Do you collect rain in your garden? I sourced four barrels for under $5 each a few years back from the local Pepsi Bottling plant. They were white and had Mountain Dew residue on the inside, but with a quick rinse and the addition of a spigot and they were ready to go — except for the color…

In a hurry to get them palatable and start recycling my raindrops, I bought a few cans of dark green spray paint and made them blend into my landscape, but now, a few years on, they need a paint job update, and I am more inclined to think of these as potential garden focal points with a bit of homemade artistry.

I've rounded up a collection of ideas from other rain barrel painters and artists for inspiration. Many of the sources are local extension services, art museums, and universities who are commissioning local artists to paint barrels for fundraising auctions — so if you are feeling a little unsure of your artistic abilities, you might want to seek out a local to you event.

(Images: 1. Annies Omnium, 2. The Morning Call, 3. South Bend Museum of Art, 4. River Friends, 5. Greenopolis.)