by Susan Irving

My brother-in-law brought his two grey fake cement lawn lions over and has been pestering me to paint them to look like REAL lions. I argued that I really didn’t want to, as they would never look like real lions — they are only 30 inches tall and have the facial expressions of happy dogs. Plus, I’d find that boring. I only want to paint when it is fun for me.

He left them here weeks ago and they have just been sitting in my barn, annoying me. So, since he is not planning on paying me anyway, and I was left to my own devices…… well, you know…. One lion down, one to go. Not sure how I will do the other one. 

It will be interesting to see his reaction when he eventually decides to pick them up. (BTW, I could have refused to paint them at all, but decided to go ahead and do at least one for my own entertainment.)

[A day later] Since it was too hot to work in my studio today (no A/C and upstairs loft) I decided to paint outside in the shade and do the second lion.  Bugs were not a problem due to a nice breeze.

I decided to go a little more crazy with this one and gave him some “side eye” while I was at it. I am sure that brother-in-law will be most impressed. 😂

Several days later   My brother-in-law just dropped in with jars of lion-coloured paint  (yellow ocher and burnt sienna). I told him, “Too late”, and showed him the blue lion. His eyes widened and he exclaimed “WOW! He says he loves it.  When he saw the purple and orange lion he burst out laughing. He likes that one too. 

He says he is coming back for them in a couple of days and will pay me.  I hope he takes his time as I am rather fond of them and will hate to see them go.

A week later.  Brother-in-law has since told Mike (my husband) a couple of times that the way I painted them was NOT what he asked for. Followed by declaring ,”These ARTISTS!”   He has also bought me three jars of “lion” coloured acrylics, I suspect in hopes that I will repaint them. But that is not going to happen! Mike wants to glue googly eyes on them, but I will not be going along with that!

The saga continues . . . Lions have still not been paid for and claimed, so they are now gracing my garden. 

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