Show us what they look like after they are bronzed, please.

I've used metallic and other spray paint on things like that. I have a memorial garden in one corner of my back yard which has a lot of angel statues...many of which were kind of ugly when they came from the thrift shop. I have spray painted them a solid color and have been happy with the results. I have a bowling ball I glued plastic lizards onto and spray painted it with copper spray paint (I saw one like it on pinterest).

I live in western Washington where we have a lot of rain much of the year, and I leave these things outside all winter. If they have spots where the paint isn't looking so good in the Spring, I clean them up and respray them and they work for another couple years before possibly needing respraying again.

We are lucky to have so many different spray paints on the market these days...ones designed to stick to plastic, others made for glass, and others for plain old miscellaneous outdoor projects. I use Rustoleum Painter's Touch 2X on all kinds of projects and really like it. It comes in quite a variety of colors, both satin and glossy, and the spray cans seem to go forever! Definitely buy it at Home Depot...they carry it at Michael's and Joannes, but it's $6+ there and somewhere around $3.50 at Home Depot. Lowes doesn't carry it. Hope to see pics of your project soon!

I have sprayed old plastic pots with a bronze spray and they looked like expensive metal pots. I need to repaint them because the paint has worn off in spots because I keep them out all year long in Wisconsin.

I really love that copper colored Buddha head. It certainly makes it look rich. You'd never know it is plastic! Love that multi-face planter too (and the coleus growing out of it). Would have never thought to paint it a pewter color.

I have been loving the Rust-Oleum 2X spray paint!! My kids are drying. Yesterday I made pedestals for them. They will stay outside here in MN all year round so I want the cement to be off the ground. Thanks for the shot of confidence this is worth the work. I moved on to the much smaller, acrylic statues. Even though I do bring THEM in each fall they have managed to become ant farms...even the bleach dip and rust off dip didn't kill the critters!!! Amazing.

Glad the project is working out! Can't wait to see pics!

They turned out great! I'm sure the hostas will enjoy their company!

Your kids look great!

I'm a fan of the Rustoleum 2x, too.

We had a bunch of aluminum garden chairs; I painted one with regular spray paint in deep blue; it took all of 2 cans and still looked splotchy. I used the R2x on the second chair; ONE can, perfect coverage! I did the rest with the 2x.

However, some of the colors may fade; after 2 years, my deep blue and seaside chairs are still bright, but the key lime have faded. We do get a lot of UV radiation here, as well as lots of rain and acid air from the volcano, so things do deteriorate faster than you expect.

They look great arcy_gw! I've seen people try to repaint statues and fail miserably when they try to paint their faces. I much prefer the metallic or stone touch that makes them look so much richer. They look great against the green of the hostas!

I am having the best time freshening up my garden "art"!!

Painting the statues bronze is sheer genius!

i love repainting my garden doodads. It's a rite of spring with me. People always comment about how "new" stuff looks. I can't stand dilapidated ornaments though hanging baskets seem to get ratty much faster than I can refresh.

I gave up on anything "bio-degradable". It doesn't hold up for the long haul and that makes me too sad, and it isn't worth the TIME....

arcy_gw, you did a great job refreshing the paint on your gnomes. Or are they two of the seven dwarves?

They are Sleepy and Bashful, of 7 dwarves fame. My father found them on his neighbor's curb YEARS ago. I inherited them last summer.

Bossyvossy;we attended the re-opening of a local sculpture garden. A few days later I came across the kids at a garage sale. The two events came together in my mind!

arcy_gw, no wonder you take great care in repainting them. What a couple of great family momentoes! I thought they looked familiar.

One of these days I'll have to take a picture of Quiet my cement Golden Retriever. I keep him on the porch and he looks so real we've had people run up on the porch to see if he is real. I got him at an antique mall for about $25.

Your "kids" came out great! Have a couple of R2X paints, will try on a 15 in. tall bunny that's cement ears are starting to go. Love the black planter & the dwarfs look like new!

they look good! I love spray paint.

I have been spraying painting all summer!! I have a few angels and two 5ft St. Francis's. Everyone is bright and new again!! That stuff is slick!!!!

Finally took the time to take some pictures.

I had to scrub with bleach, douse with rust cleaner then spray painted white. The color I did with latex then sprayed with clear over coat.

You have been busy! It's like having new garden art when the pieces are refreshed!