Thursday, October 20, 2011

The Evil Cherub

OK, maybe this cherub wasn't evil, but he did creep me out a little when my husband brought him home. He didn't look like this,




he looked like this.



Bright gold, wicked expression, and funky paper top.



Now, I love gold when it's vintage and gilded. That wasn't the case here.




I didn't like the factory finish, and I thought the top was too big. I wanted the cherub to be the focus.  I replaced the top with a smaller one.  Next, I added a little filler to the area around the cherubs eyes, so the expression wasn't so severe.  I applied multiple layers of white primer, followed by two coats of  gesso.  I then did a wash of my own mix (black, brown,and green) of acrylic paint to give it an antiqued look.






My cherub no longer creeps me out, and he's the focus of this little table.



One last artsy shot.  I gave him one of my plaster roses.



Sharing With:
Primitive & Proper: Piece of Work Wednesday
Between Naps on the Porch: Metamorphosis Monday
Dittle Dattle: Amaze Me Monday
The DIY Showoff: DIY Project Parade
The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home
Remodelaholic: Remodelaholics Anonymous
Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Feature Friday
My Romantic Home: Show and Tell Friday
The Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
2805: Potpourri Party
At The Picket Fence: Inspiration Friday
Common Ground: Vintage Inspiration Friday


46 comments:

  1. Big improvement! Love the gesso treatment, rose, and the top is a better fit. I think your angel has repented!

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  2. SOOOOO much better! I would agree, his expression was a little harsh in the beginning. You fixed that. Lovely!

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  3. You certainly improved this little guy!

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  4. That cherub doesn't know how lucky he is to have ended up in your hands, you made him so beautiful!
    XXX Ido

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  5. Ha ha ha, he looked like he could shoot laser beams out of his eyes in the before version. Geez. Nice job making him into a gentleman cherub.

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  6. Color me bad, but I liked the gold, i think I would have marblized the top to look like white marble and toned down the gold. i am sure what you have done looks great oalso. That is why we have salt and pepper. Richard from my Old Historic House.

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  7. Eeeeeeewwwwww! He really was creepy! Much better!

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  8. Hi there, I am coming over from Debra's at Common Ground... love what you did with your cherub, simply beautiful!... xoxo Julie Marie

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  9. This is one of your best! I don't know if I would have thought to put plaster on his eyes, but that changed him from demonic looking to cherubic and the smaller top does look way better.

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  10. He does look much better, and the smaller table top is perfect!
    Debbie

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  11. Your cherub is much prettier now! She would look nice in my house! The gold just wasn't working in her favor. So, glad you came to the rescue.

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  12. Hi Rosemary,

    Love all of your special touches on this one...made a big difference. Love the little plaster rose!

    All the Best,
    Christine

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  13. It looks sooo sweet now well almost angelic LOL! Great job!

    Carol

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  14. Rosemary, you did a great job on this. I can see the "creepy". the white finish is soooo much better. And speaking of "filler" around the eyes, I could benefit from a little of that myself! LOL! xoxo

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  15. He's not creepy at all...anymore :) And wow that husband of yours, what a keeper, I don't think mine would have seen any potential in the gold monstrosity that was.

    Thanks so much for your kind comment on my blog.

    I am off to view more of your fantastic work.

    Caroline

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  16. Your cherub table is fabulous!

    Thank you for linking this lovely post to Potpourri Friday! Your participation is appreciated!

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  17. He was just a tad creepy Rosemary! Lol! But sooo much better now! What a cutie. Vanna

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  18. He's now the Sweet Twin of the Creepy Cherub ~ How in the world did you replace the top? Always in Awe of Your Transformations..... Have a wonderful weekend!
    Cheryl

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  19. Hi Rosemary,
    Beautiful makeover! The gold wass yucky! Love the soft patina wash you created!
    Bella

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  20. It's hard to believe that a cherub could creep anyone out! LOL LOL

    I agree with you, on the gold and LOVE the "new cherub with the sweet expression instead of the one that creeped you out". LOL

    Kris

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  21. Gosh Rosemary he was creepy but he is beautiful now. Thanks for sharing. Peggy

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  22. A much happier cherub now!!
    You did a wonderful job on it!! :)

    Hugs,

    Susan

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  23. So much nicer! You have a good eye for what needs to be done. :)
    -Revi

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  24. Hello again!!

    I am now officially a follower of yours!! I tried earlier when I left the first message and blogger was up to it's old tricks.
    Glad I came back to try again!!
    Thank you for visiting me before and commenting on my Miss Daisy. She sends a big Purrrrr your way!!

    Hugs and smiles,

    Susan
    xxoo

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  25. I will never understand why people put that awful gold on cherubs. Like you said, the old stuff looks good, but if it's done wrong...well there are a lot of old gold cherubs that are at the thrift stores these days. I bought a few of them last year and noticed no matter where I bought them, the cashier gave me the look like "Why is anyone buying THAT?" I always felt the need to tell them I knew the gold was ugly, but I was going to make them a lot better with white paint and aging stuff to make them shabby chic.

    Yours looks much better with the top more in scale too. Very nice work.

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  26. Looks like Mr V is learnin' the trade! Developing an eye for what has potential out there! andrea@townandprairie

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  27. Wow - you did a lot of work on this one. Gesso? I've never worked with it. You had amazing foresight - love it!

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  28. I am always amazed at the great things your hubby brings home for you! Your makeover is so much better!!! Beautiful! Thanks for stopping by, it is nice to know you live on the other side of the lake! Laura Cottage and Broome

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  29. I saw your thumbnail picture over at "Miss Mustard Seed"'s Friday party and thought " I wonder if that is Rosemary from VillaBarnes", and it IS...another fabulous re-do. I'm glad you fixed the little fellow's devil eyes.

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  30. Hi darling, He is "incredible" looking now! What a fantastic job! hugs ~lynne~

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  31. Thats correct you are the queen of gesso LOL

    you did good , really I liked it both ways (sorry)

    xoxo

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  32. Beautiful finish on both the cherub and table!

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  33. so much better...a softer, gentler look make the cherub pleasant and friendly...sweet table..
    best,
    maureen

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  34. You clever lady! He is very cute now, as opposed to creepy! Well done. God bless x

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  35. He DOES look evil! The white paint definitely makes him look a LOT more angelic and sweet. :) Thanks for stopping by my blog BTW!

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  36. Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment! LOVE all of your vintage finds and creations - you are very talented. Just became a new follower!

    Rachael :)

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  37. You just amaze me how you thought to correct that with gesso and paint. I've passed up many a cherub because of their little hoodlum look, what a lovely creature you have transformed him into! ~Lili

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  38. Great! I would not have seen the potential in the little gold guy!

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  39. Oh, he cleaned up a treat! Gorgeous paint finish and you're absolutely right about the scale of the table top being too big. Now we can see the cherub, not the table. Wonderful!

    And thank you for the comment on my skeleton fairies. Yah, they're a little weird. But when else could we be weird, if not at Halloween? *giggles*

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  40. what an improvement! he is so much cuter! :)

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  41. Oh Rosemary! You worked magic on that piece! Much better. Not so scary. LOL Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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