How to Decorate Ostrich Eggs

Question

Ostriches lay the largest eggs of any bird in the world, and as relatives of dinosaurs, their eggs are very hard and tough. The porcelain-like shell is the perfect medium for a variety of decorative art projects, and many people make a living by painting beautiful images onto the shells for display in a curio or on a shelf. Regardless of your skill in painting, decorating an ostrich egg is a fun, funky kind of project that anyone might enjoy. At nearly three pounds each, these eggs offer the opportunity to create an art piece with a large impact.

Answer 1

1
    Use the nail to score a circle 1 inch in diameter on the tip of the egg. Gently tap the nail through the scored area with the hammer, chipping away small pieces until you have a quarter-sized hole.

    2
    Drain the egg from the shell.

    3
    Rinse the inside of the shell with bleach and water to disinfect the surface. Wash the outside of the shell to remove natural oils.

    4
    Paint a surface preparation product, like Gesso, on the entire area you wish to paint. This allows the paint to adhere to the shell.

    Decorate the egg

    5
    Design your artwork, using a wax pencil to make any temporary marks you need as you plan.

    6
    Paint the scene or image onto the egg. Allow to dry completely.

    7
    Coat the painted area in polyurethane to preserve and protect your painted image.

    8
    Prop up on soft cloths and allow the polyurethane to dry completely.

    9
    Add any accents you desire (stones, ribbon, moss, beads) to the egg using glue.