Art

Green Painting with Milk Paint

- Adam Clare 4 Comments

You learn something new everyday, and today I learned that you can paint with milk! I found out from this handy green painting guide from National Geographic.

Milk paints are virtually odorless and are made using the milk protein casein and lime. They contain no solvents, preservatives or biocides, though some do have synthetic ingredients like acrylic and vinyl. They come in powdered form and once opened or mixed with water, they should be used quickly, as they can mold if left to stand for a few weeks.

So I did some research on milk paint and found a company that is dedicated to reproducing old fashioned milk paint. From their about us:

In 1974, after much experimentation, we recreated an old Milk Paint formula to provide an authentic finish for our primary business of building reproduction furniture. Since then we have sold our paint to professionals who are either restoring original Colonial or Shaker furniture, making reproductions, or striving for an interior design look that is both authentic and beautiful. Milk Paint is now gaining an even wider usage because it contains only ingredients that are all-natural and will not harm the environment. Our authentic real milk paint is truely a “green paint” that comes in 20 colors.

I also found elsewhere a gallery of milk paint.
milk paint

And here’s a video explaining how to use milk paint:

How have we missed out on milk paint on Things Are Good for so long? Anybody out there now anything more about this painting style?

The Walking Tree Man

- Adam Clare

I’m having trouble thinking of a way to describe this, so I won’t. I present to you the Walking Tree Man.

walking tree man
walking tree man

What is it that can capture a heart and take it to a peaceful awareness instantly?

Many say, “A WALKING TREE MAN”.

The crowd is stunned. People, begin moving more slowly, breathing deeply. They seem to drop into that meditative state where we’re connected with the true reality of life.

The walking body of a tree with the mask of a man is an image that can only inspire awe in the hearts and minds of those who see view it.

This archetype, of ancient origins signifies rebirth, renewal, and life, is the image of the GREEN MAN

He symbolizes our ineffable connection with Mother Nature.

Sometimes it’s the kids who see what’s going on first. Then that brings on a frenzy of photo snapping and comments like, “That’s the best costume I’ve seen in my life!” “Absolutely incredible!” “Wow!” “Amazing!”

A Better Use for Oil Drums

- Adam Clare

Oil drums carry stuff that many people don’t like (but everyone uses), some enterprising people have figured out a new use for old oil drums.

The basic Stanker is a one-off, unique table, using recycled materials. The name and model number corresponds to the size of the original barrel. The variations are endless and innovative–one model uses the lid of the barrel as a table surface and Louis XV style legs are added. Another barrel is made into a shelving unit and yet another is a chair.

Gravity Defying Homes

- Adam Clare

People like living in shelter and in this modern world we can create some really bizzare shelters. Some website has collected 15 truly crazy house designs. I want to live in all of these 😉

The photo above is from this house:

Mushroom House (Cincinnati, Ohio)
So disparate in materials and shapes this hodgepodge house looks like its been welded and glued together. But this is no hobo-construction, it was designed by the professor of architecture and interior design at the University of Cincinnati, Terry Brown, and was recently on the market for an estimated $400K.

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