it to expand and then break
Step 3. Fill the cracks with epoxy putty
Choose a stucco that is the same color as the statue (or quite similar). Therefore, if the statue is white or gray, use silver or gray stucco. Peel off a couple of pieces of epoxy putty (or as many as you need to fill in each crack), then smooth it out using a wet putty knife or knife. Let the grout dry for 3-4 hours.
- You can purchase epoxy putty at DIY stores.
- Wear gloves when handling epoxy putty to protect skin from irritation.
- Use a hair dryer if you want the grout to dry quickly.
- You can use epoxy putty to replace missing pieces of a concrete statue, such as the toes of a foot. The putty becomes rock hard once it dries, so no one will ever notice the repair.
Part 2 of 3: Apply the base coat
Step 1. Pour a little water on the statue to make the paint penetrate deep into the concrete
Before applying the base coat it is useful to wet the statue; in this way the paint is able to penetrate deeper and not only a surface coating remains. Concrete is porous: water will further attract the paint into it, thus making the undercoat more durable.
Have a container of clean water ready to wet the statue. There is no ideal amount of water, as long as the statue is wet
Step 2. Mix the water with the acrylic primer to make sure it is absorbed well
It doesn't hurt to add a little water to the actual paint: it will help it penetrate the concrete. When diluting a primer, the concrete will absorb it for a better effect.
- There is no specific relationship between water and bottom to be respected.
- If you think you will want to antique the statue or highlight certain details, choose a white paint for the background.
Step 3. Paint the base of the concrete statue first with the base coat
Painting the base first allows you not to leave finger stains on the top of the statue. Lay it on its side to let the base dry.
It should be the same paint you use as a primer for the rest of the statue
Step 4. Apply a base coat all over the statue using a 5cm wide flat brush
Use a latex acrylic outdoor paint for the base coat; it can be of any color, but the most used are black, gray and brown.
Step 5. Observe the statue after allowing the base coat to dry for 5 minutes
Run your fingers over the statue and check for traces of wet paint. If it is completely dry, it is ready for finishing. On a hot day the paint can dry in 5 minutes, but if the weather is humid it may take a little longer.
Keep the wet statue out of the reach of children and pets, which could ruin your work
Part 3 of 3: Painting and Refine the Statue
Step 1. Use latex acrylic paint on the concrete statues
For concrete statues, water-based acrylic paints are ideal for their ability to penetrate inside the surface. Plus, they don't crack when they dry like oil-based paints do.
- If the statue you are painting depicts an animal you can choose realistic colors, such as brown and white in the case of a rabbit.
- You should always use a brush and not a spray, which does not leave a good effect and is not long lasting.
Step 2. Paint the finish with the dry brush technique
Dip a 2-inch flat brush into the paint you have chosen as a finish, then drain most of it onto a piece of cardboard so that very little is left on the bristles. With the almost dry brush, tap inside the details of the statue moving it "back and forth".
In the case of furry animal statues, after applying the base coat, use the dry brush technique, for example a brown paint on a black base. Then soften the brown with a little white "dusted" paint on top
Step 3. If desired, give the statue an aged effect by antiquing it
After applying the finish, wipe off any excess paint using a paper towel. Apply and remove paint as needed to get the effect you want. A trace of the base coat should be visible throughout the statue to make the color appear a bit faded.
Leaf-shaped concrete tiles are an example of objects that look great with an antique effect
Step 4. Let the finish dry for 24 hours
Wait 24 hours before moving on to the next step of painting the concrete. If the weather is hot, leave the statue outside to dry.
Step 5. Highlight the details of the statue
Highlighting details requires the use of fine brushes on the finish and the use of multiple colors of paint. Use this technique on details such as eyes, noses and clothes, but also when you paint animal statues with feathers and beaks or garden gnomes.
For example, if you are painting a manatee statue and want to give it a little pink color on the cheeks, use a small brush to apply a sprinkle of pink paint to that area
Step 6. Coat the statue with a water-based UV sealant to protect the paint from the elements
When applying the sealant, place the concrete statue on a ventilated surface, such as gravel or rock, then leave it for 24 hours to dry. Sealants make the paint last longer and prevent it from crumbling. They are commercially available in the form of spray and paint. They protect the paint color from fading and keep moisture away.
