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Pro tip: My garden gnome army went from goofy to creepy in just 3 months, here's the debate
I started painting old garden gnomes I found at thrift stores around Spokane about 3 months ago. At first they were just goofy looking with bright colors and happy smiles. But then I tried giving them realistic eyes and weathered clothes, and now my whole backyard feels like a scene from a horror movie. Some friends say the realistic look is way cooler because it makes people do a double take. Others say the silly original style is more fun for kids and less likely to give guests nightmares. I'm stuck on which way to go with the next batch of 15 gnomes I just dug out of a garage sale. Has anyone else dealt with their weird garden stuff taking a dark turn without meaning to?
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tylerlane2d ago
Hold on there - you said realistic eyes made them creepy, but you might be getting the cause wrong. The real problem is probably the weathering and the faded clothes, not the eyes themselves. Lots of people use realistic eyes on gnomes and they still look friendly, it's more about the overall expression and paint job. If your gnomes have that weathered, beat-up look combined with realistic eyes, that combo is what makes your brain go "something's off here." Try painting the next batch with the same realistic eyes but keep the clothes bright and clean, you'll probably end up with something that looks charming instead of terrifying.
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