Black Snake to Rattlesnake

So a few years back I picked up this rubber black snake at a garage sale for a mere twenty-five sense. (Unlike most people, I’m not afraid of snakes, and this beauty was a steal for just a quarter.) I knew just where I was going to put this beauty – coiled up behind my statue of Buddha in the serenity spot that greets me every time I pull into my carport. You see, the snake (naga) has always been a friend and protector to Buddha so naturally he should have one close by in my little plot of tribute.

Now sadly, over the years, having sat in the desert sun for far too long, the snake began to look shabby. His once shiny black coating became dull and he looked far too sad to be on display. My solution was to give him a new wardrobe. But this is the desert after all and as far as I know, we don’t have black snakes among us. We do have rattlesnakes, however, so I decided to transform the little gem by painting him a coat of many colors – well, at least four colors, using half-empty, almost-dry indoor One Stroke craft paints I picked up at one of my local thrift stores for a mere pittance.

First I coated his entire body with a coat of white enamel paint that has been sitting in my garage since I bought my place. (That’s almost seven years ago.) I opted for this because it was the only white I could find at the time.

Next, I began slathering on the different colors on hand. At first I was cautions, trying to get the patterns exactly as they would be on a rattlesnake but I soon realized I wasn’t up to the task of total duplication so I just winged it – and here is what it looks like now. (Okay, so my rattlesnake is missing his rattle but this is arts and crafts, not reality.)

The nice thing about the whole project is that it took just two days to complete.