This statue was actually in really good condition besides the chipping paint. In this case, I did not have to restore any of the plaster for this project.
Here I lightly sanded down the areas of chipping paint. This specific statue had glitter all over Our Lady of Fatima’s mantle and dress. Therefore, I did my best to sand off most of the glitter, which was causing a bumpy texture on the statue.
Use a damp cloth and water to wipe the dust and debris from sanding.
It is very important to prime the statue before painting. I used gesso to prime this statue. The gesso will help seal any of the plaster that was exposed after sanding by creating a moisture barrier between the plaster and paint. Moreover, it helps the paint adhere to the statue more easily.
When painting a statue it is nice to divide your work up in sections/colors. I have listed the seven sections I worked on with the colors below. Additionally, I have included a video showing how I mixed the skin color using three colors and white.
Varnish is a non-pourous, transparent layer that is put on top of a final layer of the sculpture. Varnishes can be brushed or sprayed on and generally come in 3 different levels of sheen including matte, satin or glossy.
I chose to seal this statue with a Liquitex Matte Varnish, which involved a brushing application. I currently live in an apartment and do not have a well ventilated area to use a spray varnish.
Before varnishing it is important that the paint is fully dry. To be sure it is dry, wait at minimum of 72hrs or more depending on the paint thickness. When ready, stir varnish gently but do not shake to avoid bubbles. Also, do not thin the varnish with water. Apply 2-3 thin coats, allowing at least 3hours between coats.
Here is a video of my journey restoring this statue:
This Our Lady of Fatima statue’s home is now in a parish adoration chapel.
Other Our Lady of Fatima statues I have repainted in the past were for parish Legion of Mary praesidia and their Pilgrim Virgin Mary Home Visitation Program. The Legion of Mary is a lay apostolic association of Catholics who, with the sanction of the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of All Graces, serve the Church and their neighbor on a voluntary basis in about 170 countries.
I have been auxiliary and active member of the Legion of Mary for around ten years now. The Pilgrim Virgin Home Visitation program is one of the many evangelization works of the Legion of Mary. This program makes home to home visits encouraging families to pray the rosary together. I have personally witnessed so many miracles and graces through this Home Visitation program. If you are interested to learning more about it, join a local Legion of Mary group at a parish near you. The Pilgrim Virgin Mary Home Visitation program booklets can be purchased through Montfort Publications HERE.
