Art Projects With Cement

A free-standing cement sculpture

Cement is generally thought of in terms of building and industrial projects, but it has surprising potential as an artistic medium as well. You can purchase cement specifically for artistic projects that is quick drying, designated for indoor or outdoor projects and formulated differently from industrial cement. Cement is particularly popular for creating garden art, due to its resilience and strength out in the elements.

Stepping-Stone Mosaic

One of the simplest cement art projects is the stepping-stone mosaic. For this project, you'll need a mold of the shape you want the cement to be, as well as decorative items to embed in the cement, such as stones, beads or shells. Mix the cement, pour it into the mold and lightly press your items into the cement before it dries. Allow the cement time to dry and then remove it from the mold and place your new stepping stone in your garden.

Molded Cement Sculpture

You can create beautiful cement sculptures simply by using rubber molds. Many garden-art pieces, such as expressive suns, flowers and moon sculptures, are created from rubber cement molds. Purchase rubber molds for cement at your local craft store, mix up the cement, and fill in the mold completely, leveling off the top to create a flat base. Embed a metal hook for hanging if desired. Peel the mold off when the cement has dried completely.

Mesh-Form Sculpture

You can use mesh forms to create cement art that is unique and original. Create a self-supporting mesh frame out of galvanized steel mesh (and other materials for stabilization, if necessary) and then apply a cement-sand mix to it using rubber gloves. Allow the form to dry and then snip any extending mesh pieces. You can apply a texture to your cement mesh piece during the drying process, or you can use sandpaper after the piece has hardened.

Painted Cement

If you already have a cement form or a large piece of cement left over from a construction project, you can apply color directly to it. Spray paint is one of the most effective ways to paint cement, although acrylic paints will work, too. You can add pigmentation and dyes to cement during the mixing process. Make sure that any dyes added to cement are formulated to last over a long period of time before you create outdoor cement art.

References

• Kidz World: How to Make Garden Stepping Stones
• Makers Gallery: Art Concrete - How-To Guidelines and Use
• Makers Gallery: Art Concrete How-To 3: Working With Mesh
• Maker's Gallery: Art Concrete How-To 5: Color and Dye for Concrete