Thread: DESPERATELY need help with paint color for Column

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Have been painting my danged columns for what seems to be years....
I'm extremely unhappy with the results. I'm thinking I need to change my mortar color- again. Or change the cap/ base color to maybe something lighter than the mortar. But, hopefully, not change the rocks color. What do ya'll think? Please help me- I'm stuck on this. I hate painting. Mainly cause I am awful at it.
okay, here's a pic... don't laugh

take out the red and the gray.. just do it on one side and see how it looks...

First. The columns look great!
Second. (This is just my opinion) I think they need to be weathered more to look old. I not sure how to do this but maybe a stain or some kind of a wash.
Third. I'm sure Terra could make some great suggestions!

the more i look at it cathy the more i like the brownish color...put a little greenish color on it here and there and make it look like moss is growing on it, but just do alittle.. i think they look good.. i just really like the brown and tan color best..

The rocks look WAY better than any paint job I could come up with.Maybe try drybrushing some black over the mortar to age it some and see how that looks.Then you could drybrush or airbrush some green in some parts of the mortar to simulate moss.

Here's some stone like yours with aged mortar in it.
http://englishstonellc.com/sitebuild...ar-600x249.jpg

You just need to weather it up. I would use some black latex watered down. then carefuly wash it off. very lightly. Blotch it here and there. Then lightly spray with a green spray paint to make it look like moss starting to grow on one or two sides. Maybe glue a dying piece of silk vine to it and have some spanish moss draped down from the top base.

They do look very good Cathy.... but I agree that an aged look would add a lot of character to them. If your scared of doing that, I would just use the color you have on your mortar and add just a touch of black. Start by giving the mortar a wash here and there with that. Then just step it up a little by adding a little more black and dab this on here and there. Just keep doing that until you have several shades on the mortar. Then add use a dry brush effect to it with a touch of mossy green here and there. Then I would take a little black in a dry brush and go around the rocks. But only do this here and there... you don't want the rocks to look like they are outlined!
I think with just a few 'layers' of color on the mortar you will be good to go!!!
But then, if you are wanting a 'new' look, your already there.

I agree, Weathering the mortar should do the trick

okay, I re=painted the cap and base. Does it look a little better?
Will touch up around the stones; I'm a very sloppy painter. LOL
After everything is dry I will try to weather them and put sheet moss on them. hopefully. if they don't drive me insane.
one column weighed about 5 pounds before I started painting them. I betcha they each weigh 65 lbs. now.
thanks for all your suggestions! I really, really appreciate them all!!