Glam Garden Accents Using Metallic Paint

Glam Garden Accents Using Metallic Paint

We are blessed and cursed with a long, narrow back yard featuring towering poplar trees and a huge party deck that my hubby built years ago. Left untended, the yard can resemble a jungle, with ivy crawling up the trees and ferns taking over everywhere. With so much shade and green, green, green, I do try to break it up with a few treasured garden accents here and there.

How about you? Are there a few items in your yard or garage that could use some revitalization, using your favorite color scheme?

I did a happy dance recently when I discovered a big box of Modern Masters paint goodness on my doorstep! They sent several Metallic Paint Collection colors that I selected, some glazes to play with, and a top coat for outdoor protection that keeps metallic paint glowing.

Check out this color palette of the Metallic Paints. I love that you can purchase small containers, and one bottle goes a really long way.

I rooted around in our yard to find a couple of items that needed a re-do. Though small, this little metal artichoke snugs in nicely among plants in large pots. She’s cute, but the finish is so expected, right?

I also remembered our very heavy cast iron piece that we mounted on the brick wall on the deck. How sad is this? We have tried to grow pretty plants in this great planter for years and years. This is what it always ends up like. So. Now I am calling the plants quits and converting it to a birdbath. We always have little babies born in spring nests just to the left, in our pergola covered in akebia vines.

I DO know how to fill it with water, LOL.

Time to get creative! I gave both pieces a good hose-down and scrub outside, then primed them with a water-based primer recommended for use with Modern Masters products.

First, let’s revive the artichoke.

SUPPLIES

• Modern Masters Metallic Paints in Apple Green, Sapphire, Teal and Green Gold (view the awesome color palette here)
• Modern Masters MasterClear® Protective Clear Topcoat in Satin for interior/exterior protection of Metallic Paints
• Rags, containers, assorted paint brushes

PAINT ON ONE COAT OF PRIMER.

PAINT THE TIP AND BASE USING GREEN GOLD METALLIC PAINT.

The Metallic Paint colors are considered Semi-Opaque or Opaque, so over the white primer you may need more than one coat. The Green Gold was sheer enough that I used two coats to get it to the soft color I was going for.

PAINT APPLE GREEN.

PAINT SAPPHIRE.

Since this is an outdoor item, I didn’t get crazy about perfection. After painting the Sapphire, paint Teal on the leaves just above it. Let dry.

MAKE A SHEER WASH WITH GREEN GOLD METALLIC PAINT AND PAINT ALL OVER THE ARTICHOKE.

Mix the Green Gold Metallic with just a bit of water to create a loose wash. I really just used one thick, runny layer to dirty up the bright colors. I like some drips on pieces like this. Let dry.

BRUSH ON A COAT OF SATIN MASTERCLEAR BEFORE LEAVING OUTDOORS.

Now let’s do the birdbath.

SUPPLIES

• Modern Masters Platinum Series Furniture & Cabinetry Glazing Cream
• Modern Masters MasterClear® Protective Clear Topcoat in Satin for interior/exterior protection of Metallic Paints
• Rags, containers, assorted paint brushes

PRIME ALL OVER WITH LATEX PRIMER. LET DRY.

This piece was painted with water-based paint, so one coat of latex primer is perfect. Let dry.

BRUSH ON 2 COATS OF BLACKENED BRONZE METALLIC PAINT. LET DRY.

Painting metallics on top of this white primer does show brush marks, so I just avoided ugly ones as much as possible.

BRUSH ON NATURAL BROWN GLAZING CREAM MIXED WITH FURNITURE & CABINET GLAZING CREAM.

In a container, add about 2 tablespoons of Furniture & Cabinet Glazing Cream with just about a teaspoon of Natural Brown Glazing Cream Color. Mix well. Brush on some glaze and work in sections.

USE A DRY RAG TO TAP THE GLAZE AND SOFTEN THE LOOK.

Turn your hand in all different directions to soften the glaze. Wipe a clean spot of the rag across the raised decoration to expose the color underneath to highlight it. Adding the glaze will tone down the metallic paint and add patina. It will take longer because of the glaze mix but let dry completely.

Brush on a coat of Satin MasterClear® Topcoat for protection. (Since this is going to be a bird bath, I only painted and sealed areas just to the water line.)

Now it’s time to take these beauties outside. I moved the artichoke around to find my favorite spots.

I decided I liked to “discover” it in this giant hosta, since the pretty metallic colors jump right out.

The birdbath is nestled right up against this massive tree, near our little babbling pond. It’s perfectly positioned to awaiting all of the cardinals, owls, and squirrels that pass through. Wonder how long it will be before the raccoons will knock it over. Note to self: now thinking anchoring versus propping is a good thing.

Or, our entry courtyard is calling too. Do you prefer it atop this old, rusty chair?

The electric metallic green and blues of the artichoke love it here too. The colors seem to jump right out of the shadows. So many possibilities!

Modern Masters Cafe Blog Guest Writer and Artist is Debbie Hayes, Blogger at My Patch of Blue Sky & Author of the Color Inspiration Notebook.

Original article and pictures take modernmasterscafe.com site