Making an outdoor painting that can survive weather.

Vicki
by Vicki
My windows face a brown brick wall. I'd like to make a painting I can attach to it.
Have never done this and am not sure what to paint on (wood? canvas?) paint to use? sealer needed? how to hang it in the grouting? It's my neighbor's house wall-I've a garden home. I was thinking of painting a garden. But it'd have to survive hot hot summers, and cold winters, gusting winds, dust. Ideas?
  14 answers
  • Z Z on Apr 21, 2014
    First of all you'd have to ask your neighbor if you could hang something on her wall. I know how close houses are in Lubbock, as we lived there from October '86 to December '87. We loved it, but it was too far from home. As for the painting, it would be best done in oils, but have you thought about adding a pretty stained glass looking cling to your window instead? https://www.google.com/search?q=window+glass+clings&safe=active&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=3zpVU_qPMoOY2QXV_YHICA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg
  • Vicki Vicki on Apr 21, 2014
    Thank you for your response...yes, it's OK to hang things..and that's a good idea as well..I've a bunch of windows and a porch that faces that brown wall...sigh...and also thought possibly a mosaic piece...but a large painting or several would give most life and color I think, just need to learn of materials which might survive the outdoor elements... but will for sure go to your link:) Thank you!!!
    • Z Z on Apr 21, 2014
      @Vicki a glass mosaic might work out quite well too. If I remember correctly, you don't have allot of rain and very little snow, so an oil painting should hold up quite well. There wasn't a sand storm the whole time we were there so I'm not sure how bad they get. Maybe if you reverse painted on the back of an old framed window it would last longer. I hope you come back and share your project when you do get it done. We didn't have windows on the sides of our homes, so there was no looking at the neighbors' houses from inside our own. The back yards in our neighborhood, all had tall wooden fences.
  • Vicki Vicki on Apr 21, 2014
    Thanks Becky...I keep thinking there'd be some way to paint on a big piece of wood, with house paints or ??? and then put some kind of a seal on it. And possibly prop it up on a wall or secure it with screws. But I've never done any of this before. I've a big piece of leftover roofing wood and there are some pallets in a recycle bin...and I keep thinking it'd be neat to paint a rich green bedded garden with colorful flowers. But these are just ideas and I'd love to find practical real-life advice!
  • Carolyn Carolyn on Apr 21, 2014
    I had a similar problem in our previous home. Hubby created a 4'x5' "canvas" for me out of Hardie Board siding nailed to a frame which was then attached to our cedar fence. It was already primed so all I had to do was paint. I used the $2.99 sample sized jars from Lowes so that I could have lots of colors without a huge investment. It is an indoor-outdoor paint and they will mix up whatever colors you want. You might have to find a patient employee if you want a lot of colors like I did. :) I did not seal mine and it was there for three years before we moved with little evidence of deterioration.
  • Janice Janice on Apr 21, 2014
    I've had regular oil paintings hanging outside for at least 5 years, all year round. I had bought them many years ago at one of those starving artist shows. I was really sick of them, but I hated to throw them out. They are under a roof, but they get hit by rain and snow, not to mention high winds. They still look new. Look in the thrift stores. If you don't like the pictures, you might be able to use the frames....or paint over them. As far as fasteners, there are special screws meant for masonary. Ask at you local building supply store.
  • Crystal Marie Crystal Marie on Apr 21, 2014
    If you don't know how/don't want to use oil paints, use acrylic on wood and once you ar done seal it really well. It should hold up just fine!
  • Vicki Vicki on Apr 22, 2014
    Thank you so much Carolyn and Janice and Crystal! Have any of you used a sealer that has worked well? I have eyed canvases at a thirft store thinking of painting over it...and have that piece of roofing board tucked in my garage...as well as an old battered peeling window I was thinking of attaching somehow a piece of wood or canvas to. I've a long, long brown wall so lots of space to hang things. But it's also a wind tunnel...and harsh harsh conditions.. Now to have courage to start..If there are any products you've used and work well, primers, sealers, brushes, I'd love to learn from you! Thank you!!
    • Janice Janice on Apr 23, 2014
      @Vicki Hi again. I didn't use seal on the paintings I hug outside. The frames faded, but there was absolutely no wear on the paintings. If you hang paintings or windows, just be sure to attach the bottom too. I did have another idea. Why not paint directly on the wall. Either a copy of a painter you admire or an original mural would be fabulous. There is a gentleman where I live in upstate NY who does murals on factory walls, barns, big rocks--yoou name it, he paints on it. He uses regular house paint and house painting brushes. He has done landscapes, circus scenes, native american topics....again, he is only limited by his imagination. I hope you let us know what you decide to do and your progress!
  • Vicki Vicki on Apr 26, 2014
    Thank you! Yes the wall facing me is actually my neighborhood's house! But am thinking of using that sheet of wood left over from roofing...and propping it up...and may try as well finding an old painting in good will and painting over it! Great idea...!! And will just have to explore how to fasten it somehow so when the wind howls it won't crash over-smash! Thank you all!
  • Janice Janice on Apr 27, 2014
    You can get masonary anchors at home depot or lowes.
  • Vicki Vicki on Apr 29, 2014
    Thank you-that helps me know what to ask for!!
  • Pat S Pat S on Apr 30, 2014
    I do allot of acrylic paintings on wood and seal them depending on the size and wood with a poly finish... either spray or brush on. Years ago, I painted a sesame street theme and over the rainbow directly on two sides of a block garage... it lasted many years.
  • Vicki Vicki on Apr 30, 2014
    Thank you so Pat! Cool! Do you think acrylic paint is better to use than house paint?
    • Pat S Pat S on May 01, 2014
      @Vicki more choices with acrylic colors and depends on the size of the painting. I did recently do a mural on a metal shed with spray paint and acrylics. If I were painting on a side of the house or the old garage today, I would use outdoor or patio acrylics... DecoArt has a patio paint that I know is used for clay pots so I'd think it would hold up on block.
  • Vicki Vicki on May 09, 2014
    Very very cool! Thank you...inspiring! and so brave!
  • Vicki Vicki on May 09, 2014
    Very cool....now to work up an design, bravery, and hunt for materials... inbetween the other work and projects! Must be done before next winter-when there aren't any flowers to be nourishing! Thank you!