I found this horse at the thrift store for, I think, seven dollars…if I remember correctly? I’m actually not sure. I’ve bought so many things from the thrift store that it’s all starting to mush together, ha ha. I knew I wanted to change it up.
I initially thought that I would be able to strip the paint using furniture strip…
Or oven cleaner… Neither of those things worked. A lot of you on Instagram mentioned that the paint had been kiln fired on, or whatever you call that.
I decided to paint it. I wanted to make it look like some sort of old stone or pottery. I started off by fixing the ear/adding an ear. The left ear was broken off when I bought it, so I made another small ear as best as I could with this air dry clay, and it worked great!
I used a mixture of various craft paints, mixed with baking soda. Baking soda makes the paint more texturized, which is the look that I was going for. I don’t really have a ratio that I use of the baking soda/paint mixture, I just throw some baking soda in until it gets thicker. Excuse my screenshot below, as I erased all of my photos that I had taken because my phone photo storage was full, imagine that.
I dabbbed the first coat of paint onto the horse. The first coat was territorial beige and warm buff “Apple barrel paint“ from Walmart, mixed with baking soda. These paints are very budget friendly and I use them for a lot of things. At first I thought it was going to be pink-ish, but it dried a very pretty brownish color.
Then I used antique white Behr paint mixed with baking soda, because it was an off white color that I had on hand. The idea was to layer colors so that it would look more realistic when I was finished.
The next two colors were all mixtures of these Apple barrel craft paints from Walmart.. I used pewter gray, territorial beige, warm buff, khaki, melted chocolate, and white.
I mixed different ratios of these colors into two different batches, mixed with baking soda, until I had the color that I was desiring. I was going for a taupe/brownish color each time, but wanted each one to be a little bit different so I could layer them.
I don’t really have exact ratios, I just mixed the paint until it was the color that I wanted it to be.
I loved the color that it turned out to be! I wanted to add some tone variations when I was finished with the color so I, very lightly, brushed on some dark wax. I made sure to brush most of it off onto a lint free cloth before I started using it on the horse. This helped me to not get it on too thick.
I dabbbed the dark wax around on edges and corners and lightly brushed it on larger surface areas as well.
I did the same thing with some black craft paint, to give a little bit of dimension/variation in color. I again made sure that most of the paint was off of my brush before I dabbed it on different areas. I did not use baking soda with the black paint.
Here’s one more look at the before…
And, the after… I can’t even believe it’s the same horse! I am so in love with this horse that now looks like aged stoneware/pottery. Yayyyyy!
It’s exactly how I had pictured it turning out!
When I surveyed on Instagram whether or not I should get this horse, a lot of you said not to get it. Would you vote differently now?
I love that it’s now more my style, and it fits in so well!
Would you have bought the horse in the thrift store too?
You can see how the left ear is larger than the right. It helped that the part under the ear was still there when I was making another ear. That gave me an idea of how big I had to make the ear. When looking at the horse from the side, the left ear is supposed to stick out more because of the way the horses head is tilted. It worked great to make the ear out of air dry clay…after I super glued it back on after it fell off while I was painting it, haha.
Totally agree that buying it was an absolute must!. It’s turned into a majestic show piece!.
I love this horse… you did a lovely restoration job on him . I’m calling him because he looks masculine ????
Oh wow! He’s a beauty now!!! Great job, Natalie, as usual!!
Well I can’t freaking believe it!! Natalie bedazzles once again! ????????
I love it Natalie! It looks so different and totally amazing!!!
I voted no. But I had no idea what you had planned. Bravo ????
I never doubt your vision! I love it!❤️
He’s looks great???????? ❤️
What amazing talent! I love the way this turned out!
Wow that turned out so good but could we expect anything less from you you have one creative talent that you wete blessed with you can see the beauty in any piece of art even if it’s junk kudos to you for being an inspiration to many and sharing your talents❤️❤️❤️❤️
You are something else girlie!!!!
Ahhhmazzzing transformation!
Wow! What a beautiful transformation! I love it! ????????????
I love the horse it turned out perfect !!!
I voted YES because I knew you’d turn it into something incredible! It looks so good!
Wow! Night and day difference! You made it classy! Great work as always.
You always make everything you touch turn into something so special and the horse is no exception!!
This horse is so cool looking. Buying it was so worth it! A fun addition to all your menagerie of tchotchkes
You are amazing ????
I couldn’t wait to see what you were going to do with the horse – it’s beautiful!!
Natalie, Natalie, Natalie, We all want to find a horse now! Talk about sows ear into a silk purse! Awesome.
I wanted you to get it because I just knew you would work your magic on it, just as you have done. It is Fantastic!! Now I want one as well!!! ♥️♥️♥️
You are a visionary genius. It really doesn’t look like the same horse! I voted yes to get it because I knew you would transform him. Came out better than I thought. I love it too!
Holy horse hair!!! That looks phenomenal!!
I love this so much. Seriously looks like a piece from Restoration Hardware or a museum.
Another WOW!! Your vision never ceases to amaze me!! Great job Natalie!! ????
I love it!!
Love this Natalie!! It’s turned out so awesome! ????
I am always amazed at what you find and transform! I am friends with Jen Cota and met you one summer. I love following you!
Thank you for this! Great job! I picked up a plastic horse toy at the dump a couple of years ago with the idea of doing something similar. It’s still sitting in mybasement…lol! Do you think this will work on plastic? Thanks.
It’s a masterpiece now! Just Beautiful.
~Shanna
@our_military_home_front
Thats A. MAZING!
You continue to amaze me. You have a gift to be able to vision a beauty out of a strange piece.
Just WOW!!! Great job! You have such a good vision for tchotchkies.♥
I knew it was going to be awesome!
Magic hands!!!!
Very pretty. Love all the detail on the horse. Great job.
This horse came out spectacular! I want to try this! I do have some pottery pieces I want to change up… wondering if I should use baking soda/paint or joint compound and salt/paint. They have a nice texture, but are a burnt red color that I don’t care for. So many ideas…
Wow!!!! That’s incredible!! Love your vision!!
I love, love how this turned out ! — You have such a good eye for this; Sorry to say I was probably was one of the ‘nay-sayers’ :/ It now reminds me of the Chinese Terra Cotta Warriors- so good!
I thought the same about the terra cotta warriors!
Sorry. I didn’t do that right. Lol
WHAT?!?! No Way!!!
This is an unbelievable makeover. Your ingenuity and sharp eye always seem to prevail in your work. I love this beautiful transformation
Now that is a transformation!!! I would have never thought you could just paint over that shiny glaze without a lot of time consuming prep work. I love how this turned out. The tip about the baking soda is great! I will be looking for ugly pottery wherever I go now!!! Brava!!
I’m afraid if I sit here with my mouth open much longer I will loose consciousness…YOU are ASTOUNDING at eyeballing it and bringing your work to
beautiful fruition!!
Awesome job, big hug to you for inspiring us, thank you!♥
I just came upon your blog. I love your horse and yes, i would’ve bought it! I dig your sense of humor too. I’m subscribing!