Concrete Goose Makeover: How To Paint Lawn Statues

Did you know you can paint concrete lawn and garden statues? Or, in the case of this concrete goose, re‑paint them. Sunlight fades the colors, and rain slowly washes the paint away, but the good news is that it’s easy to give them a fresh new look with the right paint and sealer.

In this post, I’ll show you, step by step, how I cleaned, repaired, painted, and sealed a vintage concrete goose statue for my neighbor. 

If your statue looks anything like this – faded, cracked, and missing little chunks here and there – don’t throw it out. As long as the main body is still solid, you can usually save it with a little glue, filler, and paint.

The Project at a Glance:

• Clean the statue with a degreaser and let it dry completely
• Glue and fill any loose or broken areas, then lightly sand rough spots
• Use outdoor‑safe paints (acrylic or specialty paints) in thin layers
• Add details and dimension with dry brushing and layered colors
• Finish with a clear outdoor sealer to protect from sun and rain

The Goose Story

My neighbor, Evelyn, has had this vintage concrete goose statue that’s been in her yard for as long as I can remember.

Evelyn told me she was probably just going to get rid of it. Nope, not on my watch. I like seeing that goose from my workshop door, and I know she would miss it.

I told Evelyn I would try to paint the goose, but not to have high expectations. After all, I’m not a decorative painter or artist.

Evelyn’s husband was killed in the Vietnam War, and she never remarried. She is super funny and smart and tells the most amazing stories. She keeps me laughing. Keep reading for the story about aliens landing in Hopkinsville, Ky.

Anyway, this is how the poor goose looked before I started her makeover. And I say her because I noticed barely there, faded, painted-on eyelashes. I don’t have any idea how old this poor thing is but she has obviously been standing outside for a while.

How To Paint Concrete Garden Statues (The Goose Makeover)

You can see how sad she looks in the close-up photo above. There are lots of cracks and places where the cement/concrete has broken down. Bits and pieces are broken off of the tail and base.

I was really beginning to wonder if I could bring this little goose back to life. Can you see those eyelashes I mentioned earlier? Sometimes it’s the simplest things that turn an item into a conversation piece.

Supplies for the Project:

• painter’s tape
• Gorilla Glue
• outdoor paints
• paintbrushes
• permanent marker
• household cleaner
• spray sealer

Clean The Concrete Goose Statue

I first cleaned the concrete goose with Simple Green and a brush. I scrubbed and scrubbed, but couldn’t get some of the gunk and stains off. That’s okay – as long as you remove loose dirt, flaking paint, and anything greasy, the new paint will stick. I let the statue dry completely before moving on to repairs.

Repair Cracks and Chips

I grabbed some Gorilla Glue for the cracks and filled the holes and cracks the best I could, trying not to knock off more of the cement. It helps to use items like popcycle sticks and toothpicks to work the glue into the cracks. Next, I wrapped the bill and head with painter’s tape until the glue dried. It seemed to work. Remember, where there’s a will, there’s a way.

You guys have to remember I’m just wingin’ it (no pun intended) because I’ve never painted a garden statue. I was definitely going to give the little goose my best though.

Choose Outdoor Paint

It’s a good thing there was enough original paint on the goose that I could kind of figure out where the paint lines were. I used FolkArt Coastal Textured Paint for the body of the goose.

The paint is for indoor/outdoor projects. Since this little girl spends all her time out in the sun, outdoor paint is a must.

That was the only outdoor paint I had in the colors I needed, so the details are going to be painted with acrylic paint from small bottles like the ones you get at the craft store. These are also multi-surface outdoor paints, so we will see how well they work. I found the perfect color for the bill in my stash.

When you’re painting anything that lives outside year‑round, using the right paint really matters. Look for paints labeled for outdoor use, multi‑surface, or specifically for concrete and masonry. Indoor paint will fade and peel much faster.”

Paint The Concrete Goose

The webbed feet and the bill are the same shade of orange. I used a variety of different-sized paintbrushes, and I didn’t use tape for straight lines or anything. I used the faded, chipped paint as a guide, and where the paint was completely missing, I just tried to get the shape right for the feet, etc.

The goose was a little rough, so I didn’t think it would be a big deal if the paint wasn’t perfect. I applied two coats of paint to each painted area. The first was a thin coat just to get the shapes right, and the second coat covered everything completely.

I didn’t have the right shade of green for the “grass” so I added black to a bit of green acrylic paint to make it darker. You can see the difference in the paint colors in the picture above. My first choice of green paint was too bright and glaring.

The special mix of green paint was just right. When I don’t have a certain color, even when working on a furniture project, I mix colors together until I get the shade I like. Don’t be afraid to mix paint colors and experiment. I do it all of the time. 

I tried to get the paint into all the nooks and crannies where the cement had broken off or cracked. A small paintbrush worked best for these hard-to-reach areas. 

Add Details and Dimension

The goose’s body color was too uniform, and the feathers blended in, so I dry-brushed a bit of very pale, silvery blue paint over the feather details for contrast.

A bit of contrast adds depth and dimension to paint projects, and that’s what the pale blue dry‑brushing does for the feathers. If you’ve never dry‑brushed before, just dip your brush in paint, wipe most of it off on a paper towel, then lightly drag the brush over the raised areas. It’s a simple technique that makes all those details pop. A bit of contrast adds depth and dimension to paint projects, and that’s what the blue paint does for the feathers.

I painted the eyes black with Beyond Paint in Licorice and added the eyelashes with a black Permanent Sharpie. Whatever works right?

Seal the Painted Goose

Once all the paint was completely dry, I sprayed several light coats of Krylon outdoor sealer over the entire goose, including the base. Thin coats work best – let each one dry before adding the next.

A good, clear sealer helps protect the paint from UV rays and moisture, so it lasts longer. Check the can for recommended dry and cure times before putting your statue back outside.

How long your paint job lasts will depend on your weather and how much direct sun your statue gets. In general, using outdoor‑safe paint and a clear sealer should give you several years before you need to touch up. Watch for fading on the sunniest side and any new chips or cracks. A quick touch‑up coat and a fresh layer of sealer are usually all it takes to keep your statue looking good.

Return the Goose to the Lawn

Isn’t she cute? I’m glad I could do this for Evelyn, and she was so happy. She lives right next door to us, and I see this goose every day if I look out the workshop’s garage door or if I’m working on a project outside.

Evelyn is always telling me stories about her family, the old days, and the history of the area we live in. She is one smart and well-informed lady on so many subjects. Funny too. One of the stories she told me was about aliens landing in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1955.

Now, Hopkinsville is right up the highway from us and is where my favorite junk shop is located. She started telling me that story, and she had me in stitches. After that, I had to Google about aliens in Hopkinsville, and sure enough, the story she told me is true.
I took this photo a couple of days after we returned the goose to its home. You can see it has a patriotic bow now. I was checking to see if the paint was holding up after a couple of days of rain. So far so good.

 

I’d love to hear what you’re working on. Leave me a note below and tell me about your goose, gnome, cactus, or any other garden character that needs a fresh coat of paint.

Thanks for being here, Kathy