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Get creative

Mark Rayner presents inspiring ideas for some DIY garden art.

Outdoor paintings or decorative panels are a great way to introduce some year-round interest to your garden and needn't be expensive or difficult to make yourself. As long as all your materials are suitably weather proof there's no reason why your garden art shouldn't be around for years. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

As seen in kiwigardener

Outside the square

This simple tiled panel was inspired by the clean lines and simple colours of a Mondrian painting - and the simplicity of its design means there's no need to cut tiles or use grout. First, plan your tile layout and then work out the finished size of your artwork, allowing for the timber frame and the black edging lines (made from 50mm x 25mm battening). Cut a piece of 22mm treated plywood to match the finished size as a backing board. Build the frame next, attaching it directly to the edges of the board with galvanised nails and exterior PVA. Then attach the lengths of battening in the same way to form edging lines. Prime and paint your piece, and then glue the tiles into position using exterior construction glue.

Square art tiles

Square art tiles
Outside the square
Old masters art inspirations
Old master
Mosaic art glass
Let the sun shine

Old master

Use an old artwork as inspiration - this panel was inspired by a detail from a Van Gogh iris painting. Print a copy of the artwork from the internet or copy it from a book or a print. Scale your copy up to the correct size with an enlargement from your local copy shop.

Then, trace your design on a suitably sized piece of 22mm treated plywood, using carbon paper. Mix some exterior builders' fill and apply to the surface of the board to build up a brush-like texture on the flowers and foliage. When this is dry, prime your piece with a coat of Resene Quick Dry and, starting with the background, use some Resene testpots to fill in the detail. Continue in this way until the picture is complete and then finish it off with a coat of Resene Concrete Clear.

Old masters art inspirations


Let the sun shine

Be inspired by the example of Whanganui mosaicist Louise Herdman who made this stunning mosaic and create own sunflower masterpiece. Use a sturdy piece of 22mm treated plywood as a base and draw out your design with a pencil. Start with the main subject (the flower) using vitreous glass tiles for the centre and coloured glass for the petals. Once the flower is finished, work on the background, letting the rows of flowing vitreous and iridescent tiles create a sense of movement and energy. Glue tiles with exterior PVA glue and finish off with exterior grout. To view more of Louise Herdman's wonderful work, see www.mosaicpictures.co.nz.

Mosaic art glass

Fish sculptures
Go fish!
Modern masterpiece
Modern masterpiece
Abstract shell wall
She'll be right

Go fish!

This fabulous, low-relief, marine-themed garden panel was made by Napier artist Maggie Taylor from concrete and then primed and painted with exterior house paint (Maggie uses Resene testpots). You could have a go at making your own, using a piece of treated plywood as a backing board and then attaching a small piece of chicken wire to create the basic form. Mix up small amounts of builders' mortar mix until you are happy with the final form and then allow this to dry thoroughly. Prime with Resene Concrete primer and finish your work off with Resene testpots. If you'd like to see more of Maggie's work, see www.mtpots.co.nz.

Fish sculptures


Modern masterpiece

This bold abstract design really brightens up an ordinary shed wall. To make one like it, prime a piece of 22mm treated plywood with Resene Quick Dry and apply a coat of Resene Sandtex Mediterranean effect to texture the surface. When that's dry, apply two coats of Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Paua. Mask off horizontal bands with low-tack masking tape and paint alternate bands with a testpot of Resene Porsche, followed by two coats of Resene Bullion. Remove the masking tape, and when all paint is dry, apply a coat of Resene Concrete Clear to really bring out the colour. Hang your artwork from a sturdy wire or screw it directly to the shed wall (touch up screw heads with a dab of paint).

Modern masterpiece


She'll be right

This bold abstract design really brightens up an ordinary shed wall. To make one like it, prime a piece of 22mm treated plywood with Resene Quick Dry and apply a coat of Resene Sandtex Mediterranean effect to texture the surface. When that's dry, apply two coats of Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Paua. Mask off horizontal bands with low-tack masking tape and paint alternate bands with a testpot of Resene Porsche, followed by two coats of Resene Bullion. Remove the masking tape, and when all paint is dry, apply a coat of Resene Concrete Clear to really bring out the colour. Hang your artwork from a sturdy wire or screw it directly to the shed wall (touch up screw heads with a dab of paint).

Abstract shell wall


Five more ideas for garden art:

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