I'm not sure what kind of a suggestion to make, not being very artistically inclined ...

... and were I to make it in colourful language ... likely it'd be censored!

(Half coloured ... half aluminum unretouched, try it out ...

...[and when you buy the paint, some paint remover along with it])?

ole joyfuelled

Not very artistic either, but comparing both I think that painting it, half and half or alternating colors would make it pop.

I like colors

I am an artist, but I don't think that matters at all. Excellent comparison pictures. Part of the charm of the original is the translucence and the spots. The aluminum is never going to be translucent. You could thin down the paint with gel medium so that the color wouldn't be as opaque, which might be a nice effect, but I don't know if that will make it more prone to fading, and it still won't be backlit. If you did the polka dots, it would be easier with a template, and I think it might work better, without the translucence, if it were the dots that were darker and the ground that was lighter, instead of the opposite like on the original.

I like both! And I think I like them both the way they are, rather than painting the aluminum one. Perhaps you could get some scraps of color anodized aluminum to make a polychrome pinwheel out of? That would be cool.

Paint it like a flower. Put a darker color like navy nearer the middle, feather that out into something like red and have a thin circle of the middle color and then paint the petal part bright yellow. Or start with yellow, Then do a medium to dark purple and then light turquoise on the petals.

Thank you everyone. All are good ideas. I am not that artistic when it comes to painting so not sure if I could do some of them. I am leaning toward doing something with color, just not sure what.

Your DH made the aluminum one? I'm impressed! Very good.

Boy, your DH sure did a very nice job! Atta Boy!

I personally love the one your husband made just as it is. You could get fancy with some black paint and do Zentangle designs on each petal. If you don't know what Zentangle is, it is like doodling. Do a google or Pinterest search for it.

Oh! Yes, I forgot...kudos to the maker of the aluminum one!

If you're not that great at painting, why not add a few stickers? A ladybug, maybe. When they get tatty, you can remove them and put on different ones.

Make it simple and easy get a round sponge dauber brush or cut a round out of a sponge, then add multiple colors of polka-dots all over it, the best of both! Still have the pretty metal and all the colors you choose. I would buy a set of the little bottles of acrylics they come in all colors. Some one posted they found some nice sets of them at home depot in the paint department. I buy them at hobby lobby. I buy the dauber sponges there too.

I'd get some colorful beads and glue them on over the aluminum; give it some bling!

Oh, he did a beautiful job. I hope, you gave him a nice thank you. ;)

I would paint it. First, pick the kind of pain you plan on using. Get only one color, and put it on a piece of left over flashing. See if it sticks.

No reason to paint all, if you can not make paint stick.

Moni

Thanks for the DH compliments. He did it on his own without asking. I had left it on the work bench and he hates things just laying around undone. He has been a busy bee since he retired in Jan.

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I will experiment on scraps before doing the final painting.

Beads can add weight and make it not spin properly so consider that. You can spray it with shellac or clear poly to protect the paint. Be careful not to cut yourself! And he definitely did a great job on making it.

I wondered how aluminum would take paint and found this: Painting Aluminum

I don't think I'd paint it... I do think it could use a pop of color though. Maybe some rub-on transfers with a clear coat over? I'd definitely practice on some scrap pieces to see how they would adhere. BTW.. your hubby did a great job on it!

I agree.....what a nice job your husband did on repairing it. I'm impressed!!

Hubby did a really nice job of re-petaling, even reversed its rotation. The old one spun counterclockwise; the new one spins clockwise.

I would try leaving the frontside unpainted and paint only the backside. Part of the backside curves to the front and is pinned at the hub of the spindle. There may be an interesting effect when it spins; the front and back sides will be very different.

Good job. If you you want to highlight the aluminum use a gold or silver metal flake spray paint. Mist on lightly, the more paint the heavier and slower it becomes. Afterwards , if you want, lightly mist on enough of another color to slightly alter the metal flake.

You'll need to prepare the surface first. Wash with a degreaser and scuff the surface with medium or fine sandpaper. Btw, I do this kind of thing for a living:)

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have been reading a lot about painting aluminum. Didn't realize it might not take paint. I will have to play around and see what works.

I love them both. He did do a great job. I keep thinking etching to make a design. Then, it wouldn't wear off? Might look like this, but using something to "scratch" a design in.

rob33 - Cool results, but not sure if the flashing is too thin. And don't have the chemicals but something to think about.

Yea, I'd skip the chemicals 100%. If I could show you the two Christmas tree ornaments that I received, you would totally get it. They're gingerbread people and their decorations were added by using a ball point pen "pushing" into incredibly thin metal? What type? But it'd be the effect I am thinking about. It doesn't have to be thick stuff. I'll see if I can find them and post you a picture.

Rob, I would love to see them.

I will try tonight. We had a bit of difficulty last evening at home, and by the time I thought of it, I was too tired to try. I promise I will try tonight.

Sorry she's so beat up, but you get the idea? I hope!

I think it's beautiful in its simplicity--like and Airstream. I'd leave it as is. Another compliment to your DH.

Rob - Thanks for posting the picture. Cute Christmas tree ornament. I did something like that in copper as a mirror frame.

An alternate idea, but I too love it as is.