First of all make sure that your piece is completely cured before you begin any painting.

White wash

A white wash is a very watery white paint that is dabbed on with a paint brush,sponge,or towel..It will give the concrete the appearance of stone.

Dry brush technique

A dry brush technique starts out with a dark color such as black..You need yo completely paint your yard art piece black first and then let it dry... After it has dried you can get a color like burnt sienna and lightly dip the brush..Take the brush and paint a newspaper with it until you get some of the excess paint off the brush.......After you have done that ...Then quickly brush back and forth over the black..lightly brushing it...Now your piece should be a bronze color.......

You can brush dry brush any color...You need to always use your darker colors first...After your concrete piece has dried ..then you can seal it with any can of cheap clear coat spray....Make sure that it is non yellowing.

You should always seal your finished painted ..If you do not do this your pieces will chip and peel...

Coloring concrete

Iron oxide powders are the most common colorants used for dying concrete..They come in a wide range of earth tones...They can be found at Home Depot or Lowes Home Improvement Stores...

You should use these powdered oxides while your concrete is still wet...By adding powder until you reach your satisfied color......If you are making stepping stones you should sprinkle some powder into your mold before you put the concrete in....A little bit of powder goes a long way so dont waste it......

Marbleizing

Mix a batch of concrete and remove some of it and add your dye to it...Now you can combine both batches..stirring just enough to create swirls..then pour into your molds

Coloring Concrete Using Different Methods

Liquid colorants are easier to find than powdered colorants,but the brilliance in color is less..Colors like buff,red,brown,and charcoal are common......They work the same as powdered colorants..The only difference is that you add the coloring to the water before you mix it with concrete or cement..Depending on how much water you use ..your pieces may be brighter or more pastel .Marbling can also be done with liquid coloring...

A technique that you can use with stepping stones

Using a liquid colorant you can add a tablespoon of colorant to a batch of concrete.Mix it very well..After the color is blended well then mix another tablespoon of colorant in a 1/4 cup of water..Pour this in a swirling motion over the top of the blended concrete.....Dont mix it ..leave it like it is..Let it sit on the top ..Then scoop out the mixture with a cup and start pouring it into your mold..By not mixing it..,you will get a swirl look to the finished piece..You must let it sit for about three weeks and then you can clear coat it....