OK, the mailbox is painted a Rustoleum hammered bronze (which really looks tan brown). After spending a couple days scraping off the previous owners' names (yes plural, and why do people use those awful stick-on letters?), I primed it Friday morning, then that afternoon I sprayed the first coat on. Ten minutes later the clouds opened up and gave birth to HUGE droplets. The thunderstorm didn't last, but I was too afraid to go outside and look at my mailbox. Then next morning I got the nerve to go look at it. The big raindrops really added a really cool effect, creating large blotches of a really hammered look! So, I sprayed another coat being careful not to ruin the big raindrop splotches. It takes about 48 hours to completely dry, so I'm lucky the mailman won't come back until Tuesday (Monday is a holiday, Labor Day).

In the meantime, I created this template for the mailbox paint job. It's going to take some time but I can do it. The dragon is kinda my symbol, since my family heritage goes back to ancient Welsh times. I decided not to do a Welsh dragon, instead opting for something like this gold and bronze dragon. I copied the picture from an artist's website who sells paper crafts of some really awesome dragons, might have to order one. Of course that means I'll have to come up with my own bronze dragon, but I like this style. As an artist, you just don't copy someone else's art work, I'm just using his picture as an inspiration and idea. (I like it so much, I might buy it from him anyway! wink).

Until next time,

Jawa Jaka

lovingly laboring on my mailbox on Labor Day!