DIY Network

Concrete Garden Art Put this playful sculpture in your yard. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-507

Get your art on with concrete.

Outdoor sculptures aren't just for stuffy mansions or public buildings. It's easy to B. Original and create your own, with as much whimsy as you like, thanks to Michele Beschen.

Don't be intimidated by working with concrete: The techniques are easy, and the small scale of the project puts it in anyone's reach. Scroll down for Michele Beschen's user-friendly how-to, and get started on your own outdoor art installation.

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Concrete Garden Art

Materials:

portland cement
water
wood scrap or paint stirring stick for mixing concrete
clean bucket
plastic drawer organizer
dust mask
safety glasses
rubber gloves
melamine
2x2 strips of wood
drill
wood bit
screwdriver bit
cooking spray or WD-40 spray
hammer and chisel
paints
shellac or PVA adhesive

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

• In a clean bucket, mix water and Portland cement according to the package instructions. Since the pieces will be fairly small, it's not necessary to add sand. Mix the cement until it is the consistency of cake batter.

  Safety Alert: Wear a dust mask and eye protection when mixing concrete, and wear rubber gloves when mixing or working with wet concrete.

• Spray an old plastic drawer organizer liberally with cooking spray or WD-40 spray.

• Fill the organizer compartments with cement (figure A). Gently shake the organizer and tap it on the table to help release any bubbles from the concrete.

• When all of the compartments are filled to the top, level off or "screed" the concrete with a piece of scrap wood.

• Let the cement dry according to the package instructions. To unmold, flex the plastic organizer the same way as an ice tray and remove the concrete pieces (figure B).

• To cast larger concrete pieces, build custom molds: Cut pieces of 2x2 wood to the desired lengths and use decking screws to attach them to melamine sheets to create the molds. There's no rule on the shapes or sizes of the concrete pieces; just make sure all of the side pieces fit snugly against each other so that concrete doesn't ooze out. Spray with cooking spray or WD-40, pour in the concrete, level the surface and let dry completely (figure C).

• Once the pieces are unmolded, Michele Beschen likes to use chisels or old carving tools to create some primitive carvings in the concrete (figure D). Or, use a hammer and chisel to rough up the edges of the piece. Always wear safety glasses when cutting or carving the concrete.

• Prime the concrete pieces before adding color. If using oil-based paints or enamel paints, prime the piece with another oil-based sealant first. If using acrylic paints, prime the piece with a glue wash made from PVA adhesive and water. PVA adhesive is a very strong white glue, sometimes called neutral PH adhesive. It's available where scrapbooking supplies are sold. Model car paints also can be used over PVA adhesive.

• After the primer coat is dry, paint the concrete pieces as desired (figure E). The different primers will give different paint effects; don't be afraid to experiment with colors and tools. Paint all sides of each block.

• To begin assembling the sculpture, select a sturdy piece for the base. Stack the pieces up however you like, taking care to evenly distribute the weight.
  

  Figure F

  Figure G

  
  

• Connect the blocks using construction adhesive, landscape block adhesive or 2-part epoxy (figure F). Stack the pieces as high as the blocks will allow (figure G).

• When the adhesive has dried, place these original sculptures in the yard for everyone to admire!