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My Vintage Porch

Interior Design, DIY, and Refurbishing

My Thrifted Painted Horse

Filed Under: Crafts & Projects, DIY, Uncategorized Tagged With: antique horse, baking soda and paint, concrete, diy old pottery, horse, old pottery, painted, pottery horse, stone horse, texturized, vintage horse

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.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gail van de Moosdijk says

    March 14, 2022 at 3:34 pm

    Totally agree that buying it was an absolute must!. It’s turned into a majestic show piece!.

  2. Lorri says

    March 14, 2022 at 3:41 pm

    I love this horse… you did a lovely restoration job on him . I’m calling him because he looks masculine 😂

  3. Cindy Jenkins says

    March 14, 2022 at 3:46 pm

    Oh wow! He’s a beauty now!!! Great job, Natalie, as usual!!

  4. B Greenlaw says

    March 14, 2022 at 3:47 pm

    Well I can’t freaking believe it!! Natalie bedazzles once again! 👌👌

  5. Angie Rice says

    March 14, 2022 at 3:50 pm

    I love it Natalie! It looks so different and totally amazing!!!

  6. Susan F says

    March 14, 2022 at 3:51 pm

    I voted no. But I had no idea what you had planned. Bravo 👏

  7. Tammy says

    March 14, 2022 at 3:55 pm

    I never doubt your vision! I love it!❤️

  8. Jan says

    March 14, 2022 at 3:56 pm

    He’s looks great🤩🐴 ❤️

  9. Char says

    March 14, 2022 at 4:00 pm

    What amazing talent! I love the way this turned out!

  10. ELaine Lindsey says

    March 14, 2022 at 4:06 pm

    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❤️❤️❤️❤️

  11. Ann Vallotton says

    March 14, 2022 at 4:21 pm

    You are something else girlie!!!!
    Ahhhmazzzing transformation!

  12. Jenn M. says

    March 14, 2022 at 4:38 pm

    Wow! What a beautiful transformation! I love it! 😍😍😍

  13. Robin Drewes says

    March 14, 2022 at 4:59 pm

    I love the horse it turned out perfect !!!

  14. Jamie says

    March 14, 2022 at 5:02 pm

    I voted YES because I knew you’d turn it into something incredible! It looks so good!

  15. Jessica Mushrush says

    March 14, 2022 at 5:11 pm

    Wow! Night and day difference! You made it classy! Great work as always.

  16. Brenda Johnson says

    March 14, 2022 at 5:35 pm

    You always make everything you touch turn into something so special and the horse is no exception!!

  17. Linda says

    March 14, 2022 at 5:38 pm

    This horse is so cool looking. Buying it was so worth it! A fun addition to all your menagerie of tchotchkes

  18. Caryn says

    March 14, 2022 at 5:56 pm

    You are amazing 🤩
    I couldn’t wait to see what you were going to do with the horse – it’s beautiful!!

  19. Becky Johnson says

    March 14, 2022 at 6:04 pm

    Natalie, Natalie, Natalie, We all want to find a horse now! Talk about sows ear into a silk purse! Awesome.

  20. Lisa C. says

    March 14, 2022 at 6:37 pm

    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!!! ♥️♥️♥️

  21. Veronica says

    March 14, 2022 at 8:00 pm

    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!

  22. Casey Munn says

    March 14, 2022 at 8:29 pm

    Holy horse hair!!! That looks phenomenal!!

  23. Cindy says

    March 14, 2022 at 8:45 pm

    I love this so much. Seriously looks like a piece from Restoration Hardware or a museum.

  24. Kathy says

    March 14, 2022 at 8:48 pm

    Another WOW!! Your vision never ceases to amaze me!! Great job Natalie!! 🤩

  25. Sally Rodriguez says

    March 14, 2022 at 10:41 pm

    I love it!!

  26. Brandi says

    March 15, 2022 at 5:40 am

    Love this Natalie!! It’s turned out so awesome! 🤍

  27. Anne Care says

    March 15, 2022 at 6:37 am

    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!

  28. Donna says

    March 15, 2022 at 7:07 am

    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.

  29. Shanna says

    March 15, 2022 at 7:37 am

    It’s a masterpiece now! Just Beautiful.

    ~Shanna
    @our_military_home_front

  30. Janet says

    March 15, 2022 at 7:54 am

    Thats A. MAZING!

  31. Rose says

    March 15, 2022 at 8:25 am

    You continue to amaze me. You have a gift to be able to vision a beauty out of a strange piece.

  32. Frani says

    March 15, 2022 at 10:16 am

    Just WOW!!! Great job! You have such a good vision for tchotchkies.♥

  33. Donna White says

    March 15, 2022 at 10:25 am

    I knew it was going to be awesome!
    Magic hands!!!!

  34. Phyllis says

    March 15, 2022 at 1:11 pm

    Very pretty. Love all the detail on the horse. Great job.

  35. Nancy @ellevintage says

    March 15, 2022 at 2:47 pm

    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…

  36. Fuchsia says

    March 15, 2022 at 9:44 pm

    Wow!!!! That’s incredible!! Love your vision!!

  37. Tracie says

    March 15, 2022 at 9:53 pm

    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! says

      March 16, 2022 at 4:23 pm

      I thought the same about the terra cotta warriors!

      • Crystal Reed says

        March 16, 2022 at 4:24 pm

        Sorry. I didn’t do that right. Lol

  38. Pattie says

    March 16, 2022 at 12:53 pm

    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

  39. Erica H says

    March 17, 2022 at 8:07 am

    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!!

  40. cameran says

    March 18, 2022 at 2:25 pm

    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!♥

  41. Alba says

    March 25, 2022 at 7:07 pm

    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!

Trackbacks

  1. Bricks 'n Blooms Weekly 72 - Stacy Ling says:
    March 20, 2022 at 3:01 am

    […] all of my thrifting trips lately, I’m loving the way my good friend Natalie from Vintage Porch refinished this horse […]

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