more animals in my garden... now it's fishes in a fake mini-pond!

[alhrayth]

I was googling some images to get some ideas of what people normally painted on stones - to add to those I recently did, and I stumbled on someone who had painted a fake pond on a huge flat rock... now, I have always wanted one but I never managed to make it, plus I don't really think fishes would last much with my cats (whom I have repeatedly found having some sashimi straight from my uncle's pond...  determined kitties!) so this idea really stuck.
But I had no huge slabs of rock, nor the intention or money to buy one.... enter a chair which we were throwing away, and the seat that had come apart... flat, square.... MINE!!
I bought some primer, some acrylics, I still had the transparent sealer from the rocks... here's what I came up with:

the whole seat - don't ask me what material it is made of, because I don't really know. it's not wood, not metal, not plastic... I only know it is virtually indestructible, so I was not afraid to use it for this.
I didn't have a proper reference picture (I hadn't saved it!) so I just started and went with my inspiration. I'm shocked that the fish are not as terrible or cartoon-y as I expected them to be


fishies


I had these flat gray "rocks" that have a proper name but I don't know it in English which I had put down as stepping stones in the front garden, but were constantly hidden by stuff growing... so I picked them up and gave them a new use as the border of the "pond":


checking that it responds well to water


from further away - I know I need to rake up the fig leaves


from my bedroom window it looks very tiny but almost real!


I am loving this project a lot right now.... but comments & critics are welcome as always!

[madamemel]

That's cool!! I don't think I've ever seen anything like it before. You did a fantastic job on the fish and the water. I hope it holds up to the weather okay!

[craftydebs]

Super duper cool...it totally rocks!...click!

[morrigan_le_faye]

Wow!  What a cool idea! *rocks*

[smoothiekate]

This is beautiful. I would love something like that in my yard...

[Sean R.]

Your pond is so AWESOME!  I love it!  You have truly inspired me to try something like this.  Thank you so much!

[madebymarni]

I love it!  It's such a cute idea!  We do have a "real" pond in our backyard with feeder goldfish that have gotten huge (why buy expensive Koi?).  But, luckily, my cat stays inside.  Did lose some of the fish when they were small by passing birds! 

Now, you need to come up with some other "fake" things, like a stream with trout or frogs!   

[boo_zombie]

aww so cute

[morus]

I like it!  Wonder if you'll attract hungry herons...  <S>

[meepum]

This is awesome! You should make a really big one though

[shelayla82]

Spectacular idea!

[brodysmom]

I love it. What a great idea!

[crafty gurll]

How cute is that!   Love it!

[Dragonflower]

Just so pretty- what a clever use for trash!   The top to an old patio table would make a great larger one.... need to start scoping out yard sales.
Your fish are just perfect, really.
We have overly-familiar racoons in my neighborhood that make koi appetizers, so no real fishpond for me.

[artemicia]

What a coincidence! I'm working on the same project! I am so unmotivated and my work space was going under a remodeling that i put the project on hold, but we found some octagonal stepping stones in our yard that needed some decoration, and I'm painting Koi fish in water on each of them so they look like puddles going through our back yard. Yours turned out great!

[snowbird49908]

Its amazing and from a distance looks so darn real

[KiwiDragons]

What a great idea! I too would love to have a pond, but I don't think it would work out too well here either. I love how the fishies turned out and it looks really cook in your yard.

[stuckmachinic]

Awesome idea!!

[AlternaWidget]

I love it! Now all you need is the sound of water and the illusion will be complete. Looking at the bare ground around it, I can visualize a nice small Zen garden, too.
Very nice work!!

[reavesad]

Very creative, it looks lovely!

I wish I could paint that well :-(

[CamOovas]

That is so cool!!!  It makes me want one, but then I would actually have to mow the lawn...

[alhrayth]

That is so cool!!!  It makes me want one, but then I would actually have to mow the lawn...

LOL I actually hope that adding funny and silly things to my yard would inspire me to keep it tidier than usual...

to Dragonflywer - the patio table is a greaat idea, but I'd have to have one... because garage sales are not a concept really existing in my country, so chances of picking one up somewhere are quite scarce...  sigh!

[FriendlyNeighbourPsycho]

Thats an amazing idea! You did such a good job, your a very good artist  We have an actual pond as well, lucky for us though all our cats seem more interested in drinking out of ours rather than eating the fish. I also second the idea of more little "fake" critters randomly around! You could always expand around it, if your concered that its small, adding more rocks or plants or something..

[devilduck]

I love it! I think that this is the only kind of pond that would survive in my backyard.

[Turner Classic]

Wow that's such a unique idea, and it turned out just beautifully. Watch out for stay kittens trying to catch those fish tho.

[rira]

that is absolutely wonderful.

[kneedeepnsurprise]

That is really beautiful and creative!

[stringofpearls]

This is beautiful! I bet it looks good in the rain

[castlesinthesky]

The rocks look like pieces of slate.

This is a great idea, and nicely done!

[Metal Vyxen]

I love this idea, this is so great.

Very talented and original

[twodustyboots]

Pretty!

[LindaEve]

I LOVE this! So much better than taking innocent fish out of their own natural habitat for your own visual delight. This is much more delightful!

[sweets4ever]

Congrats!!

You're a Craftster Best of 2009 Winner!

[alhrayth]

  wow!!! I noticed this just by chance, but I'm sooooo incredibly flattered and excited!!! Thank you soooooo much!!!!! Getting chosen among so many fabulous crafters is soooooo encouraging! Thankh you thank you thank you!!!!

[rawrjaimee]

Beautiful! What a great idea!

[mom1010]

Really great idea. I am going to try my hand at this.